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Crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill washes ashore in Orange Beach, Ala., on June 12. (Dave Martin/Associated Press)

It is “unlikely that an accidental surface or subsurface oil spill would occur” and if it did “….no significant adverse impacts are expected.” That statement was given in February 2009 before BP received approval to begin drilling the Deepwater Horizon well. Now the whole world watches as the disastrous effects of this oil spill unfold in the Gulf of Mexico.

It appears to me not such an unpredictable outcome and yet we continue to react with disbelief every time the unthinkable happens. Technological innovation has been the hallmark of our modern world bringing with it all kinds of life improving advancements. We remain ever confident in next year’s innovation to solve the problems of last year’s inventions. However, as events continue to unfold in the Gulf of Mexico, the cost of disregarding the impact of our behaviours on the planet and placing blind faith in ingenuity to solve all problems is becoming increasingly clear.

An exhausted oil-covered brown pelican sits in a pool of oil along Queen Bess Island Pelican Rookery, 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of Grand Isle, Louisiana June 5, 2010. Sean Gardner/REUTERS

To date over 380 million litres of oil have spilled into the Gulf, threatening marine mammals, fish and birds, and coastal wetlands. Over one billion dollars has been spent so far in trying to stop the leak and the costs to commercial and recreational fishing industries have not yet been included in the tally.

Our failure to apply a precautionary approach when making decisions about offshore drilling reveals our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels and the extent to which we will sacrifice common sense in its pursuit.

Instead of the risky business of looking for oil in ever more dangerous situations how about we just use less energy? Perhaps not as sexy as a massive oil rig, but surprisingly effective when we all do just a little more to use a little less. Take public transportation or maybe use your bike or why not just walk to the corner store? You don’t even have to commit to do this all the time just substitute these methods once a week for a time when you used to drive. Close off the lights when you leave the room. Use a space bar for electronic equipment and turn it off when not in use. Or consider participating in incentive programs like the Renewable Energy Initiative which make it easy to start reducing our reliance on non-renewable resources.

For more ideas about how you can make energy conservation part of your operations, check out GLOBE’s Sustainability Toolbox launching soon on our website. Conservation can be remarkably effective and best of all there will never be any negative consequences. Ever.

If you have ever had to deal with overflowing garbage bins, trash blowing around buildings and related residents complaints, you know that this is not only unsightly – it can also be costly and time consuming. Reducing and recycling are not just trends or nice ideas, they are ways to lower operating costs and improve living and working conditions.

Sioux Lookout recently demonstrated how community-led efforts can help solve big problems. This north-western Ontario town of 5,500 recently became the first community in Ontario to move towards the outright banning of plastic bags, a ban that started with a citizens’ environment committee and a survey by high school students.

Why are plastic bags a problem?
The chemicals used to manufacture disposable plastic bags are toxic to both people and the environment. The phthalates used to stabilize and soften plastic are known endocrine disruptors. Vinyl chloride is a proven carcinogen and can also cause liver, kidney, and brain damage.

Although these bags are designed to be disposable, they are highly resource-intensive to manufacture, process, transport and dispose of – especially given that they’re intended for single use. But even if you re-use a disposable bag, most will still end up in landfill, where they can take up to 1,000 years to break down. Like plastic garbage patches in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the bags may be out of sight, but their negative impacts to the environment, the economy and human and animal health persist long after they’ve been used.

Other Jurisdictions
To date, Sioux Lookout is among only a handful of global leaders in their move to ban the bag.

In March 2002, Bangladesh banned plastic bags in its capital after they were found to have been the main culprit during the 1988 and 1998 floods that submerged two-thirds of the country. Discarded bags were choking the drainage system. Notably, the ban has produced an unexpected positive economic effect: the revival of the jute bag industry. Jute grows abundantly in Bangladesh and requires a lot less energy to process than polyethelene.

Also in 2002, Ireland introduced a PlasTax of about $0.20 per bag. The money raised from the tax is put into a “green fund” to further benefit communities and the environment. The result has been that consumption has decreased by more than 90%, thanks to an intensive environmental awareness campaign, which made the carrying of plastic bags socially unacceptable.

The Power of Community
In the cases of Ireland and Sioux Lookout particularly, engaging the community proved to be critical to the success of the ban and its environmental and economic outcomes.

What does this mean to people in the housing sector? Well, there are many simple and inexpensive actions which you can take to lower costs and complaints in your buildings and improve health, comfort and maintenance. GLOBE’s Community Champions program, recently recognized in the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario’s recent annual report as a notable initiative, educates and enables the residents themselves to become agents of change in their own communities.

In addition, GLOBE’s soon to be released Sustainability Toolbox is a “starter kit” to identifying opportunities which will provide you with sector-specific examples of improvements that you can make to increase the efficiency of your operations.

To find out more about it, email us!

