I'd been in the market to get decalling done on my Ford Escape Hybrid and I noticed a 2008 Mazda Tribute with decalling for Beyond 50 Magazine. I approached Laurel D'Andrea who works in sales as she was leaving the parking lot and asked her about the sign on her vehicle. It was exactly what I was looking for, it was perfect.

She said she got it done at Access Signs and I took down the information to give them a call.

I called Dena who manages the place, and got some info on how to get my logo and Hybrid ready for the window printing. She was helpful in getting me started; she instructed me to get the logo in vector form and to send it to her for a quote. Along the way, I ran into a file size problem because my logo was around 100 MB and so email service provider would handle that. Dena pointed me to YouSendIt.com which allows you to send up to 100 MB files via email.

Dena provided me with a quote and made me an appointment to bring in my SUV. She took measurements beforehand to get the sizing right and we talked about logo placement on the windows. She used a process called die-cutting and got the logo put on in less than an hour on the day of the appoinment. She even gave me a ride home while the decalling was being done (although she doesn't do that regularly).

My Escape looks great and I've got many compliments about the logo.

Conserving water in the Okanagan heat

Gwen Steele is a teacher of water convservation in landscaping in the Okanagan. Her thought is that a green lawn in the middle of summer indicates a waste of water unelss we choose plants that are adapted to this environment.

Instead of cedar hedge, you should look into yew which requires less water. Spring bulbs aren't around in the summer heat and are planted in the fall and produce every year. Perrenial plants can help hide the dead brown leaves of spring bulbs while offering some colour even in shady areas.

Gwen wants every garden in Kelowna and the Okanagan to be suited for the climate. The City of Kelowna is taking an initiative to plant dought-tolerant plants to set an example.

You can read more about the need for an "attitude change" and get contact information on Gwen Steele in this article by Judie Steeves.

E-friendly renovation tips that can increase the value of your investment

• Windows - switch to triple-glazed that are installed properly
• Lighting - use sensor lights, skylights, compact-flourescent bulbs
• Heating - get high-efficiency furnaces, radiant heating, solar panels, solar heated hot water tanks (hot water tanks are 25% of your gas bill)
• Insulation - pack insulation in the walls, basement, attic, around pipes
• Water - install low flow toilets and showerheads, install on-demand hot water heaters
• Paint - use paint that has no VOCs (these cause breathing problems)
• Carpet - install wool carpets that don't pollute the air and are renewable,
• Floors - use renewable resources such as bamboo or cork or recycle old materials
• Surfaces - use products such as PaperStone that is made from recycled paper instead of non-renewable stone

Tips gathered from Joanna Pachner's article titled "Green renos increase a home's value".

Renovations that make your home green can increase it's value by upto 10%

Houses that are energy efficient are more attractive to home buyers these days. Rising energy costs are driving consumers to ask about gas bills and what's been done in the house to counter the problem.

Not only do Green renovations increase home value, they decrease monthly bills as well. A study done in Toronto showed that home values increased by 5 to 10%. An Angus Reid poll indicates that 72% of Canadians will look for a more eco-friendly home with their next purchase.

RBC Royal Bank has data indicating that making green renovations such as getting energy-efficient windows, and doors and draft-proofing the house can help save nearly $25,000 over 20 years.

The Federal Government says that homes can save upto $700 a year on their heating bill by making their home more energy efficient. They also provide programs to entice home owners rebates, discounts and other cost savings.

Joanna Pachner of BMO has an article with more.

By June, Asus will have eco-friendly laptops

To promote environmentally friendly products, Asustek will introduce the 11-inch S6 and 12-inch U6 laptops which have bamboo coverings. The units are priced around $1600 USD.

Asus is also working on the same bamboo concept for desktop PCs and monitors. My next PC and laptop will be definately have components that are easily renewable and can be recycled quicker.

Digitimes has the story.

The City is developing an urban community at the corner of Richter and Harvey

The City Of Kelowna is spearheading a project to set the standard for sustainable planning and building practices. The project will have a mix of commercial and residential development alongside an extensive park.

Some of the highlights include:

• geothermal energy systems
• solar energy systems
• storm water retention
• natural ventilation
• green roofs
• green businesses

The Central Green project will be developed to the gold standard of LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED™ is the most recognized green building rating system in North America and can achieve energy savings of 50 per cent and reduce water consumption by more than 35 per cent. 

There is a public forum April 30th 2008 7 PM at the Laurel Building, 1304 Ellis Street.

TD allows you to save with a Green Mortgage and HELOC

When making environmentally friendly choices in home ownership or renovations, TD Canada Trust wants to support its customer with a new lineup of green products.

With a green home improvement or purchase, you can get:

• rate discounts - receive 1% off of the posted interest rate on a five-year fixed rate mortgage
• rebates - receive upto 1% of the mortgage for energy star appliance purchases
• flexibility - existing customers can renew or refinance into this offer

Learn more about it at TD's Green Page.

Additional resources to check out when you go green: