Fall 2007 Eco Newsletter, EcoSuperior

8/8/2019 Fall 2007 Eco Newsletter, EcoSuperior

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Wondering if your old furnace will make it through another winter? Trying to decideif adding insulation to the attic will be worth the expense? Take a look at the ecoEnergyRetrofit program from the federal governmentthe grants available make many homeimprovements look very attractive.

How about up to $300 toward the cost of that new furnace? Add another $300cheque from the provincial government, which is current-ly matching the federal grants. The province will also give

you $150 toward the cost of your home energy evaluation(which MUST be completed before you start the renova-tions, in order to access any grants).

EcoSuperiors Don Rutledge has helped hundreds ofhomeowners reduce their energy bills and access thou-sands of dollars in federal grants. Due to the demand, weare currently training another certified home energy eval-uatorKen Piccinin will be at your service later this fall.Our home energy evaluation fees stay in our communityand help support local environmental programs.

The more improvements you make, the larger your

grant will be. For example, upgrading to a high efficien-cy gas furnace could earn a grant of $300, an Energy Star

oil or gas boiler $600. A ground- or water-source heat pump earns $3,500. Replaceyour wood-burning appliance with an EPA-approved unit and receive $300. Installingan HRV earns a grant of $300. Adding insulation also brings significant grant amountsup to $600 for attic insulation, up to $500 for basement walls, up to $800 for crawl-space. And remember, until March 2008, you can double those grant amounts with theadded contribution from the provincialgovernment.

Your EcoEnergy Retrofit report willinclude recommendations for prioritizingwork, and estimates of your energy sav-ings as a result of each measure. You have18 months from the date of the pre-reno-vation evaluation to complete the work,which can be done by yourself or a con-tractor. Only homes that have had a pre-and post-retrofit evaluation from anNRCan-licensed energy advisor are eligi-ble for grants. Get the details at www.eco-

superior.org, then call 624-2140 to bookyour appointment.

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October 2007

Can you say benthic macroinvertebrates? Superior Science summer camp participants examine stream-dwellinginsects from the McIntyre River.

Inside Waste Reduction Week Board Vacancies

Nipigon Earth Group

Environmental Films

Saving Energy with

Computers

Help for Well Owners

Study Our StreamsSchool Program

Renovation Grants Doubled for Homeowners

Kids playing in the stream and catching bugsis it education or justplain fun? Thanks to EcoSuperiors Study Our Streams program, itsboth! Over 50 Superior Science summer camp participants took part inthe program this summer. Careful observation while walking along theMcIntyre River made everyone aware of the different creatures livingaround, on and in the river.

We quickly focussed our attention on the strange and unusual crittersthat live on the bottom of streams and rivers. Everyone learned about thestrange adaptations of many creatures to their watery world. Using puz-zle pieces and drawings, we looked at all sorts of amazing insect features,from the dragonflys hydraulic lower lip that extends to almost three timesthe length of its head to snatch passing prey, to the caddisflys house built

of glued-together bits of leaves and debris.The hour-long session ended with a close-up view of live underwater

creatures gathered from the McIntyre River. Everyone watched in fasci-nation as dragonfly larvae chased other creatures in the enamel observa-tion pans. Trading cards featuring photos and interesting facts about theseunderwater creatures were distributed. Everyone left the session with anew respect for rivers, streams and the creatures that live in them.

If you would like your Grade 4 or 7 class to experience the wondersof life in streams and rivers, contact EcoSuperior to book a one-hour ses-sion of activities and games. You dont need to be located on a river totake advantage of this program. Contact Lucie Lavoie, ProjectCoordinator, at 624-2143.


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CommunityPartnersECO-NEWS EcoSuperior 2

EcoNews is produced by EcoSuperiorEnvironmental Programs. Look for our regulareditions in your Chronicle Journal every Apriland October. All the articles are written byEcoSuperior staff unless otherwise credited. We

are a non-profit organization, providing publiceducation in the areas of water and energy con-servation, waste reduction, pollution prevention and urban greenspaces. Ourprogram area includes the City of Thunder Bay & the Lake Superior region. Ifyou would like to comment on our programs, please con tact us: 212 MilesStreet East, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7C 1J6 Telephone: 807-624-2140Facsimile: 807-622-0005 www.ecosuperior.org [email protected]

About Eco-News

Staff Profile: Bill BradshawNew to our office since June, Bill Bradshawis one of the friendly faces youll meet inour resource centre. As Customer Serviceand Outreach Assistant, Bill has beenanswering telephone enquiries, preparing

and staffing displays at public events, keep-ing our website up to date and providingWater Saver home visits, among many otherdiverse responsibilities!

