Green Retrofitting – How Much More Is It Than the Old Energy Retrofitting in the 90s?

Collage: ecoENERGY Retrofit with WO-BUILT

I did an interesting Google search the other day (“what is the difference between green retrofitting and energy efficient retrofitting”) and the obvious conclusion is that energy efficiency is part of green retrofitting. Not really surprising.

But it did not answer the question how it differs.

My first job in Canada in 1993 was working for an Energy Services Company; essentially we went into buildings and retrofitted the lighting, heating/air-conditioning, water consumption and some other systems to make them more energy efficient so that the project could be paid back from the savings. In today’s world this would be considered "green".

Is "green" retrofitting than just a new word for the same thing or does it have another dimension to it?

One aspect is the multitude of new systems which are impacted by new green technologies, solar, green roofs, wind turbines etc. Of course these technologies had been around a long time, but were too expensive or too rare to be used on a larger scale.

But the more interesting aspect is the emotional level that is different. Going green is about quality of life, saving the environment and our planet, about comfort in the home and work place and many more emotional feelings. Energy efficiency on the other hand was mainly about saving money; it is hard to get really excited about this and to be emotionally involved.

So, even though we were on our "green" ways 20 years ago, we have finally created the buzz that was needed to get everyone involved. That’s the difference.

This my take on "green" - What’s yours? We would love to know.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Wo-Built: Being Green in Toronto – Everyone Can Participate!
Wo-Built: Going Green in the City: Building and Renovating with "Being Green" in Mind:
Part 1 - Eco-Friendly Home Improvements
Part 2 - Going Green Is Becoming Mainstream
Part 3 - Living Rooftops - An Environmental Alternative for "Green" Building
Wo-Built: Our Green and Eco Tweets to Follow

technorati tags:
ecoenergy
green
google search
canada
energy efficiency

Time for the National Home Show!

Screenshot: The National Home Show, presented by RE/MAX,
February 19 - 28, 2010 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place
How's that little project coming along?
Home Renovation Guide: Find a Home Solution + Renovation of the Month (Before & After)
Credit: nationalhomeshow.com

The National Home Show, presented by RE/MAX

How's that little project coming along?

DATES | HOURS
Friday, February 19 – Sunday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 22 - Mommies Day!
Thursday, February 25 - Girls Night Out!
Weekdays: 11 am - 9 pm
Saturdays: 10 am - 9 pm
Sundays: 10 am - 6 pm
www.nationalhomeshow.com

LOCATION
Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place
100 Princes' Blvd.
Toronto, ON
416-263-3000
www.ntc.on.ca

February 19 marks the start of the National Home Show. Whether you’re looking for a major "lift" for your home or just for some fresh new ideas to update your space, you’ll come across them here, all under one roof. You’ll find lots of new trends and new ideas to update your home, as well as practical solutions for decorating and/or renovating dilemmas.

Look for gardening and landscaping tips as well from the many experts there. And, as an added bonus, special guest, Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will be making a guest appearance on February 19th. If you’re thinking of sprucing up your home, there’s much to inspire you at the National Home Show.

As a design and build company that always strives to exceed our customers’ expectations, we like to keep on top of the trends in the industry, so Wo-Built Inc. will be making the rounds to see what’s new. Hope to see you there!

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Wo-Built: Impressions of the Toronto Fall Home Show
Wo-Built: Home Renovation and Custom Building Awards: Wo-Built Comes Out On Top!!!
Wo-Built: Canada's HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo Begins Tomorrow

technorati tags:
renovation
home renovation
kitchen renovation

Do You Have Toronto's Next Great Green Idea? Apply for Funding through the 2010 Green Innovation Awards

Screenshot: 2010 Green Innovation Awards
Credit: toronto.ca

Being environmentally conscious, we at Wo-Built always strive to minimize the ecological footprint in all our projects, and our passion is energy conservation and green building design.
We like to tell everybody about the 2010 Green Innovation Awards – the City of Toronto and the Toronto Community Foundation's new grant program to advance the development of new and innovative solutions to address the environmental challenges.

2010 Green Innovation Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2010 Green Innovation Awards - a new award that offers up to $50,000 in seed money to help develop and bring new and innovative green products and solutions to the Toronto marketplace.

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur, inventor, student or environmentally-minded individual or group?
Do you have Toronto’s next great green idea?

