The Human, Nature, and the Bureaucratic Relationship

Journal Entry #6


This week we saw the last of the Green Technology presentations. I will add to my dream house wish list...it should be made out of straw bales! We also had a lecture that was very interesting to me, it was about the relationship between humans and nature. Studies show that nature in the workplace (plants, windows to the outdoors, etc.) are linked to fewer sick days, greater job satisfaction, improved attention and scores on proofreading tasks, and even faster healing when sick! This is simply amazing to me, but honestly not surprising at all. Nature just makes people feel good inside. When they feel good, they are less likely to get stressed or upset. And that means they're less likely to get sick, and can be more productive and energetic.

Sick buildings make sick people!


We also discussed the reason why green building design isn't incorporated more often, espcially since it makes so much sense since you can save a lot of money over the long-term. The problem is that apparently a lot of the time the money for construction is controlled/overseen by a seperate person than the money for maintenance and the long-term costs of the building is. So since incorporating many of these green features would cost more to originally construct (but save more in the long-term), the builder doesn't take the long-term savings into account. All he knows is that he has a budget to meet. Ridiculous, isn't it? Theoretically it is the same person/corporation paying for the construction AND maintenance. So why can't they communicate a little better?

The relationship between humans and nature seems governed by bureaucracy. As discussed above, it can be corporate. It can also be governmental. I have heard about zoning bylaws quite a bit, and how they really hinder mixed use developments.

But the government also has the ability to help. Or, I should say, government employees. After all, the government is made up of people too. THOSE people have the ability to help, if they only have the courage. Unfortunately, it seems that they are ruled by fear of not being elected next year...so they will satify people's short-term desires just to get a vote. I would like to send a message to politicians. I am not a child. I can see much farther ahead than you give me credit for. Propose some policies to me that do not insult my intelligence!!

Can we build an office like this for me to work in? Please??!?

Green, Greener, Greenest! Part 2

Journal Entry #5: Wishing and Hoping

Hearing about all these green technologies is really making me excited for the future! I am totally building my dream house in my mind as I listen to everyone's presentations. Actually I have been building it for a while as I've learned about other interesting ideas as my degree has progressed.

It will have:
-an intensive green roof
-a composting toilet
-passive solar heating
-indoor water recycling
-a lawn planted with native prairie species
-backyard chickens

Not everyone is quite as thrilled with my grand ideas as I am though! The opinions of my future husband do matter...and frankly, he thinks I'm a tad crazy. He is definitely not relishing the thought of being the crazy neighbors on the block with a lawn on their roof and chickens cackling in the backyard! ...Or rotting poop in the basement, haha!

But he is actually a great sport when it comes to my growing environmental passion. When we first started dating I wasn't nearly as "into it" as I am now. I always did compost, hated people who litter, loved gardening and the outdoors, but now I am definitely taking it to a whole other level. Every time I mention a new green idea he gets a frightened look on his face, but then slowly nods and says, "sure, we can try that." I think he might love me a little bit!

Honestly though, he loves his modern conveniences. His parents immigrated to Canada to give him a chance at a better life, and he grew up poor while dreaming big. He has dreamed of the suburbs all his life. I sometimes have a difficult time with the idea of taking that away from him. But I really believe that the quality of life of ourselves and our children will be enhanced. It's much more difficult to accept changes if you focus on what you are giving up, rather than what you are gaining.

Green, Greener, Greenest!

Journal Entry #4: Green Technologies

This week we started our green technology presentations. Each of us was to research a green technology that can be incorporated into a home or building. I chose to do the "Water Recycling Shower," but originally I wanted to do the solar-powered watering bowl for cattle that my Dad has been trying out on our farm. I would still like to write a little about it because I am very proud of my Dad for making an effort to be more green. Also I think it's quite a neat contraption, and it's important to increase the sustainability of agricultural operations too.

As all of us in the environmental field are aware, Lake Winnipeg has huge eutophication problems. Contributing to this problem is cattle refuse, which is inevitably dropped into the water when they wade into a slough, lake, or stream to drink. Eventually the nutrients in the poo slowly make their way into Lake Wpg. If we could stop them doing their business in the water in the first place, it would really help.

Enter...the solar panel watering bowl!!

Essentially, it consists of a solar panel powered pump that connects a lake or slough to the watering bowl. The lake can now be fenced off so the cattle can't defecate in the water. The watering bowl has a motion sensor so that when a cow pokes its head in, the bowl fills with water. This is also a great invention because it means that my Dad or brothers don't have to chop the watering hole every day in the winter (which is an extremely cold, wet, and exhausting job).

This is my favorite type of invention because it is both convenient for the farmer and good for the environment. The general public has a very difficult time accepting changes if they have to sacrifice a lot. Generally I think people are also starting to have a long-term view rather than short-term. IF people have the money, they would be okay with spending a bit more up front in anticipation of a pay-off later.

However, there are a lot of people living paycheck-to-paycheck out there too. At this time it would be nice to have the government step in and implement more subsidy or rebate programs so that green technologies can be affordable for everyone.

Works Cited:

The Cattle Site. Remote Pasture Water Systems for Livestock. Retrived on: Feb.5/11. Found at: http://www.thecattlesite.com/articles/1308/remote-pasture-water-systems-for-livestock

Small Town Feel

Journal Entry #3: Green Building Concepts

This week in class we learned about green building concepts such as ecocities and smart growth. Cities should be build for people, not cars. Currently, our cities are not being designed with this in mind, nor were they in the past. So our cities need to be rebuilt around the ideas of sustainability and community. Since fossil fuel use is not sustainable, our cities need to be walkable. Everything a person needs should be within walking distance from their home.

A "mixed use" community would have housing, businesses, a grocery, gym, coffee shop, hairdresser etc. within a small area. This would allow for a safe, comforting small town feel, where everyone knows and looks out for one another. A mixed use community is better for people as well as the environment. Our cities won't be sprawled out over prime habitat and we won't have to drive everywhere spewing GHGs.

I love the idea of having the "small town feel" in the big city. I come from a small town in rural MB, and that feeling is something I really miss now that I'm here. It makes you feel really good to know that other members of the community are looking out for you and care about what happens to you. It is also very handy to drive into town and find all the shops you need on one street. It definitely saves time and gas. Instead of spending time in the car stuck in traffic, you can spend it chatting with your neighbors on the sidewalk or in the grocery store. When I was young I used to get annoyed with my Mom because it would take her hours to shop...due to non-stop chatting! But now that I am older I miss it.

My hometown of Roblin, MB. Mixed use Main Street!

We also watched the movie "Save our Land, Save our Town" in class this week. It made me feel really sad! I was especially frustrated with the fact that in Chester County, Pennsylvania so many farmers are losing their farmland to urban sprawl...even as the population decreases and the inner cities rot. It would just make so much more sense to upgrade the buildings that are already there instead of wasting prime farmland. Especially since the world is already facing a food crisis with so many malnourished people in the world.

Inner city rot is such a huge problem, and a quote from the movie sums it up quite nicely. "Fear is deadly to a city." (or even an area of a city!) Many people don't even want to go downtown (much less live there!) because it has this stigma of danger, filled with unsavory characters around every corner. Even Winnipeg as a whole has a bad reputation for being unsafe. Whenever my Mom calls me and I am taking the bus in the evening, it is a 100% guarantee she will ask, "Teresa...is that really safe?"

But I believe that...

With proper planning, care and far-sightedness, cities can be built that are both beautiful, environmentally friendly, and truly community based.

We are aware of the issues associated with poor planning of our cities. Now we have an opportunity... LEARN from them. There is no reason to continue building cities with the same problems as all the ones we've built before!