Green Building Guidelines and Initiatives - A Canadian Perspective

Gone are the days used up in favour of a disposable society, leaving what remains to provide for an explosion of civilization and that which they covet. Other complex cultures have perished throughout time from degradation to ecosystems and an inability to engineer a peaceful coexistence. So it is no wonder that today’s green/sustainable building practices have developed beyond concept into doctrine, finding their way into our hearts and politics. And while concerns about environmental degradation, resource shortages, and human health impacts are promoting widespread acceptance of green building practices, more can be done to aid the day-to-day practitioners in mitigating the enormous pressures on planetary ecosystems caused by human activities.

Towards these endeavours, the concept of resource conscious design, which ultimately aims to minimize natural resource consumption and impact on ecological systems, is presented in a familiar context. In particular, Canadian guidelines and initiatives are put forth as examples of current green building applications and their environmental benefits.

Global Worming

Charles Darwin’s final book, entitled "The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through The Action of Worms, With Observations On their Habits" (1881), made aware the great importance of earthworms in the breakdown of organic matter and their release of nutrients to the surrounding soil. Included in this work is a quote that emphasized his respect of earthworms;

Although the conclusion may appear at first startling, it will be difficult to deny the probability that every particle of earth forming the bed from which the turf in old pasture land springs, has passed through the intestines of worms.

Vermicomposting - Month 3

While there are many more cocoons continuing to be produced since the colony was transferred to a smaller bin, after a few weeks of spotting the first new cocoons it was decided to to raise moisture levels and place the bin in a window sill each day to raise temperature a few degrees in the bedding.  After several equipment and process modifications since starting vermicomposting, cocoons have finally begun to hatch.