Energy Solutions – More Bang for Your Buck: Just Energy offers innovative, efficient energy solutions for both home and business

Posted on April 24, 2013 by admin

INEVITABLY, when discussions turn to energy use for home or business, the “bottom line” becomes a favourite theme. Yes, most people want to make wise eco-decisions in this day and age and that includes responsible green energy solutions – but they also usually ask one question as well: “What’s it going to cost?”

greentickerJust Energy, a leading supplier of natural gas, electricity and green energy solutions with almost two million customers across North America, has several programs that cater to cost and environmentally-conscious consumers that also provide more bang for the buck. They include:

  • SmartStat: more than a thermostat, it delivers quality, innovation and great features you would expect from a high tech thermostat
  • Customized rate plans with green energy options for businesses
  • MyTime™ Electricity: where users get one steady rate throughout the day. That means never paying top-dollar for electricity

With MyTime™ Electricity, there are compelling reasons to choose this service. For one thing, you’ll pay less and avoid the hassle and confusion of time-of-use pricing offered elsewhere. Moreover, you won’t have to schedule your life around your electricity rates – you can live life on your own schedule without paying a premium. Instead of fluctuating costs based on the time of day, you’ll always pay the same rate and enjoy the same service and delivery as  always. And enrolment is only a click away with simple, easy-to-follow instructions.|

A complementary residential product would definitely be the Wi-Fi-enabled SmartStat – which may be high-tech, but you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to use one. The thermostat, which has cool mobile apps, an easy web portal, and live weather reports among a list of other features, takes the frustration out of programming with a simple touch screen and easy to follow step-by-step instructions.

“SmartStat is the latest in smart thermostat technology that enables homeowners to control their thermostat remotely from a tablet, computer, iPhone or other smart phone device” says Al Shulman, Vice-President of marketing for Just Energy. “A secure web portal and simple navigation makes it easy to use and program at the homeowner’s convenience, ultimately helping them control their costs by helping them control their energy use.”

Features include calculated algorithms that take into account elements such as weather, size of home, number of occupants and type of HVAC system to maximize energy efficiency.  It can also alert you of changes in the performance of your heating and cooling systems to help you catch small problems before they become large ones.

Heating and cooling comprises over 50 per cent of the average home’s energy use, so cutting back the amount of energy you use can translate into significant cost savings. And that’s without sacrificing comfort. Of all Just Energy’ SmartSmat customers, 80 % are running the recommended program resulting in more efficent energy use.

It’s win-win: you can reduce both your energy costs and your impact on the environment.

For businesses, Just Energy has energy supply solutions tailored to fit any company’s unique needs. The company is the electricity and natural gas supplier of choice to  over 137,000 small to large-sized organizations. Customized rate plans are designed to fit any size of operation and help business owners better budget one of their most important, and costly operating expenses.

With more consumers making their purchasing decisions based on a company’s green record, more businesses are being challenged to pursue sustainable practices. Just Energy can help business owners make that commitment for the good of the environment as well as their corporate image.

For more information on Just Energy and their products, visit justenergy.com

Just Energy is a leading supplier of natural gas, electricity and green energy solutions to almost two million customers across North America and the UK.  Its green energy and energy efficient products provide a real and convenient solution for its consumers to reduce the environmental impact associated with their everyday energy use.  Just Energy also offers a variety of innovative energy products to suit the evolving needs of its commercial customers, which include fixed rate and variable rate programs.

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Getting the #green message out more effectively with #Twitter? + other news you may have missed in Canada

Posted on April 2, 2013 by admin

MUCH HAS been written about sustainability, but a question often crops up – just what the heck does it really mean anyway?

Actually, the definitions are endless, and new ones come along almost daily, it seems. Everyone, it appears, wants to jump on the sustainability bandwagon. Is it about climate change, or our ecological footprint, or water, or biodiversity, or lifestyle, or initiatives?  And on and on and on.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

If we go the traditional dictionary definition route, and we’re talking Merriam-Webster version here, my favourite is this: “a : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.”

