Reduce your EcoFootprint this Holiday Season
Dec 13th, 2009Even holiday celebrations can have a low EcoFootprint
Check out our Green Guide for a few ideas.
Choose local eco-gifts:
Check out REAP Calgary’s Green gifts for the holidays, The Calgary Herald’s Green Guide and Green Calgary’s Responsible Business Guide for a local eco-gift ideas. Other good eco-gifting sites include: Green Living Tips and Planet Friendly
Green your next home or office party:
Holding any type of event, big or small, can have an impact on the environment. Use the resources below to take simple actions to reduce the EcoFootprint of your next meeting, conference, party or other event.
- U of C Green Events Toolkit
- Sustainable Life Media – Green Event Guide
- Green Calgary – Waste Reduction for Events and Festivals
Community Footprint Update
With support from Aldermen, Community Association presidents, The City’s Community & Neighbourhood Services and dedicated citizens, the Community Footprint Program (CFP) helped support over 20 community action projects in 2009. Many of the projects are highlighted on calgary.ca/footprint and on our Footprint Action Network Blog. In 2010 we Intend to create an inventory of these projects - a toolkit – for other communities to use when planning similar actions and continue to support community leaders in the successful delivery of environmental action projects that reduce our city’s Ecological Footprint. We also want to especially thank our program sponsor ConocoPhillips Canada whose generous support helped make these community programs possible.
Congratulations Ward 14
The Lake Chaparral Community Association (LCCA) is hosting a series of green events over the next few months, starting with their 2nd Annual Christmas Festival of Lights. The Community Footprint Program is helping support the LCCA to encourage homeowners to change over to LED lights by hosting a contest; where a local sponsor is providing a string of red LED lights to the first 50 participants. The Community Association is also greening their 1st Annual Winterlude Festival and their community Spring BBQ. Residents are also encouraged to calculate their Footprint and track their actions on the EcoFootprint website
Congratulations Ward 5
The Temple Community Association in partnership with Conscious Home, and REAP Calgary will deliver the Green Living Series to Temple and surrounding community residents. Topics for the workshops include: Going Non-Toxic, Greening Your Garbage, Energy & Water Efficiency, and Shopping Responsibly. The goal is to give families the knowledge and the tools to make more environmentally responsible decisions in the home.
Congratulations Ward 8 and 11
Leave your Car at Home Day was launched by the Green Team at the South Calgary Community Association. This program promotes biking, walking and alternative modes of transportation to the car. A celebration day is planned for April and every Wednesday will be “Leave Your Car At Home Day”. They will engage local businesses, schools, library, and churches in the campaign throughout the year and look to reduce their community EcoFootprint by encouraging cycling and taking cars off the road.
Tell us about your community action on the Footprint Action Network Blog
Upcoming Workshops and Events
The City of Calgary
Learn about The City of Calgary’s Tree Recycling Program and the NEW Tree
Pick Up Service scheduled for two dates in January.
Learn to repair your own toilet and faucet leaks by booking a leak repair workshop with a
City of Calgary Water Educator in January through March. Call 3-1-1 or visit calgary.ca/waterservices
In the Community
Green Calgary’s Responsible Business Guide The Guide will assist Calgarians in discovering outstanding companies in the area of environmental, social and economic justice. If you are a business or know of a business that should be included in the guide, please contact Ami Dehne at 403 971 8872.
Simplify the Holidays The holidays are an opportunity to slow down, reflect and spend time with loved ones, but, for many, the holidays have become increasingly hectic, stressful, and exhausting. If you are looking to get back to the basics, focusing on the things that really matter – friends, family, good food, and winter fun – then check out the Simplify the Holidays brochure from the Center for a New American Dream. It is full of ideas on how to reduce stress, while increasing personal fulfillment during the holiday season.
Countdown to Copenhagen UN Climate Convention The United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7th to December 18th this year. The overall goal of the conference is to establish an ambitious global climate agreement starting in 2012 when the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires. It is expected that ministers and officials from 192 countries will take part. In addition, there will be participants from a large number of organizations.
Community Profile – Two Wheel View Two Wheel View operates free, drop-in Earn-A-Bike programs in several Calgary communities including Falconridge/Castleridge. In this program youth swap hours of community service for a bike of their own. Within this supportive environment, youth (ages 11-16) learn life skills, practice problem solving, and learn about the environment and issues that challenge young people today. Pre-loved bikes are donated by Calgarians so participants can explore Calgary’s natural environmental features. These rides allow youth to develop a “real-life” connection to nature, and provide great opportunities to discuss the environmental challenges we face.
For more information about this program or how you can support this valuable community program visit the Earn-a-Bike website.
Monthly Eco-Tip - Powering down can save you money?
Take simple actions to save you almost $600 a year:Turn down your heat, Install Insulation, and turn off electronics.
If every household in Calgary took these simple actions, we would reduce the energy we use and the greenhouse gases that make up our carbon footprint. It would be the equivalent of taking 365,000 cars off our roads.
Save money, save energy and protect our environment.
Calculate your EcoFootprint and try our NEW energy savings calculator
Other Steps to reduce your Ecological Footprint
- Calculate your Footprint
- Join the Dialogue
- Community Footprint Program blog - Click on the “F.A.N. blog” link.
- o Green Business Report
Resources
- City of Calgary’s Community Energy Initiatives
- Earth Day Canada’s Teams
- News from the Global Footprint Network (GFN)
- Footprint for kids
Contact us
Learn more about how we can support sustainability options for your home, your organization or for your community group.
