By SPF, on February 10th, 2011
 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.
By SPF, on February 3rd, 2011
 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.
By SPF, on January 27th, 2011
 Nature can make you happier – hear about Lisa Nisbet’s research from her presentation called ‘Green is the Colour of Happiness’ Credit.
This morning on the show we heard from two of the presenters at the Yes You Can conference: Lisa Nisbet on the physical and psychological benefits to spending time in nature, and Owen Temby on greenhouse gas regulation in the US and Canada.
Lisa Nisbet: ‘Green in the Colour of Happiness’
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
Lisa Nisbet is a PhD Candidate and lecturer here at Carleton in the department of Psychology, and Henry Hawkins talked to her this week about her research on happiness and nature. She has created a nature relatedness scale to measure people’s connectedness to nature, and done studies on students who take the tunnels at Carleton, and discovered that they would be much happier if they walked outdoors.
Owen Temby: Greenhouse Gas Regulations in the U.S. and Canada
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
Owen Temby is a PhD candidate and lecturer in the department of Political Science at Carleton, researching air pollution regulations. Henry Hawkins talked to him about the history, and current efforts of air pollution regulation in the United States, the Clean Air Act, and what the recent pledge to govern greenhouse gas emissions could mean for Canada and the U.S. in the future.
The Environmental News
By: Andrew Lindstrom, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s Environmental News, study reveals that mass volcanic eruptions led to Earth’s first environmental disaster, the US congress targets the Clean Air Act, a sea census discovers 1200 new marine species, Jordan announces its plans for solar energy, and a newly discovered bacteria will cause the Titanic to disappear within 20 years.
By SPF, on January 20th, 2011
This week on the show we heard a review of the Yes You Can! conference that took place this past week at Carleton, and a summary of Robyn’s presentation that she gave at the event. We also had a report from special guest Greg Boyle on the South March Highlands rally to protect Beaver Pond Forest, and had our 5th episode of the Madgical Moments Series, on cartograms.
Yes You Can! Conference Review
By: Henry Hawkins & Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributors
Robyn and Henry both attended the conference this past week, and shared their thoughts about it in a brief discussion on the show this morning.
Robyn Penney: Yes You Can! Conference Presentation Interview
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
Robyn gave a presentation at the Yes You Can! conference this past week, titled ‘Greening Your World’. She talked about the concept of being ‘green’, and ways people make connections with others to create vibrant, green communities in urban centres. She also talked about her involvement with the Biosphere Eco-City project, and the initiatives they’ve been working on.
South March Highlands Rally to Protect the Beaver Pond Forest
By: Andrew Lindstrom, Regular SPF Contributor & Special Guest Greg Boyle
Andrew and Greg attended the rally for the South March Highlands in Kanata last week. They gave us a short report this morning, talking about the rally they attended to protect the Beaver Pond Forest and the cause itself. You can find out more about the efforts, and their cause at the website.
Madgical Moment, Episode 5: Cartograms
By: Monica Ferguson, Map Specialist in MADGIC
This episode looks at a particularly large and colourful map of the world that doesn’t quite look like any world map you normally see. It is called ‘The Population Map’, and is presented as a cartogram, that represents statistical information in visual form. You can see this map in the SPF display in the Madgic Department, on the second floor of the MacOdrum Library.
The Environmental News
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, scientists predict the existence of a dark matter galaxy orbiting the Milky Way, 2010 has been one of the warmest years on record, the Mariana trench in the Pacific ocean is determined to have a greater role in climate regulation than previously thought, Carleton introduces new water bottle filling stations on campus, and La Nina has peaked, after floods have plagued Australia, Sri Lanka, the Phillipines, and Brazil.
By SPF, on January 13th, 2011
 The Yes You Can conference – this weekend at Carleton University. Visit www.yesyoucancu.com for tickets, or more information.
This morning on the show we heard from an organizer of this weekend’s Yes You Can! conference, and Matt Ellerbeck talked about vegetarianism.
Emile Scheffel: The Yes You Can! Conference
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
Yes You Can! is the first student run conference at Carleton to focus on student leadership, with students and professors giving talks on a wide range of topics. Arranged into three themes, the 20 different presenters will give lectures and workshops on a variety of subjects related to activism & entrepreneurial initiatives, environment, and philanthropy. Emile Scheffel is on the communications committee for the conference, and will also be presenting this weekend, giving a talk on getting involved with local political campaigns. Henry Hawkins talked to him this week about the concept behind upcoming conference, and what they hope to achieve with the presentations.
Matt Ellerbeck: Vegetarianism and Veganism
By: Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributor
The concept of vegetarianism and veganism is a blurry on, typically misunderstood, says Matt Ellerbeck of the Kingston Animal Trust. Robyn spoke with him about what it really means, and the ethical reasons behind most people’s motives to make the change, including some alternatives to meat in every meal.
Environmental News
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, the most common form of banana faces extinction, the core of the moon is seen after more than 30 years, China seeks to control its export of rare earth metals, and several cases of groups of fish and birds dying in the thousands have been reported in the past few weeks all around the world.
By SPF, on January 6th, 2011
For our first show in the new year, we played a couple of features from our archives. One about jobs in geography, and another with Michael Runtz, on a talk he gave last year entitled ‘Sex, Flies, and Videotape’. Also, next week is the Yes You Can! conference at Carleton, with SPF’s Robyn Penney giving a presentation at 12:20pm. You can still sign up and buy tickets, so be sure to visit www.yesyoucanu.com for more information.