Being from a small town in south-western Ontario, Ive always had a stronginterest in nature, as there isnt much of itleft in that area. After obtaining a diplo-ma in Environmental Management, Iheaded north with my fiance for her topursue her teaching degree at L.U. and

for me to explore potential opportunitiesin the environmental field. Throughout

my studies, I have learned that themunicipal level of concern is whatachieves the greatest impact on our envi-ronment. Groups like EcoSuperior arenot as common as they should be and Im

happy to have found such a group inThunder Bay.

After being with EcoSuperior for fourmonths now, I am amazed at the level ofinvolvement and number of programareas offered. This job has involved sucha wide variety of work, from stream sam-pling and attending local events to assist-ing city residents with their many envi-ronmental concerns. Having the chanceto be involved with so many areas of thecitys efforts has given me a better under-

standing of all the work required to keepa beautiful city growing.

EcoSuperior is managed by a Board of Directors, a group of twelve volunteers who

set the course for this organization. They represent a cross-section of the community andbring a wide range of skills, knowledge and connections to the table. Our directors meetapproximately 8 times per year, discussing program ideas, funding opportunities, com-munity priorities and potential partnerships. They share a common interest in environ-mental issues and community sustainability.

There are currently two vacancies on the Board. If you would like to be consideredas a board member, send us a letter outlining your interest in EcoSuperior, what sectorof the community you represent, your qualifications and demonstrated commitment toenvironmental concerns. Describe how you feel your participation could assist our orga-nization. Previous board experience is not necessary. Letters of interest will be accept-ed until October 31, 2007.

Please address your letter to Donna Alberts, Administrative Assistant, EcoSuperior,

212 Miles St. East, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 1J6 or to [email protected]

Board Positions Available

Think Outside the Bank

142 S. Algoma Street Phone: 345-7612 Fax: 345-8939

www.baycreditunion.com

In addition to the list above, we must thank the many local businesses who make

it possible for people to make the right choices; the local media that help us spread

the word, and many volunteer and committee members who provide invaluable

assistance.

The many community programs and projects that you will read about in this

newsletter would not be possible without the efforts of those who finance and con-

tribute to EcoSuperiors activities. Through contributions of ideas, connections,

expertise and financial support, the following organizations have played a major

role in our success. We extend our sincere gratitude to the individuals within these

organizations that have helped us along the way.

City of Thunder Bay

Environment Canada

Litterfree Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Ontario Ministry of the Environment

Ontario Ministry of Natural

Resources

Ontario Power Authority

Ontario Ministry of Energy

Great Lakes Sustainability Fund

Green Communities Canada

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Union Gas

Bowater

Chronicle Journal

Dougall Media

Zero Waste Action Team

ReCool Canada

Shell Environment Fund

EarthWise Thunder Bay

Greg Malo Photography


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Several dedicated residents of Nipigon, including Ron and Janet Brace (above)launched a new organization in Nipigon called Earth Group, in hopes of bringingawareness to environmental issues in their community. They called on EcoSuperiorfor assistance, and our Pollution Prevention Coordinator Jim Bailey addressed thegroup earlier this summer. They put together a great display for the Nipigon FishingFestival in September, winning the Rotary Best Booth award, and promoting WasteReduction action. Congratulations to these terrific eco-leaders in the township ofNipigon!

3

ECO-NEWS EcoSuperior 3

Nipigon Earth Group

Submitted by Jon Hendel, SUCCI

Here at Confederation College we are riding the "Green Wave. The College andStudent Union are working together to make huge changes in how we do business.We are in our third year of an extensive energy conservation program withHoneywell, and looking forward to a report on our achievements coming inNovember. Further on the energy front, the Student Union of Confederation CollegeInc. (SUCCI) has now become a member of Bull Frog Power(www.bullfrogpower.com). This company assesses your organization's electricityusage and then gives you the opportunity to invest in making your offices powered100% by Green Energy (wind and water).