Sort of sums it all up, doesn’t it? Apply that definition to breathable air and guess what? It works. Apply it to potable water?  It works. To trees? Same answer.

But there are other ways to follow a sustainable path, in business and in lifestyle. It’s not about getting more bang for your buck, although that idiom could be massaged to represent something referring to better use of time or resources.

Then you get into areas such as telecommuting or, perhaps, car pooling.

The idea can be taken even further, though. In my case, I am trying to connect with more like-minded individuals – primarily on business and lifestyle levels. To that end, I will begin experimenting with social media in a different way than my status quo.

From now on, I will be making a shift to spending more time and resources using Twitter. I have two accounts that I have only been using sporadically: @the_green_hub and @TheHubMan … I will now begin to use @the_green_hub to draw attention to news and views that catch my attention daily. I will use @TheHubMan to share opinions and generate conversations.  I will be cutting back on my other social media platforms, which all eat up precious minutes of each and every day.

I think this approach will prove to be infinitely more sustainable to my needs and regular commitments.

Only time will tell, but I’m guessing it will be a change for the better.

What do you think? Will this shift be, ahem, sustainable?

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

MORE ON SUSTAINABILITY
A video from the Australian Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability … And a punchy two-minute animated video, also on sustainability …

ON THE WORK FRONT
The winter edition magazine of Green Building and Sustainable Strategies magazine is still available, by the way. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA.  We believe this project will draw attention to The New Suburbanity. And here’s another example of a green home from across the pond, courtesy of The Telegraph … We are now finishing up production for the Spring edition of GBSS magazine, featuring the HVAC industry. Included are business profiles of the following companies: Elite Climate Services, Quantum Geothermal, The Airon Group of Companies, The Green Method™, and Air Heat. GBSS publisher Giulio Marinescu is now offering advertising options for the Summer edition and can be reached at 416.250.0664 or publisher@gbssmag.com … The Summer theme: sustainable architecture … Also, a reminder to consider subscribing to The Greg McMillan Daily / It’s a compilation of news from feeds selected by Greg McMillan (@TheHubMan) on Twitter. Categories include Environment, Society, Education, Politics, Business and Sports.

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Who’s winning Keystone XL pipeline PR war? + other news you may have missed in Canada this week

Posted on March 20, 2013 by admin

THIS IS turning into an all-out, take-no-prisoners fight – a kind of wrestling-style battle royal, if you will.

In one corner we have the environmentalists; in the other: the pro-Keystone XL pipeline brigade.

The match isn’t over – not by a long shot, really – but there are certainly telling signs already about who will eventually prevail.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

The eco-guard got the first shots in with a much-published march in Washington last month. But that initial jolt was soon diminished by a series of developments that have tipped the scales big-time in favour of approval for the pipeline initiative.

To zero in on a few … U.S. President Barrack Obama names Ernest Moniz as the nominee for the next secretary of energy. Moniz, to put it mildly, is not known as a friend of the enviro crowd.  Then the U.S. State Department released its Keystone XL pipeline report, declaring that the project would have little impact on the environment.

Then more political implications, with whispers about how Canada would give the U.S. the cold shoulder should the pipeline be approved.

Then Canadian pro-pipeline lobby groups, from both the energy and public sectors, began converging on Washington, to turn up the heat.

And the most recent offensive tactic? Ottawa pitching the Alberta oil sands as being green.

Is it just me, or are the environmental activists down for the count? The ultimate decision is still weeks away, but it’s hard to imagine the XL detractors getting out from under the current pro-pipeline hammerlock.

