Archive for the ‘Miscellaneous’ Category
Energize this country
By getting behind renewable energy technology — we’ll reduce our dependence on large-scale energy suppliers and energy sources that produce a high level of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
Mike Holmes, Canwest News Service
We all want to reduce our environmental footprint and be more responsible about how we live. I spec-in sustainable materials in all the houses I design and build, and whenever possible, make the better, greener choice.
It was a disappointment to have the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit program cancelled. I’m just a contractor, not a politician, but it seems that was a government program that was working. Homeowners were rewarded for putting in energy-saving appliances or spending their renovation dollars on a superior envelope that will improve energy efficiency.
If the federal budget was fully allocated that’s because the program was a success and it should be continued and expanded. So then let’s direct more money toward it – fast.
Incentives to shift to renewable energy sources are smart and long overdue.
One way to do that is to reduce our dependence on energy that comes from non-renewable sources. By getting behind renewable energy technology – we’ll reduce our dependence on large-scale energy suppliers and energy sources that produce a high level of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
What’s renewable energy? Energy from such sources as solar, wind, water and biomass – they’re free. And most importantly, it’s available at a local level, unlike conventional fuels that typically are generated long distances from where it’s ultimately used.
If we can decentralize our dependence on big suppliers of energy, we’ll be less vulnerable. The big blackout of 2003 that took out millions of homes in North America wouldn’t have been such a big deal if we weren’t all dependant on the grid.
And if we start to create our own power through microgeneration from renewable sources we’ll also reduce GHGs. And the more people able to create energy means more energy available to use, and lower costs.
Solar energy is unlimited. It can be harnessed right where you use it – the roof of your home. The only drawback is the initial cost of investment, which can be expensive, and they can take a long time to pay back, so without some kind of break, homeowners often just can’t consider it. If there were some rebate program that helps people reduce the initial cost of installing a renewable energy microgeneration system into homes, we would all benefit.
Wouldn’t you love to control your source of energy? What about if you could even sell extra energy back to the grid, so instead of just paying, you could profit?
Let’s start moving in the right direction on this by making choices and by empowering people across the country to do the right thing.
Naydene Lewis is a town councillor in Okotoks, Alta., who’s putting forth a motion that makes a lot of sense to me. In fact, a lot of forward-thinking municipalities across the country – like Okotoks – have already endorsed it.
She’d like to see more incentives that encourage renewable energy installations by homeowners, who can tie into the grid and provide small-scale power generation.
This is the sort of grassroots movement that we should all get behind; individual homeowners, local municipalities – that’s where change happens. It’s not going to come from big government (though that would be nice to see). Sustainable energy projects and initiatives should be owned and developed by the residents of a community where the project is located.
If we invest in renewable energy, we’ll go a long way to making it right.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
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Cooking up trouble
How to spot an illicit drug lab
By Rob Parker, Special to QMI Agency
Is there a meth lab in your neighbourhood?
If so, you should be concerned.
Methamphetamine trafficking and production is dangerous, not only to the user but to the people and homes around the area. The reckless practices of clandestine meth lab operators can result in explosions or fires that can injure or kill the lab operator and neighbours, police officers and firefighters who come in contact with a lab.
Meth manufacturing involves many common household chemicals that, alone and in combination, are potentially toxic, or even lethal. When mixed, the chemicals used to make meth can damage the central nervous system, liver and kidneys, and burn and irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat.
Chemicals and fumes that permeate the walls, carpets, plaster and wood of meth labs and the surrounding soil are known to cause cancer, short-term and permanent brain damage, and immune and respiratory system problems.
And if the labs themselves weren’t dangerous enough, violence between drug dealers can add to the overall threat to any neighbourhood or community.
Many meth makers have common habits that are easily observed. A combination of the following may be grounds for concern:
• Frequent visitors at all times of the day or night
• Activity at the house at odd hours or late at night
• Occupants who are unfriendly and seem secretive about their activities
• Occupants who appear unemployed yet seem to have plenty of money and pay bills in cash
• Occupants who display paranoid or odd behaviour
• Extensive security at the home, like signs that say “Private Property” or “Beware of Dog,” fences, large shrubs, bushes and trees
• Windows blackened or curtains always drawn
• Occupants going outside the house to smoke
• Chemical odours coming from the house, garbage or detached buildings
• Garbage containing numerous containers and bottles with labels removed, covered or painted over
• Garbage is set out for pickup with a neighbour’s trash
• Evidence of chemical or waste dumping, such as burn pits or dead spots in the yard.
If you see any combination of the above, call the police. Do not confront your neighbours with your suspicions or enter a suspected lab.
A 2009 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime revealed that Canada is the largest supplier of ecstasy – a form of meth – to the U.S. Meanwhile, Japan says Canada is the single biggest source of seized ecstasy tablets.
Given these statistics, the chances of a meth lab being in or near your neighbourhood may be greater than you think.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
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Going to pot
Inspection first step in grow-op fix
By Rob Parker, Special to QMI Agency
If you’ve just purchased a home that you suspect or have been told was a grow-op, your first order of business should be hiring a reputable home inspector.
The inspector will visually check the home’s major operating systems: heating, plumbing, electrical, basement, interior, foundation, structure, roof and attic.
Since enormous amounts of electricity are needed to grow marijuana, and grow operators often make modifications to steal power, the electrical work is likely in trouble, posing a real danger of fire hazard.
Large holes are often drilled or chiselled in the foundation to bypass the hydro meter. The hole may have been repaired improperly or simply covered over with drywall. That could lead to water problems in the basement or even permanent structural damage.
While these issues can be serious and expensive to fix, worse problems can be caused by water and chemicals used to grow pot. Long after the grow-op is gone, mould, bacteria and toxins may linger.
All houses contain some type(s) of mould. Some pose limited or no health concerns; others can be deadly. Moulds can grow on almost any surface where moisture is present – wood, paper, carpet, food, even stainless steel.
Moulds are usually not a problem indoors, unless their spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Since grow houses contain high levels of humidity, like those found in a greenhouse, they’re a breeding ground for moulds, some of which can be particularly dangerous.
Airborne mould particles present a hidden danger, so air-quality testing is a must. If mould is present, testing will reveal that air in the home contains more mould spores than outside air.
Air-quality testing also can detect toxins and chemicals used in grow-ops. High-nitrogen fertilizers, for example, are used to promote plant growth, while a number of other chemicals are used to fight plant disease and control pests and insects.
If your home inspector is unable to do the air testing, you should contact an environmental consultant. There are several listed in the Yellow Pages.
If the test comes back with a high mould spore count inside the house, mould remediation is recommended, and hiring a company experienced in mould cleanup is the only way to go. Such a company has the knowledge and equipment to properly remove and destroy mould without spreading spores to other parts of the home.
Depending on the level of contamination, drywall, carpeting, cabinets and other interior decor may have to go. Removal may take several weeks to complete. In these cases, the homeowner may have to make alternative living arrangements.
After the cleanup, air quality should be tested again to ensure the mould spore count has dropped.
If the property was seized by the authorities, air-quality testing and mould remediation are required before the home can be listed for sale. Unfortunately, many grow-ops go undetected and the operators simply relocate.
The best way to avoid a future problem with mould is to control the moisture levels in the home:
• Repair leaks in the roof, walls, doors, windows, foundation, etc.
• Repair leaks from plumbing or heating systems and appliances.
• Use fans to limit humidity caused by cooking, bathing, etc., and ensure they’re vented outside and not into the attic or other areas of the home.
• Ensure that air conditioning systems, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, sump pits and other places where moisture is commonly present are well maintained and repaired immediately when leaks are found.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
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