Earth Hour 2012: Wo-Built Inc. and Peapod Life Tune in and Turn off

Icon: Green Earth map in light bulb
Image Credit: Microsoft Office Clipart: alternative energies, Earth, environmental conservation.

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”

- William Blake Poet, painter. 1757-1827
Source: greenlivingonline.com

This Saturday, 31st of March, 8:30 pm is Earth Hour. The goal of this event is to turn off the lights for one hour in tribute to the planet. It is an opportunity to send a message to decision makers that global warming and energy conservation are in fact important concerns for Torontonians.

Speaking of Toronto, according to Toronto Hydro, the city “dropped 115 megawatts (MW) of electricity use during Earth Hour. Together, Torontonians removed the equivalent of approximately 12 skyscrapers or 35,000 homes from the City's grid.”

This Earth Hour, instead of lighting candles at home, why not join the crowd at Trinity Square in the Distillery District for an environmentally friendly concert, featuring an Earth Hour anthem by local new media composer Andrew Huang, performed with the help of Choir! Choir! Choir! The evening will also feature Australian artist Jerrem Lynch, who will be projecting art onto a wall at a nearby building.

Begun in Sydney, Australia in 2007 as a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) initiative, Earth Hour spread to some 400 cities, including Toronto, in 35 countries by 2008.

Last year, more than 5,000 cities and towns in 135 countries turn off their lights. The result was Earth Hour 2011 became the biggest climate campaign in history.

Wo-Built and Peapod Life believe every day can be Earth Hour by common-sense building solutions like using more natural light.

Peapod Life, for instance, is a glass extension to your home for growing food indoors all year around, and has integrated solar panels for generating green energy.

This Saturday, 31st of March, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm turn off your lights for #EarthHour and join #PeapodLife in celebrating this worldwide event which sends a message of action on climate change.

Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Thank you for visiting our booth at the National Home Show!!!

Photo-Collage: Wo-Built's Green Commitment at the National Home Show
Peapod Life™ - an affordable sustainable home addition
March 16-25, 2012 at Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place;
2012 @ wobuilt.com

We had a fantastic show and we would like to thank everybody who came by and gave tremendous feedback on our Peapod Life - the fully integrated indoor garden living space.

We will be at the Green Living Show on April 13-15, 2012 and we would like to invite everybody to our booth 211. We will showcase Peapod Life in more details.

Mark the date in your calendar and see you at the Green Show.


Wo-Built's Team
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Photo-Collage: Wo-Built's Green Commitment at the National Home Show
Peapod Life™ - an affordable sustainable home addition
March 16-25, 2012 at Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place;
2012 @ wobuilt.com

World Water Day 2012: Wo-Built Pays Tribute to H2O with Peapod Life

youtube.com: World Water Day 2012 official video,
focusing on the theme of the campaign "Water and Food Security".
Uploaded by UNWaterWorldWaterDay on Mar 9, 2012
Produced by kf@kantfish.com and featuring a soundtrack by DDG Project.
Download your animation on: http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday
ONEDROP How much water is on your plate

"Water is H2O, hydrogen two parts, oxygen one, but there is also a third thing, that makes water and nobody knows what that is."
- D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930), Pansies, 1929; Source: Quotes and Facts about Water

"In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it. "
- Lao Tzu, philosopher of ancient China; Source: Brainy Quote

On this 22nd of March, 2012, Wo-Built Inc. contemplates the above two quotes on water.

In many ways, the second quote by Lao Tzu answers the question posed by D.H. Lawrence. Water is a magical substance that appears weak, meek. Were it a living creature we would say “it has no backbone.”

And yet, as Lao Tzu points out, water has by far been the most instrumental force in the shaping of our planet’s geography: that patient power that wears mountains down to dust and builds continents from magma flows.

Water is the humble hero: the strong silent type… until it roars. Calm and still it reflects perfectly the awe of the heavens. Stirred by motion and whipped by winds it thunders the sound and fury of nature’s wrath. It gives life, shapes it, takes it, and renews the remains.

Water is very much alive. It deserves our respect, care… yes, even love. Without its gifts, humanity is nothing… a ghostly apparition reflected in a desert mirage; a dusty legend of faerie folk songs.

No wonder, then, when Wo-Built set-out to revolutionize green building with its affordable green addition — Peapod Life — it included a rainwater recovery system.

But what good is harnessing rainwater if it just stagnates in a rain barrel? That’s why your Peapod Life will also auto-water your plants.

Of course, too much water (in the air — humidity) can be a problem, so automatic climate control comes standard, powered by built-in solar cells.

More than a sunroom; better than any old greenhouse, Peapod Life recognizes the value of water and respects the crucial role it must play in any truly green addition and any so-called eco-living space. In this case: the world’s first indoor garden living space.

Truly green space. Living. Peapod Life.

Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Screenshot: Peapod Life - The World's First
Integrated Indoor Garden Living Space
The future of sustainable living is here,
green living and living green all in one space.
Do you want a new way of living?
Do you want to thrive instead of survive?
Meet Peapod Life
Learn more about Peapod Life™ on Facebook!
2012 @ wobuilt.com

Peapod Life a big hit at the National Home Show

Photo-Collage: Wo-Built's Green Commitment at the National Home Show
Peapod Life™ - an affordable sustainable home addition
March 16-25, 2012 at Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place;
Photos: Olga Goubar @ wobuilt.com

Attendees of the National Home Show in Toronto are being wowed by Peapod Life, Wo-Built Inc.’s vision of a fully integrated indoor garden living space.

People are simply loving the idea of integrating organic food, solar power and smart water recovery into their lives, in an affordable glass addition that creates a beautiful and practical space perfect for both plants and people.

“Deciding to unveil Peapod Life at the National Home Show has proven to be a great success,” Martina Ernst, President and CEO of Wo-Built, Inc., said. “The response is overwhelmingly positive.”

Peapod Life is the world’s first living space that incorporates green technologies with active Biodesign and Biocare. The result is a living structure which is so much more than the sum of its parts: a self-contained, self-sustaining space truly alive and life-giving.

Located in booth 154 in the East Annex, Wo-Built Inc. will be featuring Peapod Life at the National Home Show through the week and weekend.

Attendees of the National Home Show can speak directly with Wo-Built experts and enjoy the living wall. Fill out a survey and enter the contest to win a living wall for your home or condo.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know Peapod Life and get in on the ground floor of the future of sustainable food, water and energy security.

Come see the future of green building and discover how affordable a Peapod Life glass addition can be!

The National Home Show closes at Sunday March 25th at 5pm.

Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

An Interview with Martina Ernst on Shannon Skinner's Extraordinary Women TV

Photo-collage: Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner
& Martina Ernst, President & CEO Wo-Built
Image Credits: ThatChannel.com on blip

Extraordinary Women with Shannon Skinner

Every Tuesday 10:00 am (live on ThatChannel.com): Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner is a weekly talk show featuring one-on-one conversation with successful women from all walks of life, Canadian and international, who share their extraordinary insights on how they made it. Shannon marries her media expertise with her coaching prowess to unlock the secrets of their success.

Last month, Martina was a guest on Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner sharing her extraordinary insights: "Have confidence in yourself; confidence in yourself to know that what you are doing is absolutely right and you have no doubt of it." If you are interested in a career in the building trades, in designing and constructing homes from a women perspective, or would you like to hear top success tips this interview is certainly for you.

Audio-only version:

Watch the interview for Extraordinary Women TV Show: Shannon Skinner talks with Martina Ernst:

Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner on Blip: Shannon Skinner interviews Martina Ernst on ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com Host Shannon Skinner sits down with Martina Ernst, President & CEO, Wo-Built Inc., one of few female-led design and build companies in the Greater Toronto Area.

About this series: Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner is a weekly talk show featuring successful women from all walks of life, Canadian and international, who share their dramatic and/or extraordinary insights on how they made it. Shannon marries her media expertise with her coaching prowess to unlock the secrets of their success. Tune in, see through a new pair of eyes – and be inspired. For updates, visit: www.ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com Check it out: Shannon posted on her blog Extraordinary Women TV on April 8, 2012

Martina Ernst builds people's dream homes. As president/CEO of Wo Built, a women-led design/build company in Toronto http://bit.ly/HoqZtk

Wo-Built Offers Livegreen Toronto Members Home Show Special on Peapod Life™

Photo Montage: Peapod Life™ helps Livegreen Toronto
Members save more than just money.
2012 @ wobuilt.com
Image Credits: Young plants + Plants
+ Potted plants sitting on a windowsill getting sun light
+ Live Green Toronto Membership Card

“Living green is all about making smart choices about how you live, travel, shop, eat and play.”
– Livegreen Toronto

At this year’s National Home Show Wo-Built Inc. will be offering Livegreen Toronto members substantial savings on its new line of affordable green home additions – Peapod Life™.

Much more than any greenhouse, Wo-Built's new Peapod Life™ combines the convenience of an in-home edible botanical garden; the comforts of real, useable living space; and the benefits of green solar power and rainwater recovery solutions; all integrated into one affordable sustainable home addition.

Livegreen Toronto Members will be able to save 30% off the cost of plants built into their Peapod Life™ indoor organic garden living space (including vegetables, fruits and herbs; minimum savings of $1500).

This show special can be combined with Wo-Built’s existing offer for Livegreen Toronto Members: 5% savings off the retail cost of green roofs, solar, geothermal or heat recovery measures with any Wo-Built renovation.

Wo-Built invites everyone to come visit us at the National Home Show and Canada Blooms, Livegreen Toronto Pavilion, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place between March 16th to the 25th.

Be among the first in the City to embrace Wo-Built’s vision for local food and energy security—Peapod Life™.

Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Wo-Built's Green Commitment at the National Home Show
Peapod Life™ - an affordable sustainable home addition
Visit us at Booth # E154

Success Strategies for Women & Trades Follow-up

Flyer: Success Strategies for Women & Trades
An event to accelerate women’s employment in non-traditional trades
Hosted by Centennial College, Toronto, March 6, 2012
Credit: Women’s Access to Trades Network

Success Strategies for Women and Trades
Date: 3/6/2012
Time: 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m
Location: Centennial College, Ashtonbee Campus
Who should attend?
This event will benefit all those who want more women working in the non-traditional trades.
centennialcollege.ca

#womenintrades

Today I attended the MicroSkills Success Strategies for Women & Trades Forum presented by the Women’s Access to Trades Network, held at Centennial College.

The event began with two great introductory speeches by Kay Blair, Executive Director, MicroSkills, and Karen Webb, Chair, MicroSkills Board of Directors.

Ann Buller, President of Centennial College presented a warm and welcoming speech, looking at the future of women in trades.

In Gail Smyth’s (Skills Canada-Ontario) uplifting speech highlighted the tremendous opportunities for women if given the right information and opportunities to advance.

Skills Canada has an amazing amount of programs that will help young women choose the trades as a career. According to Skills Canada, “we need to engage and enlighten young women to take the risk and go into skills trades.” The trades deserve recognition as good career opportunities for women.

I was fortunate to be the facilitator at one of the break-out sessions where we discussed the way forward of encouraging and retaining women in the non-traditional trades. Lively discussions and sharing of experiences made for really great insights which were all captured and will be of great help when the next steps are taken.

After lunch, a Success Panel convened on Leadership, Collaboration, Commitment. Discussions included strategies for getting women in the trades, provincial women's access to trades network - dedicated to accelerating women's participation in the trades.

The College of Trades presentation was very interesting and for anyone interested, check-out: The Labour Market Group: Ontario College of Trades presentation.

Thank you MicroSkills and Centennial College for hosting a fantastic forum on women in trades!

For more information on the Success Strategies for Women and Trades Forum, checkout our previous blog on the topic.

Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Affordable Home Additions that Rejuvenate Your Quality of Life: Herbs!

Photo Montage: Rejuvenate Your Life: Herbs!
Images Credit: Microsoft Office Clipart: Plants + Bread eggs and herbs + Herb gardens
2012 @ wobuilt.com

"Oh, better, no doubt, is a dinner of herbs, When seasoned by love, which no rancor disturbs, And sweetened by all that is sweetest in life, Than turbot, bisque, ortolans, eaten with strife"
- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton, British politician, poet, critic and prolific novelist, 1803-1873. Source: thinkexist.com

People’s use of wild herbs for food and medicine predates written history. Since then, philosophers, theologians, healers, magi, cooks, beauticians, authors and poets have written about the virtues of these precious plants.

With curative powers and cosmetic uses to rejuvenating aromas and delightful flavours, herbs offer a natural way to rejuvenate our quality of life. But how simple, easy, or affordable is it to make such an addition?

It’s not too much of a challenge to add a little herb box to your home on a windowsill in your kitchen. If you know your herbs and are a bit of a green thumb, that is. If you are a complete novice when it comes to edible plants, you’ll be facing a bit of a learning curve. A small herb box is affordable and a pretty easy upgrade for your kitchen.

But what happens if you are a real gourmand living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)? With the growing season so short, backyard gardens only get you so far. You can infuse oils and preserve herbs, of course, but there is no substitute for fresh. But how big an indoor herb garden can you conceivably have, even in a high-end kitchen?

You can build a greenhouse in your garden (if you get the permits for it), and trudge through the snow (or freezing rain, if this year is indicative of Toronto winters to come). Is there a better way to make the herbal addition?

Wo-Built is about to introduce the most exciting development in quality home renovations to hit affordable home additions for years: Space. Living. We call it Peapod. Affordable home additions and back extensions which combine real living space with green technologies and organic food, built into a self-sustaining custom design.

Come and visit Wo-Built at the National Home Show and Canada Blooms, from March 16th to the 25th in the Green Living Toronto pavilion. Bite into a fresh, green, affordable addition to your home and rejuvenate your quality of life with all the herbs you could ever hope for (and so much more).

Peapod: affordable new home additions blooming with fresh ideas like herbs. Rejuvenate your quality of life.


Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

You can also find helpful information at the following links:

wobuilt.com/blog: East York Mirror: Wo-Built Home Builder with New Affordable Initiative
wobuilt.com/blog: A Second Storey Addition - New Construction Approach
wobuilt.com/blog: Construction Statistics and Economic Indicators: Signs for Future Projects
wobuilt.com/blog: Adding Value to Your House – How About Adding Value to Your Life?!
wobuilt.com/blog: An Addition = A Home that’s more than just the Sum of its Parts