This morning on the show Henry and Robyn talked about their fourth year theses, Robyn having researched possible green roof implementation on Campus, and Henry studying renewable energy awareness and solar panel implementation under the Ontario microFIT program. The Future . . . → Read More: April 14, 2011: Green Roofs & Solar Panels]]> The OPA’s microFIT program and a green roof in Chicago. Credit 1 & 2.

This morning on the show Henry and Robyn talked about their fourth year theses, Robyn having researched possible green roof implementation on Campus, and Henry studying renewable energy awareness and solar panel implementation under the Ontario microFIT program.

The Future Is Bright: Solar Panel Implementation in Ontario
By: Carol Hunsberger & Matt Street
Henry Hawkins recently finished his fourth year Geography thesis, and studied the motivations and obstacles to people purchasing solar panels for their homes, under the microFIT program. He also completed a survey to discover how much people know about the electricity they consume, and their awareness of energy production and common sources. What is the microFIT program? Why do people apply for it, and what is the future potential of feed-in tariff programs and solar power in general?

If you would like to listen to the radio features that were made for the thesis, discussing what renewable energies are, and available options for homeowners, you can access them here.

Green Roofs at Carleton University
By: Carol Hunsberger, Matt Street & Henry Hawkins
Robyn Penney also finished her fourth year Environmental Studies thesis, and studied possible implementation of green roofs on campus, mostly looking at retrofitting existing buildings. She talked about the composition of green roofs, what they are commonly used for, and the future potential of implementation.

The Environmental News
By: Henry Hawkins
In this week’s environmental news, a report suggests shale gas fracking is more harmful to the environment than coal production, the federal election cycle begins with the Green Party taking a step backwards, the United States loses ground in renewable energy investments, one year after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, bp remains resilient, and penguins in Antarctica face diminishing food supplies.

This morning on the show, we had two 4th year geography undergrads come in to talk about their thesis research, and we discussed our plans for next year.

Majia McKibbon: Aging Urban Geographies By: Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributor Robyn Penney spoke with Maija McKibbon about her 4th year thesis research. Maija focused . . . → Read More: March 31, 2011: 4th Year Undergrad Thesis Talk]]>

This morning on the show, we had two 4th year geography undergrads come in to talk about their thesis research, and we discussed our plans for next year.

Majia McKibbon: Aging Urban Geographies
By: Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributor
Robyn Penney spoke with Maija McKibbon about her 4th year thesis research. Maija focused on the dynamics of an aging population in urban centers and how it is affecting transportation, local businesses and the people themselves. Her research showed some surprising facts and knowledge on this misunderstood sector of the population.

This morning we had the third episode in our focus on renewable energies, focusing on solar power. We looked at the current state of the industry, some options available to homeowners, and had an interview . . . → Read More: March 24, 2011: SPF’s Renewable Energy Series, Episode 3 – Solar Power]]> Solar panels in Enbridge’s PV plant in Sarnia, Ontario – currently the largest PV plant in the world. Credit.

This morning we had the third episode in our focus on renewable energies, focusing on solar power. We looked at the current state of the industry, some options available to homeowners, and had an interview with Tim Weis, director of renewable energies at the Pembina Institute.

Overview of Solar Power
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In this feature, we look at the main types of solar power technologies available to homeowners, largely focusing on solar PV panels to generate electricity. The Government of Ontario currently offers one of the most generous programs to purchase electricity from homeowners who install systems, and this program and others like it are at the forefront of the push to the future of solar power implementation. The feature also looks at solar hot water heaters, and how the industry may evolve in the future.

The Science Moment: Solar Technology
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In the second feature, we take a break for a science moment, looking at the differences between the main sources of solar power used for power plants and for home users, and how the technology has evolved over the years.

Tim Weis: Solar Power In Ontario
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In the final feature, Henry spoke to Tim Weiss, the director of renewable energies at the Pembina Institute, a renewable energy think-tank and advocacy group here in Canada. Tim talked about some of the benefits to pursuing solar power, the costs involved, and how the microFIT program has promoted solar power in Ontario.

The Environmental News
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, a cloud of radiation has been spreading from Japan over North America and Europe, NASA’s Messenger becomes the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury, in France, Google is fined for breaching privacy laws gathering pictures for its Street View service, governments around the world are reconsidering the future of nuclear power plants, and Earth Hour takes place this Saturday at 8:30.