Michael Runtz: Sex, Flies and Videotape
By: Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributor
Last February, Robyn spoke with Michael Runtz, a professor of Biology, and specialist of Natural History here at Carleton. They discussed the field of Naturalism, and his participation in the recent 2010 Discovery Lecture, and much more in a very lively discussion.
Jobs In Geography
By: John Wall, Alumni SPF Contributor
Last summer, Henry talked with John in the studio one morning about some advice to get a career, or a job in geography. What are employers looking for, and how should geographers sell themselves in a job market? How can geography undergrads get the most out of their undergrad degree?
The Environmental News
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, Prime Minister Harper appoints Peter Kent as Canada’s new environment minister, 2011 begins the International Year of Forests, as well as a potentially big year for electric cars, floods in Australia have been causing serious damage, and the White House oil spill commission has released its report on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
By SPF, on December 16th, 2010
This morning on the show we heard the first feature from new SPF’er Chris Mineau, about industrial agriculture, and Henry and Robyn talked about their fourth year undergrad geography theses, and their process so far.
Pierre Mineau: Industrial Agriculture
By: Chris Mineau, Regular SPF Contributor
For her first feature, Chris discusses the history of industrial agriculture, and spoke to senior research scientist Pierre Mineau from Environment Canada about the consequences of pesticide use. He talks about the ‘green revolution’, and its pesticide use, fertilizers, and selective seed breeding, that has allowed increased crop yields to support exponentially growing populations over the past few hundred years.
The Carleton University Undergrad Thesis: Research & Ethics
By: Henry Hawkins & Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributors
Henry and Robyn have progressed with their theses, with Henry focusing in on solar panel adoption in Ontario under the OPA’s microFIT program, and Robyn looking at the effects of green roofs in Ottawa, and on Carleton campus. They talked about their progress so far, about the hurdles of ethics clearance, and about their topics in general.
The Environmental News
By: Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, bp gets the treatment it deserves, new hope to save the polar bears, Finland’s fight to protect forest space has finally ended, and butterflies flutter no more?
By SPF, on December 9th, 2010
 Carbon emissions from a coal fired power plant. Hear about the potential future of carbon taxation in today’s interview with John Curtis.
This morning on the show we heard about carbon taxation, had the fourth episode of our Madgical Moments series, and got an update from the Canadian Youth Delegation about the UN meetings in Cancun.
John Curtis: Carbon Taxation
By: Robyn Penney, Regular SPF Contributor
This week Robyn Penney discussed carbon taxation with John Curtis, a distinguished fellow of the Canadian Center for International Gorvernance. For John, carbon taxation in North America is the way of the future. John and Robyn discussed how it is organized within the European Union, how it would be applied here in North America, and what are the barriers to success and implementation in North America.
Madgical Moments, Episode 4: The Santa Map
By: Beth Ray, Maps Specialist @ MADGIC
This episode looks at a map series called ‘The Santa map: a cultural geography of the world’s most beloved man’, with many separate maps, illustrations and texts. It speculates on his delivery routes around the world, and looks at the evolution of Santa Claus as a cultural phenomenon since 10,000 BCE. To track Santa Claus on his journey, visit NORAD’s site.
Environmental News
By: Henry Hawkins, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s news, debate continues on NASA’s discovery of bacteria that thrive on arsenic, the EU creates a memorandum of understanding for a future shared electricity grid for offshore wind, Google unveils a new platform to track environmental changes, the first private spacecraft successfully orbits the Earth, and the UN’s climate change conference in Cancun is wrapping up.
By SPF, on December 2nd, 2010
 Philosopher Peter Singer delivering a lecture; hear about his approach to climate change ethics in this week’s feature. Picture Credit.
This morning on the show we heard the first feature from new SPF’er Kathy Lopez, and played the first episode of the Canadian Youth Delegation’s podcast series from the UN climate conference in Cancun.
Peter Singer: Ethical Dilemmas of Climate Change – Lecture Analysis
By: Kathy Lopez, Regular SPF Contributor
On November 18th, 2010, the Department of Philosophy at Carleton University hosted professor Singer as he delivered a lecture entitled “Climate Change: The Moral Wrongdoing by the Developed World”. He approached the issue of global warming through an ethical perspective, and based on three moral principals that give different solutions to the problem. He also explored the moral obligations of governments and individuals in addressing climate change. Singer showed that climate change is not only an problem for international politics and economies, but a moral issue based on underlying ethical dilemmas.
The Canadian Youth Delegation: Cancun Conference Podcasts
By: The CYD
The Canadian Youth Delegation are a group of volunteers from around Canada who focus on increasing awareness of climate change, and seek to engage youth in the fight for solutions to current climate problems. They are in Cancun right now, attending the 16th UN conference for climate change. The conference brings together representatives from countries around the world, to try to reach an agreement on future policies to address climate change. The Youth Delegation has been making daily podcasts of their experiences so far, and we played one of their episodes on the show this morning.
The Environmental News
By: Andrew Lindstrom, Regular SPF Contributor
In this week’s environmental news, scientists develop a prototype that converts co2 into gasoline, governments act to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, Nova Scotia introduces the first anti-idling act in Canada, and new research sheds light on the largest mammals that ever lived.
By SPF, on November 25th, 2010
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.
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