Sarah Pullman's blog

Welcome!

What follows is a collection of 30 questions about sustainability. During the 30 Days of Sustainability in March 2006, a new one was posted each day. The hope was that they would foster discussion and action, and everyone was encouraged to comment.

These questions will remain here on the site for the time being, and viewers are strongly encouraged to continue commenting, and generating discussion. We all need to be part of the conversation if we're going to build a truly sustainable future.

30 Ways You Can Become More Sustainable

The following was distributed in the Vancouver Sun near the end of the 30 Days of Sustainability. We hope that you find it useful online too!

30 Ways You Can Become More Sustainable

When you ask the question, “what can I do that will make a difference?� always remember that real, lasting change depends on individuals effecting changes in their own lives. Make a personal commitment to do some of the things listed here and when you are successful, celebrate your achievement!

AT HOME

1. Complete an Energuide evaluation and undertake some energy upgrades for your home.
2. Ensure you have efficient water fixtures or install flow reducers where appropriate.
3. Recycle and compost. Compost with your neighbours if necessary.
4. Buy local, organic food whenever and wherever a choice is available. Try growing your own herbs or produce.
5. Turn off the lights and turn down the heat when you aren’t in a room or at home.
6. Use compact fluorescent lights (CFL) and put dimmers on your incandescent and halogen lights where fluorescent light isn’t desirable.
7. Use your Blue Box program but don’t forget that recycling is the third "R". We should seek to reduce first, reuse second with recycling well back of the pack.
8. Look for the ENERGY STAR label that identifies the most energy-efficient models of new appliances, televisions or computer equipment.

AT WORK

9. Encourage your company and/or building management company to participate in a program to “green� your workplace.
10. Create a sustainability policy for your company. Convene a sustainability team whose responsibility will be to pursue more sustainable directions.
11. Include sustainability or corporate social responsibility in your reporting methods.
12. Pursue becoming carbon neutral as a company by buying offsets for carbon emissions associated with your work, and/or buying green energy certificates from BC Hydro.
13. Green your fleet. www.fleetchallenge.ca
14. At lunch, bring your own clean reusable plastic container to the restaurant for take-away to avoid the usual Styrofoam container.
15. Pursue green building and interiors initiatives within your offices, including energy efficient, non-toxic materials.

ON THE ROAD

16. Take transit, ride your bike or car pool at least one day per week.
17. Explore opportunities to work at home at least one day per week where your job situation will allow.
18. Use the most fuel-efficient vehicle you can that meets your needs, and look for greener fuels where available, including ethanol and bio-diesel blends.
19. Drive carefully both for fuel efficiency and for safety in our community.
20. Join an Auto co-op or Shared Car program as a replacement for your vehicle or second vehicle where possible.
21. Plan your trips efficiently, limit the number of trips and maximize the quantity of things you get done on each trip.
22. Find restaurants and shops close to where you live to serve your needs. It cuts back on driving short distances and supports local business.

AT SCHOOL

23. Find alternatives to driving to school whenever possible, including transit, carpooling, walking or cycling.
24. Ask your student council or parent/teacher association to lobby for local, healthy food in your school cafeteria and vending machines.
25. Join a school club that allows involvement in environmental or social causes.
26. Ask your teachers if your school uses recycled paper — if not, ask them to do so.

IN LIFE

27. Slow down, and focus on those things that are most important to you; make a commitment to reducing your stress.
28. Be a conscious consumer: aim for zero waste and buy less. When you shop, think if you really need it or if you just want it. Think renewable, recyclable, reusable, durable and energy efficient.
29. Pick one organization in your community that supports social or environmental health and volunteer for them one day per month.
30. Be a mentor for a young person, somewhere in your neighbourhood.

"Being Sustainable" - Lecture

April 5, 2006

"BEING SUSTAINABLE"
William Rees, Sean Pander and Bruce Sampson

The 30 Days may be over, but the opportunities to learn are not...

7:30 to 9:30 PM in the Alice MacKay Room, Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library (350 West Georgia). Admission is Free.

Professor William E. Rees, School of Community and Regional Planning, UBC. He is best known for inventing ecological footprint analysis. In 2000, The Vancouver Sun recognized him as one of B.C.'s top public intellectuals.

Sean Pander, P.Eng., City of Vancouver Climate Change Program Lead. He is a member of the Cool Vancouver Task Force, a wide range of stakeholders invited to provide guidance on the development of a climate change action plan for the city.

Bruce Sampson, Vice-President Sustainability, BC Hydro. He is currently responsible for the development and implementation of the Company's commitment to sustainability as well as the hydrogen program, and Powertech.

Consider...

How can we make the 30 Days of Sustainability even farther reaching in its impact next year?

March 30

Who is your sustainability hero?

March 28

Sustainability proponents and other progressives often get stuck arguing about differences. What is the one unifying issue that would allow us to put our differences aside and rally together?

March 27

What role should politicians play in advancing sustainability?

March 26

What's your quick "elevator pitch" to a soccer mom on your street about why she should care about sustainability?

March 25

What is the single MOST important thing an individual can do to advance sustainability?

One person, one company, one day at a time

(reprinted from the Vancouver Sun, March 16, 2006)

by Sarah Stephenson

Loud applause fades as the speaker approaches the lectern and clears his throat.

Leaning into the microphone, his first words barely escape before the crowd is jolted by my bellowing laughter. Blood rushes to my face in embarrassment, it’s too late, I’m having a laughing attack.

No joke, not a comedy club, but rather at the annual breakfast launch of Thirty Days of Sustainability that will change the world being held at the Harbour Centre in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Lasting the month of March, Thirty Days of Sustainability aims to bring citizens, corporations and governments together with the aim of integrating sustainable practices in the world.
Forced to excuse myself before making an even bigger scene, I briefly rest outside. Why the laughter you ask? On the entrance’s notice board, the culprit responsible for my behaviour is spelled out: “3o Days of Sustainability - brought to you by Alcan.�

Alcan is one of the world’s largest aluminium manufacturers, ranking first globally as a provider of packaging for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and second in tobacco. Alcan, a mining company, committed to sustainability?

To read the rest of this article, please click here...

One person, one company, one day at a time

(reprinted from the Vancouver Sun, March 16, 2006)

by Sarah Stephenson

Loud applause fades as the speaker approaches the lectern and clears his throat.

Leaning into the microphone, his first words barely escape before the crowd is jolted by my bellowing laughter. Blood rushes to my face in embarrassment, it’s too late, I’m having a laughing attack.

No joke, not a comedy club, but rather at the annual breakfast launch of 30 Days of Sustainability that will change the world being held at the Harbour Centre in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Lasting the month of March, 30 Days of Sustainability aims to bring citizens, corporations and governments together with the aim of integrating sustainable practices in the world.
Forced to excuse myself before making an even bigger scene, I briefly rest outside. Why the laughter you ask? On the entrance’s notice board, the culprit responsible for my behaviour is spelled out: “30 Days of Sustainability - brought to you by Alcan.�

March 24

Quick word association - what are the first three words that come to mind when you hear the word "sustainability?"

March 23

How can we keep people engaged in sustainability efforts when most people are so busy and overloaded with information?

March 22

How much would an expensive carbon tax change your behaviour?

Sustainability and You - Audio Recordings

If you unfortunately had to miss the Sustainability and You Marketplace down at Robson Square on the weekend, you might be happy to know that the good folks at BALLE BC put a lot of effort into recording podcasts of some of the mainstage action.

Speakers, presentations, music, and poetry... It was a great weekend. Click here to visit the BALLE BC podcast page and get a taste of what transpired!

Sustainability Marketplace Podcasts and Pictures

The Sustainability and You Marketplace at UBC Robson Square this past weekend was a lot of fun.

You can listen to the various audio recordings from the weekend by clicking on this link, which will take you to the BALLE BC page.

You can also click the image above to view the rest of the photos in the 30 Days of Sustainability Gallery!

March 21

What socially responsible/ sustainable local businesses do you like to support, and why?

March 20

What will the Vancouver region look like when it has twice as many people in it? How can we keep it the best place on earth to live?

March 19

What is the relationship between spirituality and sustainablity?

March 18

How can arts and culture promote sustainability?

4 comments | 1121 reads

March 17

What can we do to create gardens that are both beautiful and sustainable?

March 16

What are the most important things a small company can do to address sustainability? Are they different for a large company?

Sustainability Marketplace - Don't Miss This!

This weekend, March 17-19th, UBC Robson Square will come alive with a festival of sustainable living.

Come on down to check out the action - there's something for everyone in this line-up. Live music, demonstrations, vendors, activities for youth, discussions and speakers, and a whole lot of people who share an interest in what we can do to live a bit more lightly - and happily - on the earth.

You can view the whole schedule online by clicking here, or download the whole schedule by clicking here.

See you there!

March 15

What would it take to get the average person to stop using paper coffee cups and disposable take-out containers?

Vancouver Sun insert March 1, 2006

The Vancouver Sun published a 16-page insert about the 30 Days of Sustainability on March 1st.

While too large to reproduce here, you can view the whole thing online. Please click here to visit the overview page, where you can click through to each individual page.

March 14

What can we do within our local communities/ neighbourhoods to increase sustainability?

March 13

How could Vancouver produce 25% of its own energy inside city limits?

March 12

What could spiritual leaders do to help advance sustainability?

March 11

What could we do in our public parks to keep people "playing" inside the city on weekends instead of driving outside the city?

Press Release: Swell Sustainable Design Exposition

Global Sustainable Design Exposition Opens in Vancouver

Vancouver, B.C. – March 9, 2006 – This Saturday, March 11, members of the media are invited to attend the opening of Swell, an international design exhibition showcasing products that employ principles of sustainability in their design, production, distribution and use.

Part of Vancouver’s 30 Days of Sustainability Celebration, Swell features the work of a diverse group of people – designers, artists, craftspeople, and artisans from around the globe – whose work incorporates a variety of approaches to the challenge of creating sustainable design. This exhibit will be open to the public March 12 to 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.