#1Jan 19th, 2013
Canadians use far too much energy and water, and they produce more garbage per capita than any other country on earth, a report from an influential think-tank says.
The Conference Board of Canada gave Canada a C grade on Thursday and ranked it in 15th place among 17 developed nations studied across a host of environmental-efficiency metrics.
"Our large land mass, cold climate and resource-intensive economy make us less likely to rank highly on some indicators of environmental sustainability, but many of our poor results are based on our inefficient use of our resources," said Len Coad, the board's director of energy, environment and technology policy.
The Conference Board measured air pollution, garbage production, energy consumption, water usage and many other factors across 17 developed economies around the world.
While Canada earned a few A grades in categories such as water quality, endangered species and the use of forest resources, overall the country scored a D average.
Canadians produce more garbage than anyone else - Business - CBC News
Texas inventor Harvey Lacey turns trash into earthquake-resistant homes
Texas inventor says his idea of turning trash into treasure could change the way developing countries build and rebuild homes, especially following a natural disaster.
Harvey Lacey says turning polluting materials such as plastic bags and Styrofoam into building blocks is a sustainable option.
The UBUNTU-BLOX machine forms and wires the blocks with human help.
"These blocks will last 500 years," he says.
According to Sam Bloch, executive director of nonprofit Haiti Communitere, trash is one of the most plentiful resources in Haiti, a country still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010.
"We're still looking at over half a million people living under tarps, and it has been two years," Bloch said.
Haiti Communitere plans to provide labor training to Haitian women and begin the process of building homes by working with Lacey's machine.
"When we look at all the places in the world, there is a base material there that we can use," Lacey said.
The material is sustainable and durable.
When the blocks, which are tightened by wiring and reinforced with rebar, are tested in simulations of hurricane winds or a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, the structure stands strong.
The blocks are also significantly lighter than cinder blocks, a heavy building material blamed for crushing earthquake victims in the Haiti earthquake.
"It's a common saying that it's not earthquakes that kill people, houses kill people," Bloch says.
Each block only weights about 1.5 pounds.
Bloch and Lacey said that even if a UBUNTU-BLOX home did collapse, it would not have the same crushing effect as one made of cinder blocks.
Following testing in Plano, Lacey and Bloch will leave this week to continue recovery work in Haiti
Texas inventor Harvey Lacey turns trash into earthquake-resistant homes | ksdk.com
The Conference Board of Canada gave Canada a C grade on Thursday and ranked it in 15th place among 17 developed nations studied across a host of environmental-efficiency metrics.
"Our large land mass, cold climate and resource-intensive economy make us less likely to rank highly on some indicators of environmental sustainability, but many of our poor results are based on our inefficient use of our resources," said Len Coad, the board's director of energy, environment and technology policy.
The Conference Board measured air pollution, garbage production, energy consumption, water usage and many other factors across 17 developed economies around the world.
While Canada earned a few A grades in categories such as water quality, endangered species and the use of forest resources, overall the country scored a D average.
Canadians produce more garbage than anyone else - Business - CBC News
Texas inventor Harvey Lacey turns trash into earthquake-resistant homes
Texas inventor says his idea of turning trash into treasure could change the way developing countries build and rebuild homes, especially following a natural disaster.
Harvey Lacey says turning polluting materials such as plastic bags and Styrofoam into building blocks is a sustainable option.
The UBUNTU-BLOX machine forms and wires the blocks with human help.
"These blocks will last 500 years," he says.
According to Sam Bloch, executive director of nonprofit Haiti Communitere, trash is one of the most plentiful resources in Haiti, a country still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010.
"We're still looking at over half a million people living under tarps, and it has been two years," Bloch said.
Haiti Communitere plans to provide labor training to Haitian women and begin the process of building homes by working with Lacey's machine.
"When we look at all the places in the world, there is a base material there that we can use," Lacey said.
The material is sustainable and durable.
When the blocks, which are tightened by wiring and reinforced with rebar, are tested in simulations of hurricane winds or a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, the structure stands strong.
The blocks are also significantly lighter than cinder blocks, a heavy building material blamed for crushing earthquake victims in the Haiti earthquake.
"It's a common saying that it's not earthquakes that kill people, houses kill people," Bloch says.
Each block only weights about 1.5 pounds.
Bloch and Lacey said that even if a UBUNTU-BLOX home did collapse, it would not have the same crushing effect as one made of cinder blocks.
Following testing in Plano, Lacey and Bloch will leave this week to continue recovery work in Haiti
Texas inventor Harvey Lacey turns trash into earthquake-resistant homes | ksdk.com