• Significant amount of water can be wasted by leaks created by damaged piping; corroded valves, worn washers and leaking toilets
• Hot water can be as much as 20% of total energy costs in the average home
• If a toilet leak is substantial, you should be able to hear the water running
• In some municipalities there are incentive programs to help offset the cost of replacing old toilets with low flow toilets
• Replacing a showerhead with one that uses only six to 10 litres per minute would drop water usage by 50% per week

Sixty-seven percent of households leak 38 litres of water per day. Worse yet, five percent of households leak an average of more than 380 litres per day! Reducing your water consumption by repairing leaks and drips and by replacing old, less water-efficient fixtures with new water-saving devices helps to reduce your operating costs, create a more comfortable, healthy environment for tenants and helps to solve a global problem.

To identify conservation opportunities:

• Conduct a water use audit
• Record and fix items in need of repair immediately or as soon as possible
• Implement a leak reporting and repair program within each housing community
• Post a list of tips and methods in common areas to educate and help reduce water consumption and show that money saved in utility bills can be put to use improving homes.

A significant amount of water can be wasted by leaks created by damaged piping; corroded valves, worn washers and leaking toilets. A leak of one drop per second can waste as much as 10,000 litres of water per year. Hot water can be as much as 20% of total energy costs in the average home. If hot water is leaking, the energy used to heat the water is also wasted. A toilet that continues to run after flushing can waste up to 200,000 litres per year that’s enough to fill a swimming pool. If a toilet leak is substantial, you should be able to hear the water running. If the leak is small and you are not sure if you can hear it or not, tint the tank with food colouring. If the tinted water gradually seeps into the bowl, there is a leak. (Do not leave the coloured water in the toilet bowl for an extended time period as it may discolour the bowl interior.)

Make sure all your water outlets are turned off then check your water meter. If it’s still running you likely have a leak. Alternatively read the meter just prior to, and immediately following a period of low minimal usage, such as when residents are sleeping. If the water meter indicates more than minimal consumption during this off-time, then there is a strong possibility that the system is leaking water. Simple tests like these as part of a general test and tune-up program can save thousands of dollars a year in operating costs. Maintenance is a key component in any water conservation program. Tank tests, flapper tests and bag tests for shower heads can be carried out in a matter of minutes and will pay for themselves in a matter of weeks.

When purchasing new products keep in mind the figures below and purchase the ones with the least water consuming tendencies. Average water consumption for: Toilet flush, 6 to 30 litres per flush, Showering, 6 to 20 litres per minute, Bathtub, 115 to 190 litres per full tub, Washing machine, 85 to 150 litres per cycle, Dishwasher, 26 to 56 litres per cycle, Kitchen faucet, 7.6 to 11.3 litres per minute, Bathroom faucet, 7.6 to 11.3 litres per minute.

Toilets

The cost of water supply varies significantly from one municipality to another, and is increasing in most locations at a fairly rapid rate. Removing of old design toilets and replacing them with a new six-litre toilet will reduce water consumption by 50 percent or more. Low flow toilets new units range in cost from $150 to $400 and have an average payback period of three to six years. In some municipalities there are incentive programs to help offset this cost. Many municipalities charge for waste water treatment and disposal using a formula based on the amount of water purchased by each user. In these locations, you can save twice – by paying for less water and from the associated reduction in sewage treatment charges.

Showers

In Canada, the average person consumes about 326 litres of water per person per day. The shower is the second heaviest water user in the home. With a standard showerhead flow of 20 litres per minute, an average family of four, each taking a five-minute shower each day, would use about 2,800 litres of water per week. Replace that showerhead with one that uses only six to 10 litres per minute, and the usage would drop to about 1,300 litres per week (more than 50%). Low-flow showerheads range in price from about $15 to $75 or more. The typical payback period will depend on which unit is purchased and how the residents use water but should be in the range of six months to three years.

Faucet Aerators

The installation of faucet aerators on bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators can save up to 50 percent of the water usage and energy consumption (because of hot water use) from those devices. Also be sure to replace washer-type faucets with washer less faucets. Washer less faucet assemblies not only help reduce the amount of water that is wasted but lower on-going repair costs as well. As with Shower heads, the pay back period for this kind of replacement is very short.

Washing Machine

Choose a front loading washing machine. Not only does a front loading washing machine save water, it saves energy as well. It uses about 40% less water and about 50% less energy. Usually you can fit about 30% more clothes in a front load washer, it is easier on your clothes, meaning that clothes last longer, does a better job at removing water during the spin cycle which means less drying time and is much quieter. An ENERGY STAR front-loading clothes washer costs about $600 to $1,200. With average energy and water savings of $170 a year, it will pay for itself in payback period of 3.5 years.

Landscaping

Conduct a site design audit to identify opportunities to reduce storm water runoff through landscaping design, reduction of impervious surfaces and alternative storm water management systems. Check with your city codes then have your plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the sewer line. Alternatively use harvested rain water for non-potable use (e.g. flushing toilets) or landscape irrigation. Direct rain spouts to vegetated areas. Landscape with native and drought-resistant plants and minimize turf. Raise the lawn mower blade to 2.5 to 3 inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn. Pay attention to rain fall patterns and be sure not to water grass and plants when rain is available. When possible do not water the lawn on windy days. There’s too much evaporation it can waste up to 300 gallons in one watering. Use a rain gauge, or improvised device (empty tuna can), to track rainfall on your lawn. Then reduce your watering accordingly. Be sure to aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface.