Lindsay Eason and Angela Reid, Kelowna’s newest City Councilor, have teamed up to create a new exciting business in the Central Okanagan. GreenStep Sustainability Coaching is a subsidiary of Tigress Ventures Inc and a partnership with Global Affinity. GreenStep can help small to medium sized businesses navigate the path towards sustainability by strategically integrating sustainability principles and new opportunities into their business model.

These creative young women saw a great need to guide local companies towards sustainability because businesses all over the world are now looking for ways to become greener and more efficient. And the results show that most are benefiting in many ways; such as saving money by reducing operating costs, creating new revenue opportunities, higher employee retention and strengthened reputation, not to mention decreasing their environmental impact.

GreenStep uses a science-based approach developed by the Natural Step as well as many other tools and resources to help businesses integrate sustainability. Please visit their website for more information www.green-step.ca.

The JP Broadcast Group (Jim Pattison) with the help of the David Suzuki Foundation is launching its first-ever green programming initiative across all 28 of it's radio stations throughout British Columbia and Alberta.

The Suzuki Report, a key element of the green radio initiative will be heard in Kelowna on B-103 FM and Power 104.

Starting this fall, British Columbians and Albertans will be more aware of environmental issues by listening to the Report from Monday to Friday.

The radio stations will air long and short form structured programs with announcer dialogue and community service initiatives. The green programming will make listeners aware of recycling drives, environmental fundraisers and green events that will receive exposure on the respective station websites as well.

 

The 3rd annual Organic Okanagan Festival takes place this Sunday September 21st at the Summerhill Pyramid Winery located at 4870 Chute Lake Road from 11 AM to 4 PM.

It's being called the Okanagan's Finest Green Living Expo and is organized by the Okanagan Green Society. There will be over 40 exhibitors talking about natural health and healing, sustainable energy, alternative education, recycling and composting. Samples of locally grown organic food will be given out as well.

Entertainment includes films such as The Story Of Stuff and Table Land and music by The Raging Grannies, The Treelight Room and Daybeats.

There will be kids activities, blind taste tests of organic versus non-organic foods (put on by Nature's Fare, a new sponsor). Nature's Fare will be handing out a goody bag filled with coupons, a green guide and organic food items.

Attendees will be given Taterware plates made from potato starch to sample some of the foods and after the event the plates will be composted. Solar power will be used to provide Vendors at the event with power.

Admission is $5 plus a Kelowna Food Bank donation. Funds raised at the event will support the Okanagan Green Society's projects including Local Food for Local Schools and the Kelowna Food Bank.

Source: Article by Lori-Anne Charlton in the Event Magazine titled "Keen on Green"

Wal-Mart has 3 long term global sustainability goals:

• to produce zero waste
• to operate with 100 per cent renewable energy
• to make environmentally preferable products available

In Canada, to achieve these goals, their new outlets opening in 2009 will be designed to save 30% in energy use. These new stores would be called Wal-Mart HE (high-efficiency). And over 5 years, the HE stores would save Wal-Mart $25 million.

Wal-Mart HE stores would achieve these energy savings by:

• using waste energy from refrigerators to help heat stores
• cutting lighting costs
• covering roofs with white membranes to reflect sunlight and lower summer cooling costs
• reducing the size of the buildings

Wal-Mart also has their sustainability initiatives, partnerships and products showcased at their "For the Greener Good" website. Their products page outlines new eco-friendly products broken down by various categories.

Source: Article from Report on Business titled "Wal-Mart Canada stores aim for energy efficiency"

Preferred Client update from Chris Whitney of Royal LePage.

Managing Rain Runoff

Using rain barrels to collect water for your lawn and garden has the added benefit of keeping water away from your home's foundation and from adding unnecessary strain on municipal systems. Pools of water at groundlevel near the house can be a cause of erosion and long-term damage to the foundation of your home. Public storm sewers may not be equiped to take on heavy rain after a flash storm or long periods of downpour. It may cause backups and flooding in low lying areas.

Roofing Materials

If you are considering replacing your roof in the near future, you want want to research the new technologies and concepts that are now available in roofing.

• energy-saving roofing membranes that help reduce electricity costs during summer and winter months by keeping the heat or cool in.
• sun-reflective roof coatings that can applied on existing roofs to reduce heat absorpotion.
• ashpalt shingles are made of energy-efficient and durable materials.
• solar panels are more thin and use the roof surface area to heat water and provide electricity
• green roofs help insulate homes and use rainwater for the vegetation which absorbs greenhouse gases.

"A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane." 

The following are some of the environmental benefits of a green roof:

• A green roof releases oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide which helps in reducing global warming.
• The soil and drainage mat in a green roof retain water when it rains.
  
• The collected water passes through the green roof more slowly so it avoids flooding during a storm.
• The water going through the green roof has been biofiltered which cleans the water.

Listed below are the cost benefits of a green roof:

• A green roof can absorb sound better so it reduces noise within the building.
• It cools the house and can reduce electricity costs when cooling down a building.
• Green roofs last 2X to 3X longer than standard asphalt roofs.

The design and construction of a green roof involves putting on many layers:

• A waterproof membrane is placed directly on the roof to prevent water leakage.
• Next, there's a drainage mat made of polystyrene sheets which has little cups which retains water for plants to absorb.
• Then, there's a soil filter fabric which allows water and air to flow through but holds on to the soil. And a mesh layer that will decompose to help control erosion.
• Edging is put on the perimeter to create a retaining wall for the soil and garden.
• Finally, good soil; preferably something mineral oriented that is lightweight and retains heat.
• You can also put on an erosion control blanket to keep soil in place until plants get established.
  

Other things to keep in mind when thinking about creating a green roof: 

• You may need to add additional bracing so the roof can support the weight of the soil and other materials that will go on it. For instance, a 4 inch deep green roof could way 25 pounds per square foot.
• Also, you'll need some sort of hoist to lift the bags of soil to the roof.

Source: Article by Debbie Cafazzo titled "From sloping garage roof to elevated landscape"

Mayor gives environmental achievement recognition to seven community leaders

At the 9th annual Mayor’s Environmental Expo at Mission Creek Regional Park, Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shephard gave recognition for outstanding environmental achievements.

Here's the list of the winners:

• Most Sustainable Development - MODE by the the Mission Group of Properties.
• Most Environmentally Innovative Business Initiative - Urban Harvest Organic Delivery
• Most Environmentally Dedicated Group - Lonely Loons Flyfisher's Society
• Most Environmentally Dedicated Individual - Joanne DeVries of Fresh Outlook Foundation
• Most Environmentally Friendly Commuter - Nadine Clark
• Most Environmentally Friendly Garden - Daniel Tomlin
• Most Environmentally Friendly School - Glenmore Elementary School

For information on the winners' contributions, visit the Daily Courier article titled "Awards honour those who think and act green".

Source: Article by Rachael Kimola on Castanet.