Cornwall ON- So it’s time.   Some of you may recall I talked about some life and fitness goals for 2010 for myself.

It’s wasn’t about dieting, but about living better.     There are many different ways to approach this, but after consulting and discussing this with a lot of people this is my plan for 2010.  My goal is to lose 25-35 pounds over the course of 2010.

More exercise. This is the key for any plan, and when you put in almost 18 hours per day as I do there’s always an “EXCUSE” to not find time to take of yourself.

So I’m going to do a few little things.   First off I’m going to park further away from my appointments.

I’m going to hang that punching bag and start to work it.    I have a bad knee so jogging is out, but boxing is an amazing cardio vascular exercise and really tones your arms up.

I’m going to bring my bike into Allan McGimpsey at Bicycle World and get it tuned up and ready for the season.  Pump up the tires; grease what needs greasing; adjust the seat, and make sure I get the most out of my trips and I’m actually going to try and use it for work so if you’re a client, and read this, and I’m all hot and sweaty you’ll know why.

Now to diet. I’m going to try and cut out complex carbs after lunch.  No more bread, rice, potato, or pasta if I can avoid it.  Sure they’ll be the odd exception, but it’s a life time journey and not a 3 week crash diet.

I’m also going to cut back on the chocolate, vino, and other foods which while may have some benefits or really taste good impede my goal of being more fit.

I’m also going to replace meat at least 2-3 times per week with Beans & Legumes and add more fish to my diet.

There are so many ways to make changes to one’s life.  Please consult a doctor if you’re going to start a work out regime.

For me it’s all about trying to achieve some balance.    Feel free to share what you’re doing this year Cornwall.   You can post your thoughts and comments below.

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Did you receive your new phone book recently?  Have you noticed that the Yellow pages now include an ecoGuide?  How amazing is this…we now have recycling and repurposing information right at our finger tips.

This guide lists all the local organizations and businesses that will look after your hazardous waste items and repurpose the items you no longer need.  There is information on almost anything you can think of.

From batteries, paint and propane tanks to hangers, used oil and expired medications.  Taking advantage of this information will keep our world healthier and cleaner.  Suggestion: before taking items such as batteries, compact florescent light bulbs, etc to a Retail Store for disposal or recycling; phone ahead to insure the information in the book is on target.

Last month it was mentioned that SunChips was leading the way in the Snack food business by introducing the first compostable snack food packaging for their SunChips.  SunChips has now partnered with the Dragon’s Den people to award $100,000.00 dollars to the person/people who come up with the best Greenvention.

What is aGreenvention you ask?  Well it is an eco-friendly idea, product or process that takes into consideration health and respect for our earth and all the living things that share this planet with us.  If you feel up to the challenge or would like further details, visit http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/greenvention

Speaking of compostable packaging, I could tell the roll-up-the-rim campaign was on again even before I saw the first commercial.  How you might ask?  Well the cups turn up everywhere; ditches, sidewalks and fields.  So I ask you, Isn’t it about time that Tim Horton’s began using compostable cups in their business?

I do think it is long overdue.  If you are a diehard Tim Horton’s client and this is a change that you would like this business to make; let your favourite coffee stop Manager know.  In the meantime you could forego the roll-up-the-rim cup and take your own reusable cup for your coffee.  They will still try to give you the cup and your request would really hit home if you responded with a No Thank-you!  You could be passing up a potential RAV 4 win in favour of taking a stand for a healthier environment.  GOOD ON YOU!

Now to all those who feel it is OK to despoil our roads, ditches and fields with your garbage and empty coffee cups, may a couple of big elephants relieve themselves in the sanctuary where you sleep or rest and of course while you are in it so that you may have a first hand experience of what it is like to have someone disrespect your personal space.  Maybe a road, ditch or field doesn’t seem like much to you; however there are many people and creatures who do not appreciate your garbage strewn about.

Food for thought:  According to Jonathan Safran Foer, Author of ‘Eating Animals’, guest on Ellen this past week; if we (North Americans) were to forego one meal of animal protein a week this would be equivalent to keeping 5 million cars off of the road.  I guess you will have to read the book to see how he came to this conclusion.

Is there a topic you would like us to write about?  Your commentary is encouraged and welcome.  Have a great week!

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Do you pay attention to where your purchases are made?

I am one who always checks where and with what my products are made before purchasing.  Where a product is made is something that will affect my decision to purchase. I am absolutely astounded by the number of products on our store shelves which read ‘Made in China”. Clothing, office supplies, toys…purchasing the majority of these products says that I support products being made with lack of concern for the environment; says I support the Co2 and other byproducts of getting the product here as inconsequential; says I don’t care about the national economy.

Please do not get me wrong. I do purchase products made in China. I just want to spread the wealth a little and insure some of my dollars are spent in other countries and in our local and national economies.  I’m sure we’ve all heard the old expression, ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket’.  There is a lot of wisdom in those words.

Made in Canada isn’t a dirty phrase!  Buying made in Canada items insures we are supporting a company that is regulated by environmental laws, supports our national economy and insures our goods are traveling less miles to our store shelves therefore giving us the benefit of alleviating Co2 in the atmosphere. Now I know these products may cost us more however I think we need to consider the short term pain for the long term gain.  I ask for Made in Canada goods and invite you to considerthe same.

Looking for a new Canadian creation for that special Gift?  I have looked/shopped in (I believe) every clothing store in Cornwall and I have found a couple that carry Made in Canada lines.

Not only do they have Canadian made lines but the clothing looks elegant, well made and are reasonably priced. Bonus!  Show your support for Canadian made goods by asking and looking for the ‘Made in Canada’ tag on the next product you purchase.

Lastly, a friend from Toronto recently passed along this link for my perusal.

Do take a look at the information under the Environment menu.  The information is somewhat grim however I believe we can turn things around if we are aware of what is going on.

One statistic that stood out for me was that our deforestation efforts outnumber our reforestation efforts.  Now whether you believe global warming is a hoax or not this statistic clearly shows the effect man is having on the circle of life.

Perhaps we can each start to make a difference by taking/consuming a little less.  Perhaps we can also consider how much attention our Local and Federal politicians are giving to the environment in the process of doing business.

Trades, health care, housing, alleviating poverty, safe streets, budgets…these are pressing and important issues. I ask our politicians to continue to look after these important issues with consideration and respect for our environment and all the other life forms we share this planet with.  If this means that they have to spend more money, so be it.  In my opinion there is more value and wealth in a healthy, clean world than the alternative with extra dollars in our pockets.

You will notice that under the heading of each title is a Comments link which you may access to share your thoughts and ideas.  Our planet requires our action and attention. Your commentary is encouraged and appreciated.

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ROGER SAUVÉ – Life Trends – Facts And Figures That Matter To You – How are you doing, eh? Pretty good.

This is not a trick question. Statistics Canada actually has the answer. All results are based on what we say and are not based on what our doctors claim, our special friend or spouse says or what the next door neighbours thinks.

The results are based on a 2008 survey of residents of SD&G and Prescott-Russell. Results are also available for all regions of the country.

About 57% of us say that our physical health is “very good or excellent”. This ranges from a high of 70% for those aged 12-19 years of age to 66% for those a mid-life (35-44) to only 42% among those aged 65 and up. There is very little difference between the sexes. Only 15% of us say our health is fair or poor but this rises to one in four for those aged 45 and over.

We rate our mental health much higher than we do our physical health. About 72% of us say our mental health is “very good or excellent” and only 5% rate our mental health as fair or poor. The peak in self-perceived mental health is at mid-life (35-44) when almost 80% think our mental health is very good or excellent. The other high points are at ages 12-19 and 65 and over when about 75% of us give ourselves top rankings. Again, there is not much difference between men and women.

Are you stressed out? About one quarter of us say we have “quite a bit” of life stress. For this question, women are almost twice as likely to feel stressed out than men. The biggest difference in stress levels is at the age of 35-44 when only one out of every five men say they have “quite a bit of stress” while half of women say so. This a time when families have small children or teenagers to care for, meals to prepare, activities to participate or support and the highest likelihood of being a dual-income family. This stressful period stresses women much more than men. Does this suggest that men are not taking up their fair share of the load? What do you think?

The best part of the story follows. Regardless of how we feel about our physical and mental health, about 94% of us (that is most of us) feel “satisfied or very satisfied” with life and there is little difference between men and women. The most satisfied are those aged 12-19 when 97% feel satisfied and the least satisfied are those age 34-44 when “only” 90% are satisfied. Is it a coincidence that the least satisfied (but still very high) are the ones that are probably the most concerned about the most satisfied? Raising kids may be stressful but it is satisfying.

I do like the result that says that 94% of adults aged 65 and over are satisfied with life. At least on this measure, I am in the majority.