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GREEN HUB IN CANADA

What’s the three-month weather outlook for Atlantic region?  … How environment minister defends $51M spending cuts for Parks Canada … Why LNG exporters are looking at underwater ocean pipelines … What new clean technology projects have been announced by Ottawa? …

ON THE WORK FRONT
The winter edition magazine of Green Building and Sustainable Strategies magazine is still available, by the way. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA.  We believe this project will draw attention to The New Suburbanity. And here’s another example of a green home from across the pond, courtesy of The Telegraph … Magazine publisher Giulio Marinescu is now offering advertising options for the Spring edition and can be reached at 416.250.0664 or publisher@gbssmag.com … Also, a reminder to consider subscribing to The Greg McMillan Daily / It’s a compilation of news from feeds selected by Greg McMillan (@TheHubMan) on Twitter. Categories include Environment, Society, Education, Politics, Business and Sports.

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Is this what urban buildings will look like in 2050? + other news you may have missed in Canada this week

Posted on March 5, 2013 by admin

PONDERING THE future is always good for the soul – mine, at least.

We can’t do anything about the past, obviously, but dreams and visions about what’s ahead of us tend to open up the mind – again, mine, at least.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

I am particularly intrigued by concepts that explore what buildings and cities down the road might look like, so a recent report caught my attention in a big way.

A downloadable version from the engineering and design firm responsible for the research points to buildings that are “living and breathing structures able to support the cities and people of tomorrow.”

That this vision also incorporates some of the cutting-edge construction technologies already gaining a foothold makes the report even more thought-provoking – it’s not a stretch to imagine that even more emerging ideas will be in place 37 years from now.

Realistic or unrealistic – that is the question.

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GREEN HUB IN CANADA
What will it take for Canada to become a clean energy super power? … How the U.S. boom is dashing Canada’s energy super power dreams … Why Canada needs to open energy doors to Asia – and fast … Commentary: Why pipelines are the ticket to North American energy independence … How once-thrifty seniors are now loading up on debt … Commentary: How a breezy option has become a serious power source …

ON THE WORK FRONT
The winter edition magazine of Green Building and Sustainable Strategies magazine is still available, by the way. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA.  Magazine publisher Giulio Marinescu is now offering advertising options for the Spring edition and can be reached at 416.250.0664 or publisher@gbssmag.com …

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Why Canada + green is taking it on the chin …. again + other news and views you may have missed this week

Posted on February 24, 2013 by admin

IT’S SOMEWHAT disheartening to come to the realization that Canada, for all it has to offer, is falling behind many world-wide green trends.

One area that has come to our attention this week is in the development of smart cities.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

To summarize, smart cities are basically those that improve the quality of life and cut back on energy demand and reduce environmental impact.

You would like to think, perhaps naively, that Canada would be a leader when it comes to smart cities, however a recent list – called The 10 Most Impressive Smart Cities on Earth – fails to include even one Canadian entry.

Many on the list shouldn’t really surprise anyone, but when cities such as Santiago, Chile and Xinjiang, China, make the cut, it provides a sobering reality check for all Canadians.

Shouldn’t Canada be stepping up and doing more?

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GREEN HUB IN CANADA
Sky high thinking: Could we all soon own a drone? … Of course Americans are linking pipelines to ecology. Isn’t it the way of the future? … Are these pipe dreams? A look at Canada’s six leading pipeline proposals … Why U.S. ambassador warns Ottawa to heed Obama on energy … And why Canadian environment minister says Canada’s credibility on climate change doesn’t need much work … Why families abandon homes near Alberta bitumen facility… Why salary gains greatest in energy sector … How being thrifty is the latest trend … Say what? How we’ve been light years ahead of what’s now being called the ‘thrifty trend’ … How green power companies are finding new ways to store energy …