SUCCI will also be launching their "Lug-A-Mug" program to address the issueof how many coffee cups are used on campus. At the Shuniah Building alone, we go

through 1200 cups per day. With this program we will be selling travel mugs at costto students & staff. Every time they use this coffee mug, they will receive 10 centsoff their purchase. For every 20th coffee/tea purchased with the mug--it's on us.

SUCCI's promotional "Go Green" campaign will include "green" products avail-able for purchase, "green" habits to adopt in our daily routines, and a list of all theareas within our College where we can improve. Our goal is to work our waythrough that list and see the green wave grow with every school year.

Anishinabek of the Gitchi Gami (AGG), an environmental stewardship group atFort William First Nation, proudly announce the start of a one year curbside recyclingservice trial on Monday October 8, 2007.

The group has obtained funding to initiate curbside recycling to 80 residents forthis pilot program, which includes Mountain Road, City Road, and Quarry Road onthe Fort William First Nation. Each house will be provided with a one time only setof blue recycling bags. We encourage all residents in the trial area to participate to thefull extent.

"We are really excited about helping area residents start to address waste reductionin our community," says AGG staffer Violet Pleavin. "This pilot program is a greatstart, and we have plans for many other environmental initiatives In the monthsahead."

After one year, the trial program will be evaluated, and hopefully expanded toenable other areas of the Fort William First Nation to have access to the curbsiderecycling service. Any questions you may have can be directed to Violet Pleavin or

any AGG staff at 807-623-9575 or [email protected] of the Gitchi Gami is Ojibwa for "people of the big water" i.e. Lake

Superior. Find out more about this youth-driven group at www.gitchigami.org.

Green WaveGoes To College

Curbside Recycling atFort William First Nation


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4


Reduce!

We Canadians collect so much stuff!Studies have shown that if everyone onEarth lived like the average Canadian, wewould need more than four planet Earthsto provide all the materials and energy wecurrently use. So many things are usedonly once or twice, and then tossed in adrawer, closet, basement or garage, andeventually end up in the landfill. We canhave a big impact by asking ourselves afew simple questions before we make apurchase, such as:

Do I really need this?

Do I have something already that would

do the job, or could I borrow or buy

second-hand?

Is this a quality product that will last?

Does it contain toxic substances that will

pollute my home and my environment?

Is there an alternative with less packaging?

How far did this item have to travel to

reach me?

So, maybe I dont need to buy this after all!

Reuse!Lots of people throw stuff in the

garbage simply because they dont knowwhat else to do with it. But hold on therethere are lots of options for passing alongyour unwanted items. Many charities arehappy to take your used goods (in useablecondition), and some will even pick themup for you. These are also great places to

shop for bargains. Other options includehosting a yard sale or posting items in theclassified section of the newspaper, or withlocal web-based exchange programs suchas Freecycle or Craigslist. Remember theold sayingone persons trash is anotherpersons treasure. The more we re-use,the longer our resources will last.

Recycle!

There are a lot of reasons to recycle.For instance, recycling reduces the needfor land-filling and incineration; preventspollution; saves energy and reduces green-house gas emissions; conserves naturalresources such as timber, water and miner-als, creates jobs and helps sustain theenvironment for future generations.Sometimes, especially if you move fromcity to city, it can be confusing as to whatis recyclable and what isnt. ThunderBays distance from recycling plants

makes it expensive to ship recyclables,thus limiting which products can viably becollected. We can all help out by follow-ing our recycling guidelines (see yourphone book or garbage pick-up schedulefor details). This will mean less time andmoney devoted to sorting out the garbage,so more energy can go towards building abetter community.

Compost!Canadians produce approximately 7

million tonnes of organic waste each year.By composting our kitchen and yardwaste we can reduce the amount ofmaterial going to the landfill by 30 %.Also, compost makes great food andmulch for plants, replacing chemical fertil-izers and pesticides. Compost improvessoil structure and fertility and increases itsmoisture-holding capacity, all while reduc-ing waste! Build your own bin or buy onefrom EcoSuperior. We have lots of infor-mation to help you get started.

Amazing Recycling Facts...Did you know?(Courtesy of ReCool Canada)

Recycling 3,000 kgs of aluminum willsave enough energy to power an averagevehicle to the moon (384,000 kms away).