Life is to be lived and enjoyed. If you are in the small whining minority … get a life and live. I believe that you only go through once. Of course, some people have good reasons to complain due to their health problems and occasional changing life circumstances.

Roger Sauvé is President of People Patterns Consulting . Roger is an economist and demographer and lives in Summerstown.

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Greening Up Valentine’s Day

Many of our Holidays have become so commercialized in that we have become accustomed and brainwashed into spending all sorts of resources and in many cases have lost sight of the meaning of what the holiday is all about. The modern St. Valentine’s Day celebrations have roots in both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. As this is not a history column I will not go into the historical story of this holiday however will say that the St. Valentine’s of today is a time to celebrate and show/share one’s admiration and affection for another.

We celebrate our affection for lovers, brothers, daughters, parents, friends, associates…all those who hold a special place in our hearts.  Valentine cards, chocolates, flowers, special outings and dinners are all mainstays of this holiday so let me make a few green suggestions.

Just to make myself clear, I mean suggestions that require the expenditure of fewer of our resources and that may even add a little more meaning to the holiday.  Personally I don’t think anyone could express their affection to me in a nicer fashion than by giving of their personal time and effort.

How about a personal heartfelt expression from your heart in a letter of what someone means to you.  This personal expression will be a treasured gift far beyond Valentine’s Day. In these days of texting, email and cell-phones setting aside some ‘face time’ with your loved one without any extraneous interruptions can be a welcome breath of fresh air.

A homemade special meal from you to your friend.  This will be most appreciated and will save the gas and other resources to get to your favourite restaurant.

If you decide to order out for a Valentine’s dinner, consider a meal that will involve minimal garbage and don’t be afraid to ask for compostable containers for your takeout order. If you decide to go out to your favourite restaurant for dinner…carpool or walk.  If they offer something on your order that you will not eat, ask them to leave it off the plate when ordering. Waste not, want not.

Should you decide to purchase chocolates for your loved one, consider organic and fair trade choices. Consider making some of your own homemade goodies.  My father used to make his own truffles. Check out this Easy Truffle recipe. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Decadent-Truffles/Detail.aspx

Homemade biscotti anyone?  My husband made some last week-end for a friends Birthday.  They were magnificent and simple to make.  This makes a wonderful gift and can be simply packaged in an empty jar.  Decorate with a simple ribbon and a few words of love.

Instead of fresh cut flowers how about a potted perennial, a flowering houseplant or some flower seeds which can be planted in the garden in spring? Gift certificates by the giver for massages, meals, babysitting, house cleaning, pet sitting, lawn care, driveway shoveling are always greatly appreciated.

Perhaps getting back to a simpler way of living would be kinder on us, our pocketbooks and the earth in general.

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Insulation

There are lots of ways of looking at your home, e.g. “Home is where the heart is”, “Home Sweet Home”, and so on. For many of us, our home is the biggest single financial investment we’ll ever make, so it had better be a good one.

For the engineer or building contractor, a home is a system designed to keep us warm and dry in winter, and cool and dry in summer. We’ll be looking at homes from this perspective in the next few columns.

Energy conservation is becoming so important these days that the Ontario Building Code devotes a whole section (Part 12), laying out the minimums required for any home built in the province – it is illegal to build any home that does not meet these minimum requirements.

These minimums go far beyond what was once required. At one time, a house could be built using 2 x 4 studs in the walls, and fibreglass batting for insulation, for a total wall insulation of R12 (RSI 2.1). Typically the attic would be R20 (RSI 3.5), and there would be no insulation whatever in the basement. No permit would be issued for such construction these days.

Insulation is the primary factor in building a warm, dry, cost effective home. The following table shows the Ontario Building Code’s minimum insulation values for houses currently being built. As of January 1, 2012, the minimum values will be even higher, as shown in brackets in the table.

Note: The values shown are the metric RSI values. To get the Imperial “R” value, multiply the RSI value by 5.678.

As you can see from the table, different parts of the house need more or less insulation. Most heat tends to be lost through the roof, followed by the outside walls, which is why the code calls for the most insulation in these parts.

Attics are easy to insulate as space isn’t an issue. As long as proper ventilation is maintained, you can pile it up as high as you want to get the required RSI value. Not only that, you can use relatively inefficient, but very economical, fibreglass batting or blown in cellulose. Right now is a good time to see if you could benefit by adding insulation to the attic – just go outside and see how much snow stays on your roof, compared to the neighbours’.

