Brockville Climate Action Group

Sarnia Observer / Tara Hagan / 08 November 2008

When it began three years ago, people were coming to Lambton College’s Energy Forum out of curiosity. Now, they’re coming for solutions.

So says Dr. Maike Luiken, dean off applied research, business development and innovation, and sustainable development.

“We hear in the news that climate change is real, and that our energy supply is becoming more and more limited,” she said. “There is a real movement towards more sustainability in this community.”

The Journal (Queen's University) / Aaron Myran / 24 October 2008

Many of you consider yourselves environmentally conscious members of the Queen’s community. You turn off lights, walk everywhere and are educated about the causes of global climate change. But, for the majority of you, everything that you have done is not enough to prevent this looming global disaster. The scope of this issue is so large and the window of opportunity is so small that only large-scale policy change can have an impact at this point. While it is important to educate individuals about sustainable practices, it is simply not enough. However, an option for real change is available to you and to Queen’s right now, where we can create lasting change that will mitigate climate change and spring Queen’s into the forefront of the environmental movement. We need to sign the University Presidents Climate Commitment (UPCC).

Ronald Zajac reports in The Recorder and Times today:

Students and staff at Meadowview Public School have turned green into silver.

Much of the school population was out planting trees on Friday, part of an afternoon marking Meadowview's EcoSchools Silver designation by the provincewide EcoSchools environmental program.

Globe and Mail / Mark D Dunn / 29 May 2008

Hardhats and safety harnesses are the latest in spring fashion wear at Elliot Lake Secondary School. Students don the gear while climbing the school roof, where 12 solar panels and a vertical wind turbine are being installed.

Ontario Power Authority / Press Release / 26 May 2008

With budgets tightening, government agencies, schools, health-care organizations and other institutions have a perfect opportunity to reduce operating expenses by using electricity more efficiently. Improvements can be made throughout an organization to achieve energy efficiency.

Did You Know...

• Almost 40 per cent of an institutional building's electricity is consumed by lighting systems.(1)

• In 2005, 91 per cent of commercial and institutional establishments in Ontario were at least partially air-conditioned, the highest rate in the country, with electricity being the most significant primary energy source.(2)

• Every kilowatt-hour saved through conservation prevents two pounds of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) from reaching the atmosphere.(3)

Canadian Press / 04 April 2008

Shona Couturier of St-Hubert, Que., stood at the base of a towering Norwegian land glacier when suddenly a horrible rumbling broke the Arctic calm. The 17-year-old glanced up as massive chunks ripped free from an adjacent glacier and slammed into the icy ocean below, the force of which sent waves crashing onto the ground around her.

"That image just stays in my mind so much. It was the noise that it made because everything around you is so quiet," said Couturier as she recalled taking part in Cape Farewell, a charitable organization and international climate change awareness program.