On this week’s show we had a tour of Canada’s first Passive House, designed by Vert Design’s Chris Straka, and located here in Ottawa.

Chris Straka & Ross Elliot: Canada’s First Passive House By: Henry Hawkins & Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributors . . . → Read More: February 10, 2011: Canada’s First Passive House]]> Located in New Edinburgh, Ottawa – it’s Canada’s first Passive House.

On this week’s show we had a tour of Canada’s first Passive House, designed by Vert Design’s Chris Straka, and located here in Ottawa.

Chris Straka & Ross Elliot: Canada’s First Passive House
By: Henry Hawkins & Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributors
This past week, Chris Straka, from Vert Designs, and Ross Elliot, from Homesol (who certified the home as ‘Passive’) gave Henry and Robyn a tour of Canada’s first Passive House, located in New Edinburgh. Designed with solar panels, geothermal heating/cooling, and a green roof, this home uses 90% less energy than typical homes, and features many design considerations to be cost effective, and efficiently built.

In Part One, Chris and Ross talked about the concept behind the house, and in part Two we went on a brief tour of the house, as different features were discussed.

The Environmental News
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, Enbridge adds another 20MW to its solar energy capacity in Ontario, two Canadian companies have been fined $40,000 for illegally transporting electronic waste to China, the USDA approves the use of genetically modified alfafa, and yesterday the EPA responded to a new bill that questions their power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clear Air Act.

This morning on the show we had the second episode in our series on renewable energies. Designed to inform listeners about the many types of renewables, the technologies, and options for consumers, this episode looked at geothermal energy and electricity.

Renewable Energy: Geothermal – . . . → Read More: February 3, 2011: SPF’s Renewable Energy Series, Episode 2 – Geothermal]]> The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland. Credit.

This morning on the show we had the second episode in our series on renewable energies. Designed to inform listeners about the many types of renewables, the technologies, and options for consumers, this episode looked at geothermal energy and electricity.

Renewable Energy: Geothermal – Overview
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
To start off, we looked at the history of geothermal energy use, dating back several thousand years, and the more recent advancements of geothermal heat pumps for home use, and large scale geothermal electricity. How is the technology being used now, and what could the future hold for geothermal, as part of a move toward renewable energy?

Renewable Energy: Geothermal – Andre Levasseur from Geothermique
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
Geothermique is a local Ottawa-Gatineau based company that installs geothermal heating/cooling systems for home and commercial uses. The provide multiple types of systems, and Andre Levasseur from the company talked about the options available for consumers looking to lower their heating bills, and switch toward renewable energy.

February 3, 2011: The Environmental News
By: Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, researchers discover a new way to battle antibiotic resistant bacteria, a Canadian pipeline could disintegrate Middle East oil imports to North America, caffeine shows its contribution to gene therapy science, and Brazil approves construction of the world’s third largest hydroelectric dam.

Paul Grigoriev: Biodiversity By: Andrew Lindstrom, Regular SPF Contributor 2010 was designated by the . . . → Read More: November 25, 2010: Biodiversity]]> This morning on the show we had the first feature from new SPF’er Andrew Lindstrom, an interview on biodiversity, and heard an overview of electricity generation and transmission from our first renewable energy episode, not included on last week’s show.

Paul Grigoriev: Biodiversity
By: Andrew Lindstrom, Regular SPF Contributor
2010 was designated by the UN as the International year of Biodiversity, due to concerns over diminishing numbers of species seen around the world in recent years. In pursuing his own interest about the subject, and working on a course project, Andrew caught up with Paul Grigoriev to discuss the issue. Paul works with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, an organization that created the Endangered Species Red List, to highlight species facing threats to their habitat and future existence, and ultimately promote conservation efforts.

Renewable Energy Series: Episode One – Primer on Energy & Power, Generation and Transmission
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
We also managed to broadcast this feature on the basics involved with talking about renewable energy, on the differences between energy and power, and the process involved in electricity generation and transmission. We couldn’t fit in to last week’s jam packed episode, so we gave it some airtime this morning. You can listen to this episode in its original context here.