Here is your chance to make your great green ideas come true. Through the generous support of the Toronto Community Foundation donors, up to $50,000 is available to be invested as seed money to help you get your green idea off the ground.

Green ideas may include any new technology, product and/or service that helps make Toronto a greener and more liveable city.

Successful applicants will be invited to present their green ideas and funding requests to our panel of experts. Award recipients will be announced at the Green Toronto Awards ceremony in April.

The deadline for submissions is March 12, 2010.

We've tweeted "#Toronto Community Foundation - Green Innovation Awards. http://www.tcf.ca/vitalinitiatives/greeninnovationawards.html - Deadline March 12"

Are You an Internationally Trained Professional Woman? Apply for the Business Edge Program

Poster: Business Edge: For Internationally Trained Women Professionals
March 26-May 29, 2010, PDF brochure
Credit: rotman.utoronto.ca

We like to support many training initiatives for women, and we found this one hosted by the Rotman School of Management, U of T.

Business Edge:
A Program for Internationally
Trained Women Professionals

March 26 to May 29, 2010

• Workplace Effectiveness
• Language Fluency
• Development and Managing Critical Relationships
• Career Action Planning
• Post program Support
• Coaching
• Influencing
• Negotiation Skills

Apply today for this free program.

Application deadline: Wed. Feb 17, 2010
For more information call: 416-978-7066
Apply online at: www.rotmanexecutive.com/businessedge

Initiative for Women in Business
This intensive program is designed to support internationally trained women professionals as they navigate their careers in the Canadian workplace. It will help them build professional confidence and acquire relevant business skills in order to advance within their firms. The program will bring out a better understanding of the subtleties of the Canadian workplace and help them adopt ways that could make a positive difference to their professional work experience.
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

A Career in Landscaping May Be for You: Job Opportunities in the Landscaping Field

Poster: Landscape Information and Job Fair
YMCA Metro Central, February 24 - 25, 2010
Credit: woodgreenjobs.com

Now Hiring!!!

A career in landscaping may be for you! Over 10 employers will be present and hiring for current and summer job opportunities in the landscaping field

Landscape Information & Job Fair

Where: YMCA Metro Central
Location: 20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto (Yonge/College)


When: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Info Fair
Registration: 1.30 p.m.

Thursday, February 25, 2010
Job Fair
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Priority interview times will be assigned to people who attend the Info Fair

For more information, see your Job Developer, Employment Counsellor, Worker or call 416-392-0101 or 311

Organized by:

Toronto Economic Development & Culture Division (EDC)

Youth Employment Partnerships

Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association

Download Job Fair Flyer (PDF)


City of Toronto annual job fair, through the Youth Employment Partnerships, will take place on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the YMCA Metro Central, 20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto (Yonge/College). Approximately 100 to 200 participants (youth/adults), looking for employment in the landscaping sector and able to commence work immediately, are expected to attend.

If you are an employer and have current/future hiring needs and would like a free booth at the event, email Linda McGrath at lmcgrat2@toronto.ca, or phone 416-397-7317 asap to register.

Please Vote for Architect Barbie!!!

Screenshot: wobuilt's tweet: Select Barbie's 125th career!
Please vote for Architect Barbie!
http://www.barbie.com/vote/

News Flash

Global Online Campaign to Select Barbie's 125th Career:

• Polls will be open from mid-January through February 10th, and the winning career will be unveiled at a special event at New York Toy Fair on February 12th, 2010.
• The new career doll will be on shelves in Fall 2010.
• Please vote often - there is no limit to the number of votes one person can make.
• Here’s the site: http://www.barbie.com/vote/

links:
taubmancollege.umich.edu: Dimensions Twenty-One (PDF)
"Architect Barbie was chosen as the theme for the Sanders Fellowship exhibition. Students and faculty of Taubman College’s T-Square Society developed prototypes of Architect Barbie based on their own experiences, fantasies and perhaps frustrations... "

barbiemedia.com: Barbie Celebrates 125th Career with Global Initiative to Inspire Girls
Global Events: Canada - Canada will launch the Barbie “I Can Be™…” academy, which will invite girls and moms to physically try on different roles and learn first-hand about a variety of careers. The event will also celebrate Barbie's past careers for moms and girls to see where Barbie has been and is headed...

online.wsj.com: Barbie(R) Celebrates 125th Career with Global Initiative to Inspire Girls
JANUARY 21, 2010

follow Barbie on Twitter