Green Calgary's Blog

We hope our 2019 Gift Guide gave you some ideas for great green gifts to give to everyone! When we have a gift to wrap, however, what are our options to make it as green as possible, and where does the wrap go when we're done with it? I've listed some wrapping options first, then where to put your wrapping waste at the end. Without further ado! No wrap: You heard it right! No wrapping is the best way to give nature a break. If you're gifting an experience or a donation, this is a no brainer, but even for other gifts, you might be okay with leaving it uncovered! Reusable gift bags: Reusable gift bags, especially out of durable materials like cloth, are second to none when it comes to green gift giving. The bag itself is like another gift and once you get a good supply of these out to your friends and family, you can trade them back and forth for years! They're also easy to make for anyone with a sewing machine. Wrap it in another gift: Folding up a blanket or...

Every year, I try to be well-prepared for the holidays. I know people who are very prepared - they have a schedule and everything goes smoothly. That never seems to be me, though. Between a packed social calendar, trying to make it to friends' Christmas parties, a work celebration, and family events, on top of a hectic schedule of shopping, baking, making travel plans, and more, I never seem to have time to put much into holiday decorations! To be really green, I should probably make my own and reuse them for years, but I've never really had the time for that, either! Here are some holiday decorations that you can make/put up that are easy AND pretty green, too! 1. Make a Gourd Display: I haven't tried this one yet, it was just an idea I had when I sat down to make this list, so maybe it needs some refinements, but why not get a mix of a bunch of different gourds and squashes and make a little display of them? Sort of like decorative gourds for harvest, but then you ...

Much of what we write about here is how to make your home and life more sustainable - reducing the waste you generate and that you throw out is a big part of that. But does that only apply to your life at home? People spend an average of 13 years and 2 months at work over their lifetime - that's a big chunk! It's definitely worth it to try to make your workplace a bit more sustainable. Here are six steps to a Greener Workplace! 1. Reduce Energy Usage. Change lightbulbs to LEDs, turn off and unplug equipment that isn't in use, and turn down the thermostat. 2. Save Water. Install low flow toilets, check for leaks and fix promptly, and plant drought resistant plants for landscaping. 3. Reduce Waste and Increase Recycling. Host zero waste meetings, only print when necessary, and replace disposable products in the staff kitchen. 4. Reduce Emissions and Carbon Footprint. Encourage telecommuting/working from home when possible, provide a bike rack for employees...

New Year, Old Challenges: Part 2 At the end of last year, we reported on some of the goals our team had to finish out 2018, and some of the challenges that came with that. Now, moving into 2019, we're all reexamining our #GreenGoals - some of us made resolutions for the new year, while others continue on the path we'd set last year. Here are some of the goals we had, what we achieved, and where we're going next! Conor was looking to reduce electricity usage in his home and was able to achieve this through some home automation and some education with his children. Christie, Reka, Lex, Raine, and Stephanie all had goals to reduce their single-use plastic usage in some area of life or another. They were all able to do this with switching products to those with less packaging, buying in bulk, or changing shopping habits. Deb, Gabriela, and Jen were trying to lower their disposable paper usage in the home, mostly by removing paper towel where they could. They were all...