Enviro Minutes - At a Glance

 

Rotary Home provides respite programs for both adults and children. An initiative of Rotary Club Ottawa, the Ottawa Rotary Home first opened its doors in 1982. It expanded with a second facility in 2009 – a state-of-the-art, 21-bed respite home just south of Leitrim Road. In honour of Rotarians and the exceptional service that the home offers, the street it is situated on was renamed Rotary Way in 2012.

 

Many clubs, organizations and groups of citizens participate in the Cleaning Up the Capital project. It’s an opportunity to act environmentally consciously, exercise one’s civic pride and help Ottawa to look its best. Rotary Club Ottawa South has been pitching in and picking up for many years, specifically around the Bank Street and Rotary Way intersection.

 

It’s unfortunate that roadside cleaning programs are necessary. Hopefully, greater awareness of the impact of a casual approach to environmental stewardship will convince more people to pollute less. There has been a reduction in the amount of trash that we pick up annually, so here’s hoping.

 

Interestingly, the trash collected reflects the times, to a degree. Face masks and disposable gloves were common this year, but not nearly as numerous as the past couple years, and of course, they were a rarity pre-2020. Cigarette butts have declined over the years, which is a good thing – though we still pick up thousands of them. And, people continue to consider their health by buying bottled water, however if they considered the planet’s health they would bring a refillable water bottle from home, and not discard empty plastic bottles on the street.

 

Despite the disappointment in the need for cleaning up the streets, RCOS members felt good about doing it and had a lot of fun working and socializing together. Many thanks to those who helped out: Jeff Sirrs, Lisa Barleben and her son Dante, Ian Schwartz, Vik Chawla, Kateri Clark, Sean Gerber and Scott Vetter.

Presented by our own Vik Chawla

 

Why should you calculate my carbon footprint?

First and foremost to get an idea of how much energy you typically use and inform yourself as to how you might reduce that. AND, it will help our club qualify for the District 7040 EnviroClub Awards.

 

The EnviroClub Awards are a progressive, criteria-based system, where RCOS has already achieved “Bronze” status, and we are now looking to progress to the “Silver” level (and ultimately to the “Gold” level).

 

50% or more of Club Members must sign up and participate in the “Carbon Footprint Challenge” for RCOS to get to the Silver level. WE NEED YOUR HELP!! WE would like 100% of our members to participate.

 

It only takes 10 minutes and can be quite an eye-opener, it's really interesting. Please use one of the following carbon calculators to calculate your carbon footprint.

Climate Hero: https://climatehero.me/

Global Footprint Network: https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/en

 

 

 

No Mow May

 

 

We were very happy to welcome Elizabeth Ballantyne-Jackson, Janet Allan and Tom Clarke from the Guatemala Stove Project. The RCOS Environment Committee had been looking into this initiative for several months and was eager for the club to learn more about it.

 

 

In poorer regions of the world, many families use an open fire to cook their meals and this is typically indoors. This creates a significant health and safety risk to the entire family.

 

With a masonry cookstove, the smoke and toxins are vented outdoors. Additionally, the stove is much more efficient and uses half the fuel (wood).

This requires less time gathering/harvesting wood, fewer trees being cut down, and less carbon and pollutants being released into the atmosphere.

 

 

The Guatemala Stove Project (GSP) was started 24 years ago by Tom and has built over 8,000 masonry cookstoves. Tom figures that the GSP cookstoves over the years have offset more than 2,000 tons of CO2.

The design of the stove has been tweaked over the years, increasing the efficiency and improving the functionality. They are built by local masons and all the materials are bought in Guatemala. Local partner associations determine who receives a stove and looks after the on-site arrangements.

 

Every year, a trip of volunteers is organized by GSP to assist with the building and meet all the families and schools that are receiving a new cookstove.

 

In addition to this vital program providing safe, eco-conscious stoves, GSP has been providing bursaries to young women since 2014.

They also participate in local micro loan projects and provide emergency medical support.

In 1986 the Rotary Club of Ottawa South built Rotel (located at 411 Smyth Road), to provide affordable accommodations for outpatients during treatment at Ottawa area hospitals, as well as their family and friends. Rotel serves a clientele primarily from Eastern and Northern Ontario. (Many Rotary Clubs and other service clubs contributed to initial fundraising campaign.) The 51-room motel is self-sustaining and is efficiently managed by a volunteer Board of Directors and paid staff.

 

The Rotel Foundation Inc. Board of Directors decided to reduce their carbon footprint and take steps to make the motel operation more environmentally friendly. One of the steps is to reduce waste and implement a recycling program, and Rotel turned to the Rotary Club Ottawa South (RCOS) Environment Committee for assistance.

 

The RCOS Environment Committee was eager to help. They toured Rotel and did some initial research to determine standards in the hospitality sector and what would be feasible. The committee then prepared a brief with basic goals and a plan to establish a waste reduction and recycling program.

 

Following that brief, Rotel will be conducting a waste audit in late spring, hopefully with the assistance of a neighbouring high school. In the interim, Rotel has done the following:

Added several recycling bins to public areas (lobby, lounges and office). There is also a needle disposal bin in the office. Guests are encouraged to bring their recycling to these communal collection bins; and used needles to the front desk for proper disposal.

Enlisted Tomlinson Environmental Services to place 3 recycling bins outside. The materials are sorted and processed at the Tomlinson depot.

Rotel staff regularly empty the communal bins to the outdoor recycling containers for scheduled pick-up.

Ensure that all lighting replacements, as required, (bulbs and fixtures) will be LED.

The program has been quite successful over the past several months. Most guests are bringing recyclable items to the communal bins, and many have remarked positively on the program. In fact, Tomlinson started with just one outdoor recycling bin, and now three are filled every month. (Which hopefully will be impacted when more steps are taken to reduce waste overall.)

 

Laminated notices asking guests to recycle, and to make efforts to reduce their waste overall, will be added to all rooms. Over the coming months, Rotel will complete its waste audit and use government guidelines and resources referenced by the RCOS Environment Committee to further its waste reduction efforts.

 

District 7040 Rotary is asking all Rotarians to reduce the impacts of light pollution and join in the international campaign to “Dim the Light for Migrating Birds at Night”

The majority of land birds migrate at night, and May is a peak time in our area for birds to return from their southerly homes. These include flycatchers, warblers, vireos, thrushes, orioles and sparrows.

Birds are frequently attracted to lighting at night, especially during inclement weather events during migration. Unfortunately, lights can cause confusion, disorientation, and exhaustion - directly impacting the ability of birds to reach their breeding destinations. For example, birds disoriented by lights can circle structures for extended periods of time, leading to exhaustion or accelerated use of energy stores critical for migration. In addition, birds attracted to lights on buildings and structures frequently crash into windows and collide with buildings, ending in tragedy. Eliminating unnecessary lighting can significantly reduce bird collisions, while simultaneously reducing energy demands and costs to building owners.

 

When are birds most likely to be migrating northward? March through May. In our area, the month of May is the average peak time for nocturnal bird migration, especially:

On clear moon-lit nights

When there are steady southerly winds

After sudden increase in temperature

 

When these conditions are present, go outside shortly after dusk / or dark, and listen - You may hear faint peeps from birds migrating overhead.

And you may also enjoy a better view of the nighttime sky.

 

BirdCast.info for Live bird migration maps. Created by Cornell Lab or Ornithology, these maps show bird migration numbers – right now 300-400 million birds are migrating at night over the U.S.

Reducing nighttime lighting is especially important during peak bird migration periods, and periods of inclement weather.

The solution is simple: We spread the word and dim or turn off exterior lights during migration.

Elsabe Falkson, Rotary District 7040 Environment Chair

We were honoured to have the District Environment Chair speak to us about three upcoming biodiversity projects:

Bee Friendly - No Mow May

Bird Friendly - Dim the Lights

Leave the Leaves

We hope to inspire property owners and managers to create more meadow – native flowering gardens, more trees – little forests and edible forests. Protecting eco-systems increases pollination and helps to ensure better food security.

 

Birds disoriented by lights can circle structures for extended periods of time, leading to exhaustion or accelerated use of energy stores critical for migration. Birds attracted to lights on buildings and structures frequently crash into windows and collide into buildings, unfortunately ending in tragedy. Find out more about how you can help protect local birds at BirdSafe.ca.

