Archives for April 2019

Canada’s First Net-Zero Vertical Farm Planned in Toronto

Allegedly, "cleantech is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Ontario economy"

30 April 2019 From Paul Münzner Filed Under: 2019, Featured, Urban Farming

The University of Toronto (U of T) Scarborough and Centennial College, Ont., will together develop Canada’s first net-zero vertical farm called the Environmental and Related Technologies Hub (EaRTH). It is primarily intended for research, academic programming and commercialization in order to make progress in the cleantech sector. This net-zero vertical farm will be situated at U of T Scarborough in Toronto, Canada.

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“We know the future belongs to sustainable, clean technology and this partnership complements the strengths of both Centennial College and U of T Scarborough,” says Andrew Arifuzzaman, U of T Scarborough’s CAO. “This commitment is also an exciting opportunity to bring economic activity and jobs to the Eastern GTA in a sector that is only going to become more important in the future.”

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“Every single component of the building, from the heating and cooling to the lighting to the vertical farm, is an element that students, industry and the community can interact with,” says Andrew Petrou, director of strategic initiatives and external relations at Centennial College. “The goal is that they would be able to engage with this facility at all levels through programming, research, testing and experiential learning opportunities.”

Roof of Canada’s First Net-Zero Vertical Farm Planned in Toronto - Scarborough Centennial — (U of T Scarborough)

MoU Signed Beginning of 2019

“The vertical farm will become a key resource in assisting communities across Canada in tackling issues related to food, water, air, energy, waste, and advanced design and integrative systems,” says Professor Bernie Kraatz, vice-principal research at U of T Scarborough. “These are all key areas in understanding how to create resilient communities in the face of climate change.”

Green Roofs in New York City Mandatory on New Buildings Due to Climate Mobilization Act

New York Follows Cities Like Denver, Portland, Toronto, and San Francisco

28 April 2019 From Paul Münzner Filed Under: 2019, Featured, Green Building

New York City, New York – From high-rise residential building to the iconic Empire State Building, any structures over 25,000 sq ft may face massive fines if they do not adopt a greener structure. The result of the city’s latest green building ordinance by 2030 is comparable to that of taking out over a million vehicles off the streets of New York.

Green Roofs in New York City Mandatory Due to Climate Mobilization Act - Rockefeller building — Rockefeller Rooftop Garden (Rian Castillo – Flickr)

The Climate Mobilization Act, which is a set of resolutions and laws specially created to improve New York city’s energy efficiency drastically, was approved last April 22 preceding Earth Day. The historic bill will transform the city literally green. What will see in the years to come is a Big Apple with a skyline abound with plants, wind turbines, and solar panels, instead of its trademark glass-dominated one.

The so-called “New Green Deal” aims to reduce as much as 40% of GHG emissions by 2030 and more than 80% by 2050 in New York. The focus of the legislation is the structures in the city with green roofs being pushed in the spotlight.

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Cities such as Denver, Portland, Toronto, and San Francisco have already taken the leap. New York City not far behind in their footsteps is requiring brand new commercial and residential buildings to incorporate their rooftops with either solar panels, plants, mini wind turbines, or if possible combine all three due to dwell.

Green Roofs in New York Reduce Cooling Demand and Absorb Dust

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It may seem like modifying the material of a rooftop is a tiny step, but it will have an overall profound impact. Green roofs with vegetation can help reduce the Heat Island Effect (HIE). Solar radiation which is stored in the building masses and roads can now be used to grow plants instead of heating up cities. And since there will be moderation in heat gain, power plants demand will also decrease as well as the energy consumption of the building. Green roofs are also absorbing dust and dirt and nearby places for relaxing moments.

According to one of the sponsors of the bill and member of the NYC Council, Rafael Espinal, the bill they passed will not just make Big Apple’s skyline more beautiful, but New Yorkers and future generations will also benefit from it by improving the quality of their lives. Aside from covering new structures, the Climate Mobilization Act will also include those going through particular large-scale improvements and renovations.

New York to Reduce 40% of Its Climate Pollution by 2030 and Over 80% by 2050

The law wants to put a stop on energy waste

24 April 2019 From Paul Münzner Filed Under: 2019, Climate, Featured

New York City – New Yorkers have even more reasons to celebrate Earth Day this year with the establishment of the Climate Mobilization Act. The law addresses the carbon footprint of the structures in the Big Apple and has a goal to cut down the city’s pollution down to 40% by 2030, and as much as 80% or more by 2050.

Lowering down the GHG or greenhouse gas emissions of these buildings is a crucial move by the city as the buildings here produces a staggering 70% of its total GHG emissions. The law wants to put a stop on energy waste by requiring buildings that are more than 25,000 square feet to lower their pollution to 40% by 2030.

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The Climate Mobilization Act presents the following indispensable benefits:

Job opportunities

Upgrades to energy efficiency will need plenty of local workers to do hands-on tasks. Thus it will create thousands of local jobs for New Yorkers.

Better air quality

Consumption of energy will be lessened with better efficiency. Burning of foul-smelling fossil fuels from power plants nearby and building boilers will also decrease which means everyone will enjoy breathing cleaner air.

Lower energy costs

Structures that are efficient utilize lesser energy resulting in cheaper utility bills.