Throwing out one aluminum can is likepouring out 170ml of gasoline, whilerecycling that can will save enoughenergy to run a television set for 3hours.

Paper and cardboard make up nearly40% of the waste stream. By recyclingone tonne of paper we save:

26,319 litres of water

1,753 litres of oil

219 kilograms of air pollution

2.34 cubic metres of landfill site

4,077 Kilowatt Hours of Electricity

(Enough to power a typical 3 bedroomhouse for one year).

Shopping BagsTheres a lot of talk going on around

the world about the problems with plasticbags. Ireland imposed a tax on plasticbags, which resulted in a 90 to 95%decrease in consumption, while raisingfunds for the environment. Some retail-

ers charge a small fee for bags. Otherretailers, cities and even countries havebanned them altogether. We can all doour part by refusing disposable shoppingbags, by using our own reusable bags orbins, or simply carrying our purchases inhand, pocket or purse.

Where to find reusable shopping bagsin Thunder Bay: A&P, Safeway, QualityMarket, Superstore, Georges Market,Wal-Mart, Chaltrek, Finnport, ThunderBay Country Market, EcoSuperior,

Thunder Bay Public Library.If you know of any other local busi-

nesses offering cloth or other reusableshopping bags, please let us know. [email protected] or call 624-2148.

For more information about the prob-lems with plastic bags and what we cando about it, check out some of these web-sites:

www.bringyourownbag.ca

www.reusablebags.com

www.estringbags.com.au

www.plasticshoppingbagfree.org.nz.

Travel Mugs vs.Disposable Coffee Cups

Want to save money and help the envi-ronment? Several coffee and tea shopsaround town will give you a discountwhen you bring your own mug. Andthose discounts can really add up. Forexample, if you bought a coffee five daysa week, you could throw out 260 dispos-

able cups, or, if you used your own mug,you would save $26 or more each year,depending on the storethats a lot offree drinks (or a lot of garbage)! Here isa list of places we found that will giveyou a discount when you bring your ownmug. Ask them for details:

Calico Coffeehouse (coffee)

Great Northwest Coffee Company(coffee)

Caf West Arthur(coffee)

Tim Hortons(hot drinks)

Starbucks(any drink)

Steepers (tea)

Seattle Coffee House

Turn That Key...Go Idle Free!

Theres a new game in town. Insteadof using the drive-thru at a fast-food orcoffee shop, some smart customers areentering the parking lot, turning off theirvehicles, and checking out the line-up ofcars in the drive-thru lane. They walkinto the building to make their purchase,and then walk back out to their vehicle,noticing where the drivers in line are at.And more often than not, they are ontheir way, enjoying their coffee while theidlers are still in line!

Idling for more than 10 seconds usesmore fuel than it does to restart yourengine. Add to the unnecessary wastingof fuel (and money!!) the extra pollutiongoing into the air and the wear and tearon your vehicle, and idling really doesntmake much sense at all! Other goodplaces to shut the engine off: at the drive-thru bank machine, and while waiting fora train to pass.

Experts agree that the best way towarm up your car is to drive it. Help

your vehicle out on those extra cold daysby plugging in the block heater for 2-3hours prior to use, and scrape the frostaway rather than waiting for thedefroster to do it for you.

Of course, the some of the best waysto get around without harming the envi-ronment are by foot, bicycle, rollerblades or public transit. But if you aregoing to drive, please remember to useyour vehicle responsibly. Theres only somuch fresh air and fuel to go around, andwe all need to do our part.

Ways to Reduce your Waste-LineMake Every Week Waste Reduction Week


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Waste Reduction Week: October 15-21, 2007

Bagging Rights

Thunder Bay will once again be a part of the nation-wide celebration to raise awareness of waste reduction.EcoSuperior and the City of Thunder Bay EnvironmentDivision and our community partners will be coordinatinga wide range of activities, so plan to participate!

Get Caught RecyclingReCool, the City of Thunder Bay and EcoSuperior will

be rewarding recyclers for their efforts. Magic 99 and TheGiant will be watching the depots, curb-sides and apart-ment recycling areas in your neighbourhood and offeringrandom rewards to lucky recyclers.