ON THE WORK FRONT
We had two very stimulating and encouraging meetings this past week: one with Vadim Vilkov, COO of Improve Inc., Canada’s Largest Home Improvement Centre; and another with a Chief Financial Officer representing a Canadian company in the renewable energy sector interested in offshore markets. More details to come as they can be made public … And a discussion on last week’s Green Ticker blog entitled Wham, bam, thank you, Obama in the Linkedin Group called The Green Hub is spurring lots of industry commentary … The winter edition magazine of Green Building and Sustainable Strategies magazine is still available, by the way. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA.  Magazine publisher Giulio Marinescu is now offering advertising options for the Spring edition and can be reached at 416.250.0664 or publisher@gbssmag.com … Also, a reminder to consider subscribing to The Greg McMillan Daily / It’s a compilation of news from feeds selected by Greg McMillan (@TheHubMan) on Twitter. Categories include Environment, Society, Education, Politics, Business and Sports. You can also follow us on Twitter @the_green_hub

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Is Big Oil expansion a fait accompli? And other green news + views from Canada you may have missed this week (VIDEO)

Posted on February 12, 2013 by admin

IN THE space of one 24-hour news cycle this week, three separate stories appeared, each one tying into the future of Canada’s oil and gas industry.

That, by itself, was probably not precedent-setting.

But, if we read between the lines, one observation stands out above all others – development of oil and gas initiatives in Canada is methodically marching on with new strategic wrinkles.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

And all this despite ongoing protests and opposition. There’s no end in sight for the industry’s advance, actually, as a tide of support based on the reality of economics – we’re talking jobs – is swaying support towards Big Oil, literally day by day.

But back to the one-day news cycle example.

First, we were told about how Alberta is planning green incentives to sweeten the pot for the U.S. by offering up new environmental initiatives for oil sands development to show that approving the Keystone XL pipeline to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries will not increase pollution.

Then, we see that New Brunswick Premier David Alward is joining Alberta’s effort to persuade Quebec it should back plans to move Canadian oil to the East Coast – plans that hinge on the energy industry’s ability to build new pipelines across Quebec.

Next, perhaps the most impactive item of all, considering the energy industry’s attempts to get approval for new pipelines through British Columbia –  a story about how leading figures in Canada’s aboriginal business community want to carve out an energy bridge to the B.C. coast.

This might come as a major shock to many following Big Oil recently, as the single greatest obstacle has been the dozens of first nations’ interests fighting to ensure pipelines are never built.

But one of the native entrepreneurs behind this push points out that the game has changed and, again, one must look at the economic reality.

He says that this native initiative is based “on the kind of model that stands to make first nations participants, rather than naysayers, in Canada’s resource economy.

“I see us owning pipeline projects. I see us owning oil sands. I see us owning refineries. I see us owning a lot more than what we have now.”

All in all, these three news items show how Big Oil is poised to make its long-range game plan a fait accompli.

Fast-forward to a day later: Another bit of related news, this time from the Federal Environment Commissioner, who says the Harper government is failing to protect Canadians’ health and environment from the pollution risks associated with the resource industry boom across the country.

Will his voice fall on deaf ears? If we pay attention to what is concurrently transpiring, perhaps that is already taking place.

Sure seems that way, in any event.

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GREEN HUB IN CANADA
Why wind turbines blamed for blocking TV signals … Who to believe? Green Party leader says Environment Canada will be eliminated, but PMO says ‘No’ … Has it been four years already? Must be. The fourth annual Ontario feed-in tariff forum will take place April 2-4 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre … Guest blog: How eco-protests harm Canadian ideals …  Extra: When Big Oil tries to play nice (Last in a series on energy innovation) …

ON THE WORK FRONT
Received a nice personal note from internationally-renowned architect Vincent Callebaut who was featured in a recent edition of Green Building & Sustainable Strategies magazine. And we quote: “Dear Mr. Greg McMillan: Thank you very much for your very dynamic article about our projects in your Green Building and Sustainable Strategies magazine. We will soon send you a newsletter presenting our last green projects. Thank you very much for your help!”  The winter edition of GBSS magazine is now available, by the way. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA.  Magazine publisher Giulio Marinescu is now offering advertising options for the next edition and can be reached at 416.250.0664 or publisher@gbssmag.com … Also, a reminder to consider subscribing to The Greg McMillan Daily / It’s a compilation of news from feeds selected by Greg McMillan (@TheHubMan) on Twitter. Categories include Environment, Society, Education, Politics, Business and Sports.

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Glimpse into future with a smart grid community + other green news + views from Canada this week (VIDEO)

Posted on February 2, 2013 by admin

WE’RE TAKING a look south of the border today, at a proposed ‘smart grid’ community giving Canadians a glimpse into the future of how our own infrastructure might function.

It’s applicable here – anywhere, actually, and the results could go a long way in determining how we generate, transmit and use electricity.

The community of 50,000, a suburb on the outskirts of Chicago, has a quirky history, having been the hometown for a number of well-known personalities, including Ernest Hemingway, actress Betty White and, even, Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

Now, it’s taking centre stage as a place that will be a testing ground for a technology featuring a digitized system that would be tied into a network of renewable sources, and be sustainable through both outages and storms. It’s set up to include a network of small solar-electric systems on residential roofs.

While the plan certainly incorporates long-term consumer benefits, it’s also about prioritizing infrastructure rehabilitation and reinvestment. Supporters liken the shift to telecommunications’ advances – moving from landlines to cell phones. “Think of all the things we do now with our phones that were not even conceivable in the 1970s,” says Oak Park’s sustainability manager, K.C. Poulos.

As Poulos points out in a Q&A with Grist.org: “You want your house to work as smart as your phone works. You want it be intuitive and you want it to be clean energy that’s coming through. We are creating that possibility.”

Moreover, we say, it’s about leaders actually leading the way. At some point, such transformations will need to take place in Canadian communities as well. And when it happens, I’m guessing we’ll all be wondering why the heck it took so long.

Why should we care about such bold initiatives? As they say: It’s all about the children. It’s always about the children.

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GREEN HUB IN CANADA
Why New Brunswick is pushing for a cross-country pipeline as a ‘game changer.’ … And how such thinking ties into making Canada a sustainable energy superpower … How a Canadian health video went viral … And why such thinking ties into how urban design affects health … Why there’s a frenzy of attention in the North and how Canada has a chance to steer the Arctic’s future … Video: How a rooftop parking lot can be transformed into a ‘vertical farm.’ … From Time magazine: What would make an all-electric car appeal to the masses? …

ON THE WORK FRONT
The online version of the Winter 2012 Green Building & Sustainable Strategies magazine is now available. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA.  Magazine publisher Giulio Marinescu is now offering advertising options for the next edition and can be reached at 416.250.0664 or publisher@gbssmag.com

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Walk the walk, talk the talk of healthy living and the environment + other green news + views in Canada

Posted on January 30, 2013 by admin

A SEDENTARY lifestyle, for many, is the norm, unfortunately.

In North American cities, it’s common knowledge that they were not originally designed for anything but easy access by car. So, right off the top, we were hardly encouraged to do anything but move from the couch to the driver’s seat.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

That fact of life is still the status quo, to a great extent, however there have certainly been attempts to forge a change that would make it easier for all of us to get out of the sedentary rut.

You’ve heard about reimagining the cities we live in, how the mistakes of the past can be corrected, and urban planners and policy makers are gradually pushing the envelope towards healthy change.

And it’s even more encouraging to hear from people such as behavioral psychologist Dr. James Sallis, who has examined how urban design affects our health.

He delves into the issue of the modern urban environment and states, in no uncertain terms, that the current situation certainly contributes to the widespead inactivity. And he also states emphatically that place matters.

His findings in studies show that, yes, we can broker a healthy change by designing new communities with activity in mind. And yes, it is slowly happening, but perhaps not quickly enough.

Dr. Sallis says research, such as his, needs to point policymakers in the right direction so that they can effect positive change in neighbourhoods through design that promotes more activity.