The legislation is an ambitious undertaking, and the Coalition for Energy Efficiency for All New York (EEFA NY) is looking forward for its passage. However, in order for New Yorkers to feel and enjoy its benefits, there must be a continuity in everyone’s efforts as there are some exemptions in the law.

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One of these is the exclusion of multi-family structures so that tenants earning below minimum will not suffer from the costs of upgrading these buildings. It also mandates that buildings with housing regulated by rent to be given less strict requirements. There are also a number of affordable homes that are entirely exempted.

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In a sense, these exclusions are important since the rent regulations in New York allows the passing of efficiency cost improvements to the tenants. New York citizens living in affordable housing usually live in some of the oldest buildings in the city and suffers from leaking windows, ineffective cooling and heating systems, and poor insulation. These issues often result in undesirable living situations combined with a high cost of energy which climate change worsens.

By delaying the implementation of efficiency, it will also delay the benefits to those communities that need them even more. One of the most effective means to reduce pollution, energy consumption, and ensure housing affordability, as well as produce a comfortable, better, and healthier living environment is to make affordable rental homes efficient. And this will all be possible if the Climate Mobilization Act is implemented, as long as these structures are included and not left in the dust.

“The City Council is poised to pass some of the most ambitious climate legislation in the world to combat and mitigate the dramatic effects of global warming. There is no time to waste. We have to move away from fossil fuel to save our planet and ensure a better future for our children and grandchildren. But we can not to this alone, and it is the City Council’s hope that other municipalities, big and small, will follow on our footsteps,” said Corey Johnson, New York Council Speaker.

Ride Spot: Social Network For Sharing Routes Launched By People For Bikes

Working together and sharing the safest, most secure and fun routes everywhere

24 April 2019 From Paul Münzner Filed Under: 2019, Cycling, Featured

North America has a hard time encouraging people to ride their bikes because they don’t feel safe enough to hit the roads. This is where People for Bikes comes in.

The organization, headquartered in the US state Colorado, is nonprofit with a mission to promote the bicycle and cycling industry. People for Bikes believes that any community where more people are riding more securely will make it an even better place not just to live but to play and work as well. They do this by providing people with information such as city ratings which will tell you which cities are the best for biking. In addition, they’re doing their very best to make e-bike laws consistent throughout the United States.

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Ride Spot is another project that they have started. The social network site gives bike shops and people a channel where they can share or suggest the best bike routes within their cities.

People for Bikes addresses the following issues that beginners typically face:

Not knowing the safest routes.
Having a hard time finding other people to bike with.
Thinking that cycling is complicated and intimidating.

According to the people behind the organization, working together and sharing the safest, most secure and fun routes everywhere will encourage people to get on their bikes. This will also connect lives and provide an opportunity for people to live a more active lifestyle.

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Bike shops are being pushed to get more on board with the project so that any cycling barriers can be broken down to make way for more solid cycling communities. It also has that social networking factor where people can have a platform where they can easily share not just biking routes, but their stories and photos as well. Rider Spot is not for the spandex-wearing riders, but for the regular commuters and recreational individuals who are looking for the safest ways to bike.

People for Bikes Ride Spot social network - Sharing routes — Erie Canalway Trail by Bert’s Bikes & Fitness (People for Bikes – ridespot.org)

Most riders take years to master how to cross a city safely and figure out which roads are the safest to take or avoid, and Ride Spot is a great platform for them to share those kinds of information.

Via Treehugger

Bogota Bans Cars Every Sunday And People Approve!

The weekly event tagged as Ciclovía, starts at 7 am and runs until 2 pm

23 April 2019 From Paul Münzner Filed Under: 2019, Featured, MOTORING

Bogota, Colombia – the country’s capital city is noise and stress-free from more than 1.6 million private vehicles, 50,000 taxis, 9,000 buses, and around 500,000 motorcycles. Is it a miracle? Certainly not!

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Every Sunday and holidays, Bogotanos get the unique opportunity to have the city for themselves and fall in love with it again and again. The weekly event tagged as Ciclovía, starts at 7 am and runs until 2 pm, provides the community with a rare chance to enjoy a little fresh air along its 75 miles stretches of highways and avenues. People can ride any non-motor mode of transport here such as their bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, and wheelchairs.

Around 1.5 million Bogotanos go to Sunday Ciclovía to eat, dance, and watch other people go about their activities. You’ll find wanderer-filled sidewalk cafes with their canine companions nearby just alongside their chairs or baby strollers beside them.

There are also Fun Stops or recreovia at the Ciclovía where an amazing salsa band entertains passersby. There is something for everyone here, from Zumba sessions to those wanting to get in shape to orange juice and fruit salad sold at the curbside for the inspirationally fit.

The entire program is being run by Bibiana Sarmiento, who 14 years ago was a young skater and Ciclovía’s guardián. According to Sarmiento, “The most important thing is the social fabric that gets woven (among people who use) the Ciclovía.”

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Bibiana Sarmiento and her team who are working for free are always on the lookout for innovative activities to offer Bogotanos such as bike lessons twice a month for any age group and spaces along bike paths where parents can spend a relaxing time with their kids.

According to Sarmiento, the main objective of their project is for the citizens of Bogota to gain control of its public spaces. For her, the most vital part here is the social framework formed amidst the Bogotans using the Ciclovía.

Source: National Geographic