Mr. Greens GuideEver wonder what to do with old computers, printer

cartridges, or other items that you no longer have use for,but you know dont belong in the landfill? Check out thiscomprehensive new guide for local recycling and re-usesolutions. It will be launched during Waste ReductionWeek and on-line soon at www.ecosuperior.org,www.thunderbay.ca or www.tbpl.ca or pick up a copy atthe Thunder Bay Public Library or EcoSuperior office.

Household Hazardous Waste DepotThis is a great time to get rid of all your household haz-

ardous waste before winter! The Household HazardousWaste Depot at the John Street Landfill Site is free ofcharge for city residents, and you can drop off items allyear round.

School ProgramsEcoSuperior and Lakehead University Education stu-

dents will be visiting classrooms during Waste ReductionWeek, sharing practical ideas on how to reduce waste.Several schools will also participate in a Battery RoundUp program, where students can bring dead batteries toschool to be collected for safe disposal.

Retail ProgramLocal businesses will help us to educate the communi-

ty about ways to reduce waste. Watch for the Too good

to Waste logo reminder messages on store shelves!Local paint stores will be distributing stickers thatremind you how to safely dispose of paint. Many thanksto all of our local retail partners for participating in WasteReduction Week!

Radio ContestsBe listening to your favourite radio stations for a

chance to win great prizes. But be sure to brush up on

your waste reduction triviayou will need to know theright stuff to win!

Great Pumpkin Compost CollectionResidents are encouraged to put Jack in the Box, not in

the trash. Last year over 30 tonnes of pumpkins werediverted from the landfill to the municipal compostingfacility. Bins for Halloween Pumpkins will be set up fromNovember 1st 11th at the Lakehead Labour Centre,County Fair Plaza and the Westfort Playfield.Rememberno plastic bags, no candles, and no trashpumpkins only please! Sponsored by ReCool Canada Inc.and Print Pros Plus.

For more information on any of these programs visitwww.ecosuperior.org and click on the Waste ReductionWeek link, or call EcoSuperior at 624-2140.

Municipal Green AwardThe Municipal Green Award serves as an incentive and

gives recognition to successful waste reduction initiativesof individuals, businesses and organizations in ThunderBay.

The Zero Waste Action Team (ZWAT) and the City ofThunder Bay are currently assessing 2007 applications forthe award, and will begin accepting 2008 applications inlate October until May 2, 2008.

Previous recipients include Valhalla Inn, Pack ProsPlus, Ontario Power Generation, Thunder Bay Salmon

Association, Victoria Inn, Thunder Bay Regional HealthSciences Centre and MGM Electric. Castlegreen HousingCooperative received a certificate of recognition for theirwaste reduction efforts.

For more information, or for an application form, visitwww.zwat.ca or call Vanessa de Giacomo at 625-3851.

The plastic shopping bag issue is big news lately, with some towns banning them, andsome grocery stores eliminating thembut still, we see them blowing around all overtown. The facts are frightening: worldwide, nearly a trillion bags are consumed eachyearthats over 1 million per minute! Manufacturing those bags uses more than 40billion gallons of oil every year. And thousands of birds, sea turtles, whales and otherwildlife die a slow death by ingesting or getting tangled in the discarded bags.

Clearly, we need to do something, and Im trying really really hard. Ive amassed ahuge collection of cloth tote bagsnow if I could just remember to take them with mewhen Im shopping. The key, according to the experts, is to keep the supply of bags inyour vehicle, not in your closet. As soon as you unload merchandise from the bags, putthe bags back out in the vehiclethis is a good chore for the kids.

So you have the bags in the vehiclenow you just have to remember to take themwith you into the store. How many times have I been merrily zooming the grocery cartfrom aisle to aisle when I suddenly realize#!*&, I forgot my bags again!Sometimes, Im already in the checkout line when the memory strikes. There is onlyone cure for bagamnesia. Make yourself take that long walk back out to the parkinglot to fetch your collection. Trust me, you wont have to do it more than once or twicebefore the message is permanently etched in the frontal lobe. Its a bit like house-train-ing the new puppy.

Once youve mastered the take-your-own-bag behaviour, youll begin to start growl-ing when you are faced with others bad bagging habits. For example, some poor clerkat the corner store tries to put your bag of milk in a bag for you. Heres how you han-dle that situationremember SNUB: Say No to Unnecessary Bags. Just remember to

do it politely, with no snarling.