Environmental News
By: Veronica Tang, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, hope falters after a New Zealand mine explodes for a second time, clean energy hurts Ontario’s wallets, the first tiger summit ends with promising goals, and hybrid tugboats take a bite out of air pollution.

Overview of Renewable Energy By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SpF Contributor

Renewable energies have been a major focus of countries around the world in recent years, and the industry is currently going through rapid expansion, with solar, wind, geothermal, and other technologies seeing rapid technological advancements and implementations. . . . → Read More: November 18, 2010: SPF’s Renewable Energy Series, Episode 1]]> Wind turbines in Sandesneben, Germany.

Overview of Renewable Energy
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SpF Contributor

Renewable energies have been a major focus of countries around the world in recent years, and the industry is currently going through rapid expansion, with solar, wind, geothermal, and other technologies seeing rapid technological advancements and implementations. Here on SpF we like to inform as well as investigate, so we’re putting together this in-depth series on renewable energy. This first feature gives an introduction of the current state of energy consumption, looks at the role of renewable energy in the future, and focuses on some success stories from around the world.

Primer: Energy & Power, Generation & Transmission
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SpF Contributor

Talking about renewable energy and power can get a bit confusing sometimes with all the awkward terminology involved. A recent study showed that 76% of Ontarians can’t identify the main source of electricity in the province. So, to counter some of this confusion and lack of awareness, we looked at some of the confusing terms used when discussing energy and power. Then we heard about the technical side of how renewable electricity is generated and transmitted, from wind turbines and solar panels, all the way to the end user.

Tom Heintzman, President of Bullfrog Power
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SpF Contributor

Bullfrog Power is the only electricity provider in Canada to offer consumers the choice of electricity from 100% renewable projects. The company has grown since it started five years ago, and now operates in six provinces across Canada, providing more than eight thousand homes and twelve hundred business with electricity. Due to the nature of the electricity grid, with energy from all sources mixing together, bullfrog consumers do not only consume electricity from renewable projects. Instead, using bullfrog power is more like voting for renewable projects with your electricity bill, and contributing to the investment in new facilities. We heard from Tom Heintzman, the president of Bullfrog Power, about where bullfrog’s electricity comes from, the role consumers play in the future of the industry, and future plans for the company.

The Environmental News
By: Andrew Lindstrom & Katy Lopez

In this week’s Environmental News, decades of data show that the troposphere is warming, a new report highlights key reasons for the BP oil spill, the Arabic world is running out of water, antimatter is being created and captured in the CERN in Switzerland, and one fifth of plant and animal species are facing extinction.

Have you seen the new solar array on the Canal Building? . . . → Read More: August 26, 2010: Sustainable Campus Initiatives and Climate in the North]]> More than most places in the world, communities in the far north are wrestling with issues related to climate change. SPFer John Wall spoke to Gary Davidson and Beate Bowron, planners who are working on issues related to climate change in the north.

Have you seen the new solar array on the Canal Building? What about the River Building’s green roof? Ok, these projects are still under construction but they are close to completion. They are just two of the many green initiatives that are going on at Carleton. Carol Hunsberger caught up with Murdo Murchison, Carleton’s Sustainability Officer, to learn more about the university’s green achievements and priorities for further action.

This week on the show we heard a report from Matt Street and John Wall on their participation in the Canadian Association of Geographers Conference. They both made the trip to Regina a . . . → Read More: June 24, 2010: The C.A.G Conference Report]]> A 14 MW solar power plant in Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, formerly the largest photovoltaic installation in North America.

This week on the show we heard a report from Matt Street and John Wall on their participation in the Canadian Association of Geographers Conference. They both made the trip to Regina a couple of weeks ago, talked to some people from Carleton who were also attending the conference. We heard about their own experiences, as well as some of the projects other participants were working on.

We also heard a Science Moment about the science of Solar Cells. The Science Moment is one of our first recurring features here on SpF, last done just over three years ago. We’ve brought back the feature, and will be in the future, having a look at some of the science behind geographic trends and topics. This one looks at the technology behind solar cells, different kinds for home and use in power plants, as well as the future of the industry.

In this week’s Environmental News we heard about the latest in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a senior government scientist retracts defamatory remarks made about scientists skeptical about the oilsands, two stories about solar technology, and the Earthquake that struck the Ottawa region just north of Gatineau on June 23rd.