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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?
‘Food for Thought’ Panel: Community Champions for Sustainable Food
SUSTAINABLE LIVING Series Are you interested in learning about local and sustainable food initiatives in the Waterloo Region? Have you ever wondered about edible plants and plant-based nutrition? Come to the Reep House to hear from two local health and sustainable food champions about how you can live, eat, and purchase more sustainably in the Waterloo Region. Our ‘Food for Thought’ panelists are Nicola Thomas from Grand River Food Forestry and Joe Mancini from The Working Centre. Nicola and Joe will provide some “food for thought” on edible landscapes, plant-based nutrition, and community food access. This event will include a… Continue Reading ‘Food for Thought’ Panel: Community Champions for Sustainable Food
Your Options for Permeable Driveways, Patios and Paths
COACH Series Hard surfaces are among the most used areas of our properties. However, these hard surfaces tend to increase stormwater runoff that contributes to flooding and pollution. One of the ways to keep the advantages of driveways and pathways but still reduce runoff is by using permeable pavement. This workshop will help you to make sense of the options available so that you can make an informed choice. Topics covered include: What is the difference between the various permeable technologies on the market? What are the pros and cons of each? When is using permeable the right (and wrong)… Continue Reading Your Options for Permeable Driveways, Patios and Paths
Healthy Yards: Designing Your Garden
COACH Series This is a new series of events featuring our resident experts in home energy efficiency, RAIN Smart Homes and waste reduction. Healthy Yards: Designing Your Garden This workshop is perfect for Do-it-Yourselfers who have an early-stage plan for their healthy yard and desire additional design support to fulfill their vision for a healthy yard. We will build upon the concepts and principles learned in Healthy Yards: Idea Spark & Planning and guide you through a more detailed design for your healthy yard project(s). The workshop will focus on planting design and project planning for rain gardens and naturalized… Continue Reading Healthy Yards: Designing Your Garden