 

Saturday, March 26 from 8:30 - 9:30 PM

The RCOS Environment Club would like you to turn off the lights, TV, radio and computer. Light some candles. Talk with those in your household about what the environment means to you, what power means to you; and how you might live more environmentally responsibly.

 

Why?

● Helps to mitigate the Climate Crisis

● Cleaner, healthier, more comfortable home environment

  ○ Drafts, ventilation, and moisture issues can be resolved with proper home sealing and ventilation equipment.

  ○ Improve air quality and make your home safer.

  ○ Replacing fossil fuel burning equipment with electric will improve indoor air quality.

● Financial Benefits

  ○ Reduce energy costs

  ○ Protect against energy price inflation

 

Overview of Process

1. Assess your Home

2. Prepare for Action

a. Determine actions to take

b. Determine sequence of actions

3. Apply for incentives (depending on programs)

4. Get proposals

5. Make decisions and proceed

6. Monitor and evaluate outcomes

Having been in the automotive business for more years than Dave would like to admit, he's gathered much wisdom in how to approach winter driving. Here are a few worthy tips:

Use good winter tires and wiper blades. Traction is imperative, as is seeing where you are going.

Completely clear snow and ice from your vehicle. Not only is it safer for you and other vehicles, it's the law.

Let your vehicle warm-up before putting it in gear. We want to minimize our carbon footprint, and stressing a cold engine will cause it to run inefficiently. Ideally your car idles at 1000 rpm or lower before you start.

 

Today’s Enviro Minute is about promoting biodiversity and actions we can take to assist our pollinators.

Populations of bees, butterflies and other pollinators are declining, in some cases steeply, around the world. With fewer pollinators, we will have less fruits and vegetables to harvest. We will also lose songbirds and other wildlife that depend on pollinators as their food source. The decline of pollinators is because of habitat loss, agriculture, urban development, the use of pesticides and herbicides, and climate change.

We can help pollinators by increasing the availability of early flowers in the springtime, like dandelions and white clover in lawns and by delaying mowing our lawns in the spring.

In May, many bees are coming out of hibernation and need flowers to feed themselves and their babies. The main purpose of No Mow May is to encourage people to let spring flowers in their lawns bloom before mowing. Flowers you commonly see blooming in lawns in May include dandelions, white clover, and creeping charlie. While many people view these flowers as weeds, some pollinators view them as food. Ideally, you can add to the mix and provide food for more pollinators by adding native plants. Early spring blooming native plants like violets and pussy toes can be a part of your bee lawn. Planting a wide variety of native spring blooming flowers, trees, and shrubs, like pussy willows, serviceberries, and bluebells, supports bee diversity.

Although we get anxious to clean up our yards, hibernating pollinators often need a bit more time under the leaves before they can safely emerge. Leaves left on the ground provide important insulation for bees hibernating underground and for moths and butterflies that overwinter in the leaves. Leaving your leaves where they are until temperatures are above 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees F) for 5 consecutive days will give most of those hibernating pollinators the

protection that they need. Bees that nest in stems may not emerge until mid-June or later. It is best for the bees to leave the stems where they are. New growth will soon cover them, any bees nesting in the stems will emerge, and the old stems will decompose.

A manicured lawn is a desert for pollinators and most wildlife. A small pile of twigs makes a great home for pollinators. All bees need a source of water with a perch. Offering a muddy spot with stones helps them out!

Delay mowing, and then mow at the highest setting. This allows low lying flowers to continue to grow and decreases re-flower time for those that are mown. It is also good for the health of your grass, which will need less watering when it is long.

Last spring I had the pleasure of watching a robin pull the uncut dead stems from my backyard hostas plants and weave them into a nest for her babies in our white spruce tree. Rethinking your landscaping maintenance can bring benefits to our backyard birds, small animals, and insects, and create joy for ourselves and others.

 

The goal is to use less and reduce waste. So hopefully you are creating less garbage and recycling fewer items. 

Paper items contaminated with food go in the green bin (not black).

Be sure to rinse/clean items before they go into the blue box. 

 

From years of experience in dealing with vehicles, Dave suggests several ways to minimize your driving impact:

Change tires for safety and check pressure frequently.

Idle your vehicle for 5 minutes maximum - even on really cold days.

If you use a block heater for your vehicle, it only needs 1 hour prior to starting, so use a timer rather than leave it on all night.