What he says makes sense. Our predecessors definitely made it easier for us to follow a sedentary path. But we now need to push the envelope. As Dr. Sallis points out: The easier and more accessible it is to exercise, the more activity people will have as part of their daily lives.

And that would most definitely be a good thing.

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GREEN HUB IN CANADA
Why City of Ottawa is backing away from LEED requirement for new buildings … Are you listening Canada? How Obama is stepping up to the plate over climate change … How the health risks of energy drinks are making headlines … Why Canadian energy companies have to be wary of corruption concerns abroad … How John Kerry, who has invested in two Canadian energy firms, faces heat from environmentalists … Why federal environment watchdog is resigning two years before the end of his term … How Bullfrog Power hopped and jumped its way across Canada … Why Canada is unprepared for flood of mercury light bulbs …

ON THE WORK FRONT
The online version of the Winter 2012 Green Building & Sustainable Strategies magazine is now available. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA. Magazine publisher Giulio Marinescu is now offering advertising options for the next edition and can be reached at 416.250.0664 or publisher@gbssmag.com

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The S-Word: Why sustainability poses a myriad of challenges + other green news + views from Canada this week

Posted on January 23, 2013 by admin

TO ME, the word sustainability is a catch-all term that simply means being smart and conscientious about decisions.

It also means having an eye on the future and doing things that will hopefully help the world become a better place for our children.

Certainly, economics play into the equation when we talk about doing the right thing.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

But tough decisions, in my opinion, need to be made because right now there definitely is an up-front price tag attached when it comes to sustainability; and I’m convinced that is the main reason why we have not seen more overwhelming advancement in this area up until now.

In short, likely everyone is interested in doing the right thing, it’s just that not all of them want to pay extra for it. And there’s the rub. Moreover, there are the bureaucratic entanglements (in Canada, for sure) still being sorted out that muddy the waters even more.

I had a conversation this week through Linkedin with Mark Pitman, an Associate at Kasian Architecture, who has domestic experience as well as in developing markets and, in one way, he hit the nail on the head.

“I wish I could be optimistic about Canada being a leader in sustainability but the people in power have very limited outlooks,” he says, “usually [as far as] the next election period.

“Whereas places like China, which has horrible environmental records, can turn things around faster as they don’t need to put it to a vote. In Qatar, they have figured out that they can put all the money they make off of natural gas and start investing in sustainable projects.

“Hate to say it out loud, but having absolute power and money gets things done (for good and evil, I guess).”

His words should give us all pause for thought. There is a very real threat that Canada could fall dangerously behind developing countries when it comes to sustainability application. And, honestly, who would want to play catch-up somewhere down the road? It’s not a particularly pleasant thought.

The Guardian newspaper, in the United Kingdom, has predicted that big business will continue to fall well short of taking the leadership role on the sustainability the world urgently needs. While many chief executives now publicly identify sustainability as a key issue for their companies, The Guardian says walking the talk is proving more elusive.

That smacks of more hand-wringing and more delays.

Fortunately, there are those who continue to “fight the good fight.” In Toronto, a group ‘promoting dialogue and problem solving among sustainability thought leaders’ will tackle how to incorporate sustainablity into a business strategy.

The next edition of the Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series, featuring Bob Willard, author and sustainability change agent, will be held February 7 and the session promises to provide a sneak peek into where sustainability is going – for those who are serious about staying ahead of the trend.

And, just down the road, in Hamilton, there will be a January 31 breakfast forum with the following theme: Can Sustainability Drive the Canadian Economy?

So there’s definitely a conversation taking place. But to keep Canada in the mix, leaders will have to lead, and visionaries will have to hope their message takes hold.  Again, decisions will have to be made – and we should all cross our fingers that they will be both smart and conscientious.

