Energized by climate change
The United Nations Conference on Climate Change wraps up Dec. 9. Since it was held in Montreal, some Concordians seized the opportunity to promote awareness about global warming and energy efficiency.
The Solar Decathlon team provided guided tours of their self-sustaining solar house, which produces the energy it requires for heating and electricity. Dozens of delegates have jumped a shuttle bus from downtown to the Loyola Campus to get a closer look at the Northern Light.
Blossom Stephens, the team’s spokesperson, said the tours gave people ideas on how to apply energy efficiency meaures in their own homes. “Parti-cipants were encouraging others to go.”
Meanwhile, journalism stud-ents have been producing an online newsletter under the aegis of Équiterre, an environmental group responsible for coordinating all the other NGOs at the conference.
Sustainable Concordia co-sponsored a panel on climate change on Dec. 1. Sustainability Coordinator Melissa Garcia-Lamarca said Concordia is the most energy-efficient of the six largest universities in the province.
Many departments are replacing incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Ventilation systems are shut off when some buildings are not in use, such as on the weekend or when the university is closed. The university has also installed more efficient boilers.
Garcia-Lamarca said there are several areas in which she is looking to squeeze consumption even more. “The main emissions at Concordia are from heating and electricity used in our buildings and greenhouse gases produced by wastes that go to landfill.”
In the energy-hungry age of the of the SUV, people don’t realize how easy it is to reduce their energy consumption and lower the impact on the environment, as well as their hydro bills, by adopting a few simple habits.
It can be as simple as buying bright, juicy tomatoes fresh from a local market instead of at a grocery chain.
“The average tomato travels over 2,000 kilometres before it reaches your plate,” Garcia-Lamarca said.
“If you buy local, you’re reducing the amount of energy used to transport your food, and supporting your local economy and farmers, which is just as important.”
Five pain-free ways you can do your part
- Turn off unused lights and appliances: Instead of letting the computer sleep through the night, switch it off. Ditto for coffeemakers. Switch off any lights in rooms you are not using.
- Cold water washes: Washing clothes in cold water saves energy and decreases your hydro bill. Cold water is also less harsh on clothes than hot, and colours will not fade as quickly.
- Cut back on processed foods: Each step they go through in the manufacturing process, uses additional energy. Fresh produce is also much better for your health.
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.: They cost more, but can last up to ten times longer and use less than one-quarter of the energy used by regular bulbs.
- Slash unnecessary driving: Instead of driving the six blocks to the grocery store to pick up bread and milk, walk it! Your body will thank you for the exercise.