Good Fact

Condoms are Good?

- Adam Clare 5 Comments

This is some news that can be considered good or not-so-good depending on how you view the world. Having fewer children is the best thing we can do (or not do) for the environment.

Three decades ago, experts said that the ever-growing human population would lead to global disaster. Paul Erhlich’s best-selling work, The Population Bomb predicted disaster for humanity due to overpopulation and the “population explosion”.
Even though the world population increased to 6.7 billion in thirty years, advances in technology and agriculture, globalization and successful family planning has forestalled the detonation of this bomb.
With the recent rise in the cost of food and fuel, and our failure to control greenhouse gas emissions, along with predictions of a world population of 9 billion by 2040, it looks like we might run out of planet even with advances in technology.
One of the ways we can create a more sustainable planet is to limit our population. I’m not talking about state mandated controls but self-regulation. If a woman has control over the number and the spacing of her children, we are all better off.

Top sustainable construction projects honored

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

The Holcim Foundation has released the winners of the most sustainable buildings in North America. The CBC is reporting that Canada has won three awards.

The winners of the second North American Holcim Awards competition for Sustainable Construction projects were announced at a ceremony in Montreal. Total prize money of USD 270,000 was presented to nine projects from Canada and the United States that showcase the latest approaches to address critical topics including housing affordability, employment, renewable energy, and water efficiency.

The competition is run in parallel in five regions of the world by the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. Almost 5000 projects from 90 countries entered the competition which aims to promote sustainable responses from the building and construction industry to technological, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural issues.

Taiwan’s Bicycle Makers Love Economic Collapse

- Adam Clare

my bikeWe all know that the global market is getting shaken around right now and as “the invisible hand” rights (or bails out) the inherent failures of capitalism some people are benefiting from the stress. Bicycle manufactures are benefiting from consumers tightening their belts because bikes are a great way to save money, they also keep you fit, and are good for the environment. Yeah for bicycles!

Exports reached a record high in 2007 of 1.05 billion US dollars with 4.75 million bikes sold abroad, while 2008 looks set to break that record with the export of 2.76 million bikes totalling 635 million US dollars in the first six months, government figures showed.
There is no official data on how many bicycles are sold locally but industry watchers estimate around one million were sold in 2007 on the island of 23 million people.
“Business was booming in 2007 and this year looks to be the best,” said Jeffrey Sheu, spokesman for the world’s leading bicycle maker Giant Inc.
“Our monthly revenue hit a historical high in August and September looks like setting a new record.”
Giant’s August and September group revenue rose 27 percent and 35 percent year-on-year to 3.91 billion and 4.12 billion Taiwan dollars (120 million US and 126 million US) respectively while 2008 revenue is projected to increase by at least 25 percent to 40 billion.

Calgary to join Modern Recycling World

- Adam Clare

In my head I just assumed that all Canadian cities had curbside recycling. Apparently I was wrong, and it’s not good that cities lack this program. It is good that Calgary is trying to remedy that problem and that despite the difficulty of recycling in Calgary, people overuse the system.

Moving to a new system is important, Magdich said. Calgary’s community recycling depots now operate at 150 per cent above intended capacity.
“Our community recycling depots have been in place for some time and they served us well for a number of years. But yeah, we’re definitely at capacity with them,” Magdich said Wednesday.
“We are excited about moving to blue-cart recycling. It will really help the city move forward in keeping more waste out of the landfill.”

Buildings of the Future Will Have Living Walls

- Adam Clare


In Sao Paulo the future is looking green for new buildings. There’s a really cool building that has every external wall covered in growth. Deco Journal has pictures of the building known as Harmoania 57 and an english description of what exactly is going on. For those that speak Spanish, here’s a Spanish article with even more pictures.

The eco system which allows the vegetation to grow on the walls of the building is heavily sustained by a watering structure running through the concrete walls. The plants grow in little cavities specially designed for this purpose. In time, all the concrete should be covered in vegetation.

Last time we looked at Sao Paolo, they banned billboards.

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