On and around the weekend of October 20th and 21st, residents of Greenstone willhave a chance to get rid of hazardous waste from around the home. Collection eventswill be offered at central locations in the communities of Beardmore, Geraldton,Longlac and Nakina. Specific event times and dates for each community are current-ly being finalized.

Residents are encouraged to bring in old paint and solvents, automotive fluids,batteries, mercury and any articles that contain mercury, pesticides, propane containers,cleaning fluids, etc. Note that used oil (transmission, motor orhydraulic) will not be accepted at these collection events, as otheroptions for oil disposal are already in place. There is no charge andthe event is open to all residents of Greenstone. Hazardous wastefrom commercial and industrial sources will not be accepted.

The goal of these events is to reduce the amount of toxic sub-stances entering the landfill and surrounding groundwater.

The collection event will be carried out by a hazardous wastecarrier certified by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and isbeing organized in conjunction with EcoSuperior and the munic-ipality of Greenstone. Financial support for the collection is beingprovided by Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry ofEnvironment.

For more information, contact Jim Bailey, Pollution Prevention

Coordinator at EcoSuperior, 624-2144.

Household Hazardous Waste

Collections For Greenstone


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Whats forSale?

Drop into 212 Miles Street East to pick

up or order the following items. We areopen weekdays from 8:30am to4:30pm.

Shopping BagsCotton tote bag with an environmentalmessage, EcoSuperior and City ofThunder Bay logo just $2 each.Proceeds support our community pro-grams.

Blue BagsGet set for a years worth of recyclingwith rolls of 25 clear blue bags for just$5. No packaging ready to use!

CompostersThe Earth Machine composter is avail-able to city residents for just $25. Wecan also help you out with advice onany composting questions or problems.

Rain BarrelsPlastic rain barrels are in stock now,

priced at $35 & available to Thunder Bayresidents with a current water account.Great gift idea!

Kill-A-Watt MeterBorrow this device for a one-week termto test appliances and find out the oper-ating cost and electricity consumed. A$20 deposit is required, returned to youwhen you return the meter. Note elec-tronic energy cost meters are also avail-able at Thunder Bay Public Library. You

can borrow one with your library card!

Gift CertificatesAsk us about gift certificates for a HomeEnergy Evaluation or any of our retailitems. A great Christmas Gift!

Welcome to our GardenThere is a beautiful new sign identifying our

Natural Environment Garden on Central Avenue,a partnership project of EcoSuperior and the Cityof Thunder Bay. Many people have said Ivenoticed that garden, but never knew what it was!

Well, now were out of the closet, thanks to fund-ing from the Shell Environment Fund, and theimpressive artwork by Ron Cameron of WoodenEarth Signs. This funding also allowed us to cre-ate a budding new Anishinabek garden and inter-pretive signs for our on-site composter and solarpump, both of which will be installed next spring.Learn the ins-and-outs of composting and howthe sun can provide irrigation while enjoying thesights and sounds of Nature in the middle of theCity. This is a great spot to have lunch or read abook, either basking in the sun or enjoying the

shade of a willow tree.

How to Deal with aBroken Fluorescent Light

All fluorescent lights contain mercury. The mercury in fluo-rescent lights is in vapour form and also in the phosphor pow-der which coats the inside of the lamp. Fluorescent lights in use

are perfectly safe and pose no health risk. However, if a fluo-rescent light is broken, we recommend that the following steps:

1. Open the windows & leave the room for at least 15 minutes.

2. Wearing gloves, carefully dispose of any broken glass, aswell as any loose white powder (fluorescent glass coating).Use sticky tape to pick up small pieces of glass or powder.

3. Double bag all parts that you pick up.

4. Clearly label the bag as containing mercury waste.

5. Deposit the waste at your local household hazardous wastedepot. In Thunder Bay this depot is located just to the right

of the gates at the John St. Landfill. There is no cost to Cityof Thunder Bay residents using the depot.

Note: DO NOT USE A VACUUM CLEANER (as theexhaust air from the vacuum will spread the mercury vapour.A wet paper towel should be used instead of a vacuum clean-er for cleanup of glass and powder.

The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was bro-ken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (orempty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum

debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plasticbags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for nor-mal disposal.

These same precautions should apply if you break anyhousehold device that contains mercury, such as an old-stylethermometer or furnace thermostat. If you have aspent fluorescent bulb, you can bring it to ourcollection depot at ecoSuperior, 212 MilesStreet East between May and Simpsonstreets. We can accept bulbs from house-holds only, Monday to Friday 8:30 to4:30. Residential bulb recycling issupported in part by OntarioPower Generation (OPG). Spentbulbs from commercial sourcesmay be taken to MGM Electricon MacDonnell Street whererecycling service is offeredfor a fee.


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Assistance Program forElectric Heat Homes

Area residents who are least able to afford rising energy bills are now able toaccess a free assistance program through EcoSuperior. Income-eligible households

with electrically heated homes can apply for a free energy audit as well as compre-hensive retrofits to help make their homes more energy-efficient.Green Communities Canada (GCC) has been retained by the Ontario Power

Authority (OPA) to operate an energy conservation program for low-income house-holds in privately-owned single family houses. EcoSuperior has been contracted byGCC to deliver in this region. Tenants or homeowners may apply. The programoffers energy audits in electrically-heated single family houses and comprehensiveretrofits on the building envelope and some appliances, where cost-effective.

Eligible households will receive, free of charge:

Home energy evaluation

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

Low-flow showerheads and aerators

Water heater insulation blanket

Water heater pipe wrap

Advice and education on reducing energy bills

Approximately 60% of homes where greater needs are identified, may also receive,free of charge:

Refrigerator replacement

Hot water tank replacement (electric to gas)

Draftproofing and insulation (attic, walls, basement, crawlspace, exposed floors)

Application forms and eligibility guidelines are available at EcoSuperior, 212MilesStreet East, and www.ecosuperior.org. The program is available until December 2007.

HowWell isYourWell?If your water comes from

a well, either drilled or dug,you need to know how toprotect and preserve yourwater quality. Our WellAware program offers a freehome visit service that showsyou how to properly main-tain your well and septic sys-tem, and how to identify andaddress any potential prob-lems. Call us today to bookan appointment at 624-2140.A small mileage fee mayapplybut if we can book avisit with a neighbor on thesame day, well waive thefee. See www.wellaware.cafor more details.

Green Drinks!

Rain Barrel ReminderDo your friends call you names like the eco-freakor the

green guru? Are you the one picking the pop cans out of theoffice garbage and putting them in the recycle bin? Do you thrill tothe sight of finished compost in the bottom of a backyard composter?

Guess what you are not alone! Folks like you who have a genuineinterest in environmental issues actually gather in significant numbersonce a month at an event known as Green Drinks. We meet to mix andmingle, enjoy a favourite beverage, discuss ideas and issues and enjoygood company, on the third Wednesday of every month.

Green Drinks Thunder Bay is a part of the world-wide GreenDrinks phenomenon. See www.greendrinks.org for details on howthe concept of gatherings for the environmentally-minded hasgrown to include groups in more than 100 countries.

Join us for the next Green Drinks at the L.U. Outpost on Wednesday, October 17from 5 7 p.m. Everyone welcome (even if youre not quite an eco-freak!)

MOD SHOP(A recycling member of our community)

Your Donations Divert Tons of Reusable Items From Our Landfill Site and help us assist adults with disabilities in Thunder BayWE ARE DOING CURBSIDE - Just fill a clear or blue bag with clothing and put it at curbside on your regular recycling day.

Items we accept include:Furniture Quality Used Clothing,

Books, Toys, Housewares,

Small Working Appliances (TVs, VCRs, Stereos)

No Large Appliances

Our Bin Locations:237 Camelot Street

Kakabeka Esso

Behind the Brick

Drop Off Donations at:237 Camelot Street or at Mod Shop,

140 South Syndicate Avenue

For Fast Free Pickup of

Large Items, Please Call622-5281

Monday - Saturday

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Your rain barrel has served you wellall season long, taking care of your plantswith healthy chlorine-free rainwater.Now its time for you to take care of yourrain barrel: be sure to turn your barrelsupside down or take them inside for stor-age over the winter. Any water left insidecould cause the barrel to freeze and split!Dont take a chance put your rain bar-rels away before freeze-up!


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Contributed by Lyne Soramaki, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Nowadays, there is a growing concern about how exposure to toxic chemicals found in the environment can affect thehealth of unborn babies and children. Children are more vulnerable to environmental contaminants and this starts in thewomb. Children are exposed to greater levels of contaminants than an adult mainly because of their size. They are less able

to remove the toxins from their bodies and this can particularly end up affecting vital organs such as the brain. Although wecannot remove all of the environmental toxins and hazards around us, there are ways to decrease a childs risk.

Start childproofing early- even in pregnancy. A good place to start is with the food you eat.

Choose organic foods when children will only eat a limited variety of food

Purchase local food. This means less distance from field to table which means less pesticides and preservatives are needed

Check out your local farmers market or obtain a copy of the Farm Fresh Products brochure at www.tbdhu.com

Aim for a variety of fruits and vegetables so that children are not always exposed to thesame types and levels of residues

When your food budget is tight, stretch the organic food dollar by choosing organicfor foods that tend to be higher in contaminants such as dairy, eggs and meat and/or

focus on food that has less difference in price between organic and non organic. Fresh food with minimal amounts of additives or processing is known to be lowerin contaminants than processed foods

According to the U.S. Environmental Working Group you can lower your pesti-cide exposure by 90% if you avoid The Dirty Dozen which include: peaches,

apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears,grapes(imported), spinach, lettuce and potatoes. Replace these with organic fruits and

vegetables when possible. Do not remove fruits and vegetables from your childsdiet.

For more information on environmental childproofing tips or to down-load an environmental checklist, please visit www.tbdhu.com & search

home environment or phone 625-5972.

EcoSuperior has joined a number ofother community groups to form theEnvironmental Film Network. Many thanksto Eleanor Dunn for spearheading this initia-tive. The idea is to bring environmentallyfocused films and documentaries to ThunderBay. The first film, Toxic Trespass, was anOntario premiere for the National FilmBoard production, and attracted a large audi-ence.

All films are shown at the ParamountBalcony Theatre, 24 South Court Street.Admission is free, but donations are accept-ed, and all proceeds will support the filmsponsor. Plan to attend the following filmscoming up this fall:

The Fight for True Farming,7:00 p.m.Wednesday, October 17,presented by the Food SecurityResearch Network

Forbidden Forest,7:00 p.m. November 14

Being Caribou,

7:00 p.m. December 12

Whats in the Food Kids Eat? EnvironmentalFilm Network

The City of Thunder Bay Water Conser-vation program provides rebates when youswitch to a water-conserving toilet. Get $125credit on your water bill toward the purchaseand installation of an ultra-low-flush (6-litre)

or $150 for a dual flush (3-6 litre) toilet. Alimited number of rebates are available toCity of Thunder Bay water customers whohave the toilet installed by a participatingplumber, and who have a Water Saver visitperformed prior to the installation. Call ouroffice for an appointment at 624-2140.

The Toilet Rebate Program is available toboth residential and commercial customers,and now includes rebates when old fixturesare replaced with 6-litre ULF toilets, two-button toilets and waterless urinals. Please

contact EcoSuperior before any purchase orinstallation to ensure that rebates are stillavailable, as they are in limited quantities.

Toilet Rebates

Less energy is consumed when computers and monitors are turned on and off (as often as required) than when left on overtime. In fact, all electronic devices use more energy when left on, as opposed to being turned on and off as needed. (OntarioMinistry of Energy, 2007)

Turning your PC on and off does not wear it out. Today's PCs are designed to handle 40,000 on/off cycles before a failure,and that's a number you likely won't reach during the computer's five-to-seven-year life span. (Microsoft Small Business, 2007)

All of the computers currently in use at work and at home represent a tremendous opportunity for energy conservation. In arecent survey conducted by EcoSuperior, we found that more than 25% of home computer users left their workstations on 24hours a day. Nearly half have more than one computer at home. Workplace respondents indicated that 93 percent do not shutoff their monitor when they walk awaya simple habit that results in significant savings. And more than a quarter of the busi-ness workstations are still using old style CRT monitors. New flat screen LCD monitors use less than a third of the energyrequired by those big old monitors.

Starting next month, EcoSuperior will be launching a new program Click On Savings that will help both home and busi-ness computer users reduce their energy consumption. If you are interested in a workplace presentation, contact Bill Bradshawat 624-2147.

Did You Know?

Documents

Fall 2007 Eco Newsletter, EcoSuperior