Sustainable Development in Canada

As technology editor of Outpost Magazine I have written about sustainable energy, and emerging technologies for years.

There are innumerable challenges when converting to alternative energy sources, and most are economically viable and relatively low impact in terms of quality of life and change of behaviour.

Canada is abundant in social entrepreneurs who are pushing the envelope to develop better ways of harnessing the energy of the natural elements in order to Fuel our Future.

My favourites include:

Centre for Social Innovation - Social innovators are working to make the world a better place. They are non-profit leaders, social entrepreneurs, community activists, business people and artists that believe new ideas can change the world. http://www.the215.ca/

Light Up The World Foundation (LUTW) - started by Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday, is the first humanitarian organization to utilize renewable energy and solid-state lighting technologies to bring affordable, safe, healthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible illumination to people who do not have access to power for adequate lighting.  LUTW remains the world’s leader in this endeavour: globally active and setting standards in the field. http://www.lutw.org/home.htm

Cambridge based Spheral Solar – Who have developed a roofing material that is also a very efficient and light-weight photovoltaic solution. Read more at www.spherasolar.com.

Dundas Ontario based Zenon Environmental (now a division of GE) – is a leading pioneer and innovator in the area of effluent water treatment. As we have seen with natural disasters like the Tsunami in South East Asia, drinking water solutions are of significance in maintaining sustainability in the face of diminishing per capita fresh water resources. Check Zenon out at http://www.zenon.ca.

Ontario Sustainable Home Design Firm Sustainable Edge (now Part of Cobalt) – is a local engineering and planning organization dedicated to designing building systems that are dedicated to promoting viable, sustainable solutions for the built environment. Learn more about Sustainable Edge at http://www.s-edge.com.

Other Resources:

www.solarenergy.org

www.city.toronto.on.ca/energy/e3atwork/index.htm

www.climatechange.gc.ca/english/

www.un.org/esa/sustdev.html

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