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VIDEO | The Reep House for Sustainable Living tour with Mary Jane Patterson | Climate Atlas of Canada
Watch Executive Director Mary Jane Patterson tour the Reep House and explain all its incredibly practical green home features for the Climate Atlas of Canada mapping project. The Reep House is a 100-year old house in Waterloo, Ontario that has been retrofitted to be maximally energy efficient. This demonstration project shows how older housing stock can be an effective part of the climate change solution through a combination of cutting edge technology and simple upgrades. The Climate Atlas of Canada The Climate Atlas is an interactive tool for citizens, researchers, businesses, and community and political leaders to learn about climate… Continue Reading VIDEO | The Reep House for Sustainable Living tour with Mary Jane Patterson | Climate Atlas of Canada
“What can YOU do about Climate Change? Use your voice,” Letter from Mary Jane Patterson, Executive Director of Reep
If you’re interested in being involved in real change happening in our region to take action on climate change, read on. ClimateActionWR (co-led by Reep Green Solutions and Sustainable Waterloo Region) will be presenting a long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to the councils of the three cities and the Region of Waterloo in the coming weeks. We are proposing a target of 80% below our 2010 levels of greenhouse gas emissions, to be reached by 2050. Within the next several weeks we hope that the four councils will approve the target We encourage you to reach out to your city council and/or… Continue Reading “What can YOU do about Climate Change? Use your voice,” Letter from Mary Jane Patterson, Executive Director of Reep
Rain Gardens Benefit the Entire Community – Interview with Stephen Barath, Rental Property Owner
By Sarah Lukaszczyk On a late spring Saturday morning, I made the walk from my home in Waterloo to the Mount Hope Neighborhood; I was planning to volunteer at a rain barrel fundraiser for a local charity. As I walked I began to notice subtle changes in the landscape. From diverse, grass-free lawns blooming with wildflowers to pollinator-friendly plants, it was easy to see the different ways residents in this neighborhood were safeguarding the environment and bettering the overall community aesthetic. Peoples’ desire to improve their yards was not limited to their lawns – standard grass boulevards were commonly replaced… Continue Reading Rain Gardens Benefit the Entire Community – Interview with Stephen Barath, Rental Property Owner
Air Source Heat Pumps: What are they? Should you get one?
By: Andrew Jackson, Communications Volunteer There are many options out there when it comes to heating and cooling your home. One viable, easy to install, and low energy consumption option is an air source heat pump (ASHP). How ASHPs work and operate is pretty simple. They extract the heat from outside. They can do this down to -15 C, and distribute it inside the home. They are also able to do this in reverse allowing them to cool your home by extracting the warm air from inside the house and distributing it outside. Depending on the system being installed an… Continue Reading Air Source Heat Pumps: What are they? Should you get one?
The World of Pollinators: What’s the Buzz?
SUSTAINABLE LIVING Series Garden Days in Pollinator Week! Why should we care about buzzing insects? Kim will draw you into the world of pollination, emphasizing how you can share your space with pollinators, especially native bees. Please join us for a 15-minute walk-about to look for local bees, following a 45-minute presentation at the Reep House. PRESENTER Kim Fellows has worked part-time as the outreach coordinator for Pollination Canada, a project under the umbrella of Seeds of Diversity Canada, since 2011. Kim’s related background includes a BScH and MSc in Biology from Queen’s University, and past work at Harrow Research Station, Agriculture… Continue Reading The World of Pollinators: What’s the Buzz?
Mount Hope Work Party | Plant a Rain Garden in our Community
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION Join us for a work party to build a rain garden! This rain garden will provide habitat for wildlife, attractive native pollinators like bees and butterflies and encourage rainwater to replenish the ground water, reducing pollution. RAIN Coach Becca Robinson will guide participants, step by step, through the construction of a rain garden. Following a short educational presentation on rain gardens at 10 am, participants are invited to help create a beautiful rain garden that will soak up storm-water that would otherwise run-off. Rain gardens are constructed to capture a large volume of water. Rain gardens differ from conventional… Continue Reading Mount Hope Work Party | Plant a Rain Garden in our Community
Lakeside Work Party | Plant a Rain Garden in our Community
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION Join us for a work party to build a rain garden! This rain garden will provide habitat for wildlife, attractive native pollinators like bees and butterflies and encourage rainwater to replenish the ground water, reducing pollution. RAIN Coach Michael Albanese will guide participants, step by step, through the construction of a rain garden. Following a short educational presentation on rain gardens at 10 am, participants are invited to help create a beautiful rain garden that will soak up storm-water that would otherwise run-off. Rain gardens are constructed to capture a large volume of water. Rain gardens differ from conventional… Continue Reading Lakeside Work Party | Plant a Rain Garden in our Community