Basement walls are also relatively easy to insulate, because there is almost always sufficient space to apply the insulation. Although the basement isn’t so vulnerable to heat loss as the roof or outside walls, because of its relatively large size and ease of access, it is very cost effective to insulate here.

The outside walls are no doubt the biggest challenge. To get to the insulation, you’ll have to go through the drywall from inside the house, or tear off the siding, shingles or whatever on the outside. Upgrading the insulation here is not for the faint-hearted, but if you are considering replacing the siding, it can be well worth it.

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to upgrade your home to Passive House standards. Depending on the location and climate, the Passive House has a roof of at least RSI 9, and walls of about RSI 7, and much better windows than are easily available here.

However, any upgrades you make will pay for themselves with increased comfort and fuel savings. As an added bonus, according to the Royal Bank, “on average, North American homes increase in value by 5 to 10% once energy efficient renovations have been made.”

Finally, a note of caution: Don’t go adding insulation anywhere in your home unless you know what you are doing. There are a lot of other considerations to take into account, such as moisture control and vapour barriers, fire safety, ventilation, and even the structural integrity of your house. If you’re not sure, talk to a qualified contractor or energy inspector, and check the Ontario Building Code.

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ROGER SAUVÉ – Life Trends – Facts And Figures That Matter To You – Region has more smokers than almost anywhere in Ontario

Smoking kills! That is the message that Canadians have been hearing for at least two decades. Are you listening? Are you doing anything about it?

The incidence of smoking in this region is not good. Compared to the rest of Ontario … it is awful.

Detailed health statistics are available from Statistics Canada for the region covered by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) and 35 other health units across Ontario. The EOHU comprises SD&G plus Prescott-Russell. About 190,000 people in the region.

According to the latest 2008 readings, 24% of all residents aged 12 and over in the EOHU smoke on a daily basis. Only four of the 36 health units in Ontario have a higher percentage of smokers than in the EOHU.  The rate of smoking varies very little between males and females. “Only” 16% of all Ontario residents aged 12 and over smoke on a daily.

One-third of persons in the EOHU aged 20-34 and 35-44 smoke on a daily basis, one-quarter of those aged 45-64 smoke on a daily basis while a much smaller 14% of those aged 65 and over smoke.

The EOHU population has a high percentage of smokers, but even worse, it has the highest percentage (13%) of residents among all the 36 health units who are exposed to second hand smoke in the home. This is partly due to the fact that local residents are also the most reluctant among all the health units to tell people to butt out in the home.

The EOHU website clearly warns about the dangers of smoking, “Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, and pulmonary disease while also putting you at extra risk for colds and the flu, ulcers, osteoporosis and many other illnesses. Your smoking doesn’t just affect you.  Everyone around you breathes your second-hand smoke, which puts them at risk for cancer and other diseases.” The message could not be clearer.

Are these warnings just meant to scare you or do they represent reality? I looked at the numbers. Residents of the EOHU region are 30% more likely to die of lung cancer and 20% more likely to die of diseases of the heart than the Ontario average. In addition, we are 36% more likely to have asthma than the Ontario average. Not all of this can be blamed on smoking, but a lot of it can.

You can help reduce these diseases. Quit smoking. Don’t let others inhale your smoke. And do let people know that they are not allowed to smoke inside your home. I am not preaching … I am just saying the obvious.

Of course, quitting smoking isn’t easy. Many have tried and failed. But more have tried and succeeded. I know someone who tried to quit smoking four times before succeeding. Your own life, and the life of those around you, is worth the effort.  Staff at the EOHU can help you to quit smoking.

Check their website or you can call the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1-800- 267-7120 and ask for the Health Line. There are other groups that can help.

More on health in the next column.

Roger Sauvé is President of People Patterns Consulting . Roger is an economist and demographer and lives in Summerstown

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Light Pollution…What is that?

Have you ever noticed the glow in the night sky as you approach a city or subdivision?  If you are a city dweller have you wondered where the stars have gone or why you cannot see the stars at night?  The answer to these questions is light trespass or light pollution. This is wasted light; wasted energy that obstructs our night sky, confuses birds and other wildlife, and can even harm the development of your eyes.

Take a good look at the light fixtures being used to light your driveway entrance, the street, the parking lots and the front walkway of City Hall.  Chances are that what is being used for this task is an unshielded light which lights not only the ground it was intended to illuminate but also the neighbours property and part of the night sky.  Light pollution and light trespass represents needless greenhouse gas production.