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GREEN HUB IN CANADA
Why Alberta has the “most comfortable” climate in Canada … When Canadian woman faces arson charges in U.S. eco-terrorism case … Why Canada should jump on the cleantech bandwagon in China … Why America’s need for Canada’s oil is shrinking … How environmental groups are redoubling efforts to block U.S. Keystone expansion …

ON THE WORK FRONT
A couple of interesting developments/clients just around the corner for TheGreenHub.ca Communications. We’ll keep you posted. We are also seeking freelance opportunities. The online version of the Winter 2012 Green Building & Sustainable Strategies magazine is now available. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA.  Already, we have received inquiries from a number of interested parties. To name just a few: Karen Chesney from London, Ontario, an expert in implementation of green strategy; Improve Canada, Canada’s largest home improvement centre; and Patrick Gilbride, from REEP Green Solutions in Waterloo, Ontario, which works to create healthier homes and sustainable communities. We are currently looking for a naming sponsor so that we can then move ahead to put the remainder of of the team together.  On many levels, this unique project will help draw attention to the New Surburbanity for those seeking a sustainable alternative to big-city life.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Can the new cannabis economy be ecologically sustainable? Lots of updated information for those who have not been following developments in this always controversial topic.

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Has Matt Damon sent a shock through energy industry? + green news + views you may have missed from Canada this week

Posted on January 11, 2013 by admin

FRACKING THIS, fracking that – much has been written and reported by the mainstream media about this controversial process to extract oil and gas from under the ground.

And, sure, there had been some attention given to the issue of fracking.

But it’s taken a Hollywood movie, starring Matt Damon, to put the subject squarely before the eyes of the greater general public.

It  has ever been thus.

By GREG McMILLAN / TheGreenHub.ca

Once something gets the big-screen treatment, the masses sit up and take note; and sometimes the movie subject matter takes on a life of its own.

In the early days since the release of Promised Land, that certainly seems to be the case, as quasi-experts of all stripes give their opinions about fracking – informed or not.

Left to damage control, the energy industry involved in fracking projects have to deal with the fallout. They are right to point out that the film is a fictional account, that there’s misinformation, and pretty well leave it at that. And perhaps it falls into the ‘there’s-no-such-thing-as-bad-publicity’ category.

Travis Davies, spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, has provided the proper low-key response. As he told The Globe and Mail: “I don’t think that anybody that wants to learn about what the process means for communities, or what the impacts are or how companies operate, is going to learn anything here,” he said. “This movie has about as much in common with the reality of current natural gas production as any Hollywood romance has with love.”

We couldn’t have said it better. Let’s hope movie-goers don’t take Damon’s message at face value, either. Let’s hope their interest is piqued and they take a long look at the facts and figures, and not base their opinions solely on Damon’s glitz.

You can create a Google Alert for Greg McMillan TheGreenHub.ca and receive regular updates via e-mail.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GREEN HUB IN CANADA
What’s the fallout from study that finds Alberta lakes show chemical effects of oilsands? … A ray of sunshine for renewable energy stocks in 2013? … Why Canadians don’t want a federal carbon tax … Study: How jobs supporting the green economy are on the rise … LEED or no LEED, that is the question …

ON THE WORK FRONT
A couple of interesting developments/clients just around the corner for TheGreenHub.ca Communications. We’ll keep you posted. The online version of the Winter 2012 Green Building & Sustainable Strategies magazine is now available. We talk about a partnership between GBSS and TheGreenHub.ca Canada’s green web portal. It’s Phase 2 of the This Really Old House Goes Green project, and we are opening our doors to prospective team members in the GTA.  Already, we have received inquiries from a number of interested parties. To name just a few: Karen Chesney from London, Ontario, an expert in implementation of green strategy; Improve Canada, Canada’s largest home improvement centre; and Patrick Gilbride, from REEP Green Solutions in Waterloo, Ontario, which works to create healthier homes and sustainable communities. We are currently looking for a naming sponsor so that we can then move ahead to put the remainder of of the team together.  On many levels, this unique project will help draw attention to the New Surburbanity for those seeking a sustainable alternative to big-city life.

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