Genevieve Simms

With summer come thoughts of the great outdoors. Just make sure your enjoyment doesn’t turn into exploitation. Check out these ways to ensure your favourite summer activities are Mother Nature approved.

Keepin’ Cool — Recall the heat wave of July 2007, and start preparing now. You can cool your living space economically by installing heavy window coverings and some well-placed ceiling fans. If you’ve got a little more to invest, choose to insulate your walls and attic, add window awnings, install energy-efficient windows or landscape with native trees and bushes. Trees planted on the south side of a house can keep the temperature inside your home 30 per cent lower than homes with treeless yards. Window coverings, ceiling fans, insulation, efficient windows and protective landscaping will also serve you well in winter by lowering your heating bills.

Alternatively, air conditioners, while offering immediate cooling, only contribute to climate change and smog, thus making the summer months more uncomfortably hot for everyone. Their energy use puts a strain on the grid, causing an increasing number of blackouts and brownouts as seen in recent years throughout Ontario and warnings of the same in Alberta. And because most of Alberta’s electricity is generated by coal, turning on the air conditioner adds to air quality problems.

Grillin’ Green — Not surprisingly, cooking supper outside is a favourite Canadian pastime, according to a poll by Weber Canada GrillWatch. It found that almost 40 per cent of Canadians think nothing of grilling outdoors even when the temperature drops below zero. Since more than 90 per cent of Canadians own grills, there’s going to be a lot of barbecuing going on this summer. Choosing a propane grill or hooking up to natural gas is your best bet, environmentally speaking. Propane and natural gas burn cleaner than wood or charcoal briquettes.

Burgers and hot dogs are among the most grilled dinner items, but they’re not necessarily the best choices. Green up your barbecue menu with organic and locally produced options. Local, humanely produced meat options from producers like Hoven Farms, Sunworks, TK Ranch and Diamond Willow not only have a smaller ecological footprint (via less fossil fuel usage from shorter transport distances), but they also have a richer taste and better nutritional quality since healthy, organically fed animals are not injected with artificial growth hormones or antibiotics. Alberta is rich in locally produced meat, which is available year round.

Finally, resist the temptation to serve your feast on disposable dishes. It’s simply unsustainable and a waste of money. Remember to recycle the bottles and cans from your organic, local selection of spirits.

Eco-gardening — Growing your own herbs and vegetables, whether it be in your own yard or a community garden plot, is the easiest and best way to learn where your food comes from, eliminate packaging, remove the middle man, reduce your grocery bill and bring one little patch of earth alive. There are close to 20 community gardens in Calgary and more on the way. The Community Gardening Resource Group is a project of the Calgary Horticultural Society. These folks can provide you with the resources to start up a community garden in your neighbourhood, and they’ll put you in touch with existing community gardens.

Gardening without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers is the fastest growing movement in horticulture. Although most municipalities in Canada have pesticide bylaws in place, Calgary does not. Pesticides and other chemicals are unnecessary and harmful to human and animal health and also pollute our waterways. Runoff takes these chemicals from our green spaces to sewer drains and straight to the Bow River. Embrace healthy birds, butterflies, ladybugs, bumble bees, puppies, fish, water and trees by educating yourself on alternatives to chemicals. The Coalition for a Healthy Calgary is a one-stop resource for natural landscaping and advocacy against pesticide usage. It is online at www.healthycalgary.ca.

The City of Calgary also offers a program called Healthy Yards. The program teaches participants about maintaining an environmentally sustainable yard through the use of composting, water conservation, responsible pest management and grass cycling. Participants receive a free composter and rain barrel. While the program is full for this year, interested homeowners can sign up for next year.

Travel lightly — Sales in large-capacity vehicles are on the downturn, with gasoline prices expected to soar to $1.40 per litre by summer and $2.25 by 2012 according to economists like Jeff Rubin, chief strategist and chief economist at CIBC World Markets in Toronto. Just last month, General Motors reported its truck and SUV sales were down 27 per cent. Meanwhile, airlines are adjusting their prices accordingly. Air Canada recently announced a new fuel surcharge of $20 to $45 each way depending on the distance flown. Environmentally and economically, the best choice for your summer travels is packing up the hatchback. If you must fly, offset your carbon emissions by using offsetters like Terrapass, Native Energy, Climate Care or MyClimate. As with your food choices, though, try to keep it local. Alberta and our surrounding areas offer a variety of low-impact activities like camping, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, climbing, paragliding, horseback riding, beach-bumming and eco-conscious retreats, like Fairmont Hotels and Spas or Aurum Lodge, located near Nordegg.