Unshielded lights often produce glare which hinders the eyes ability to see what is in the darker areas of the scenery that is directly ahead.  Shielded lights will direct light only to where the light is wanted and needed and produce energy and operating cost savings. I have heard for sometime that significant energy savings can be achieved by incorporating a light shield with a lower watt bulb to effectively light an area which was previously lit by a higher wattage bulb.

So I did a little experiment.  I have an area in my Studio that I use specifically for painting.  There is a bare compact florescent bulb in an overhead socket not far from my work table.  I make daily use of a light meter in my occupation so this indispensable tool was now going to help me with this light shield experiment.   I took a light meter reading at four feet directly under the bare bulb light in the ceiling receptacle close to my work table.  I then fashioned a rough shield around the bulb with aluminum foil, directing all of the light to the ground.  I then took another light meter reading at the same four foot spot under the light.

The reading was four times brighter than the first reading.  Wow!  Conclusion; I could light or dare I say better light a work area with a lower watt bulb, save money and eliminate light trespass in a neighbouring area by utilizing a light shield.  The above drawings of an outside floodlight visually demonstrate these conclusions.

Here are some simple considerations when shopping for your next outdoor fixtures.  Ask for ‘neighbor-friendly or ‘glare free’ lights. Your fixture light should not trespass on your neighbour’s property.  Look for fixtures that direct the light towards the ground.  They will have an opaque cover that hides the bare bulb from view at the side.  Note that ‘Energy Star’ fixtures do not mean that they are neighbour friendly.  Insure that their light is directed to the ground and does not trespass on the night sky. Glare should be kept to a minimum.

Our bodies and those of all the other creatures that we share this planet with depend on a regular cycle of light and darkness for their health and well being.  Please help to eliminate light trespass so that we can continue to enjoy the simple pleasure of a star filled night sky and save precious resources in the process.   Twinkle, twinkle little star…

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Is a natural product always earth friendly?

Some months ago we switched to recycled newspaper pellets, ‘Yesterday’s News’ for our furry felines as we came to realize that a simple natural clay substance wasn’t necessary the best choice for our home environment or for our earth.

According to Wikipedia about 2 million tons of cat litter, most of which is not biodegradable is dumped into landfills in the United States alone. I thought the clay litter was biodegradable but have come to learn that it is not.

Pristine areas are literally stripped of their top soil to mine for clay to accommodate the personal needs of household cats.  Strip mining is a destructive process which has taken stripped the life from thousands of acres of land. About one third of the North America’s population shares their home with a cat. Yes you heard that right folks, one in three homes house a cat.

I was also concerned with the dust that we and our cats were inhaling each time the litter box was, cleaned, changed or used. Many clay litters contain silica which can affect our lung and throat health. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety silica should be considered a carcinogenic to humans.

Ouch! Our veterinarian suggested the recycled pellets so after reading about wheat and corn byproduct alternatives we settled on the newspaper pellet alternative and we haven’t looked back.

Now switching any product or item in your home is instantly noticed by cats.  Our cats can avail themselves to more than one litter box in our home so we made the change to the litter boxes one at a time giving them a chance to adjust to the change.  This is certainly advisable unless you wish to find cat droppings in some other place than the litter box.  Cats are fussy and particular creatures.

There are wheat and corn products on the market however they generally run about $1.00 a pound and can smell so good that your cat may be inclined to make a snack of their litter.

My personal concern with these products is whether they contain genetically modified organisms.  Since these are both huge monoculture products it is highly likely that they do.

Depending on the industry or agriculture practiced in your community there may be other earth friendly solutions at hand.  For example I have also read that an eco-friendly economical solution would be to consider using wood shavings.  I read that an approximate 40 lb bag could be purchased at feed stores for about $6.00 per bag.  If you have a horse farm close to home you may be able to make an arrangement with them so that you may fill and cart away your container for a nominal fee.  Another route to consider or try is wood stove pellets. It will take some investigation and experimentation to see what is available in your community and what is user friendly for you and your feline companion.

Cat litter and droppings can be composted. This does require special handling and should not be mixed with your regular vegetable compost pile nor should the animal dropping pile be used near or on anything that is grown for your table.  If you are going for the green medal, read up about this subject at your local library or on-line.

We would be delighted if you would share your step by step findings with earthmatters@jmilner.com

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