The Green Scene

The Town of Perth invites interested persons to apply to serve on the Climate Change Advisory Panel for the remaining term of Council 2021 - 2022.

Currently the following position is available:

• One (1) citizen member

To qualify, applicants must be a resident or property owner of Perth.

Interested applicants are asked to complete and submit an online “Application to Serve on the Climate Change Advisory Panel” or by email at clerk@perth.ca. Applications will be accepted up to and including Wednesday, October 20 at 4:30p.m.

Click here to review the Terms of Reference for the Climate Change Advisory Panel.

All applications received will be reviewed and a recommendation will be presented to Council for their consideration on Tuesday, October 26, 2021.

For further information, please contact Susan Beckel, Director of Legislative Services/Clerk, at 613-267-3311 or clerk@perth.ca.

Apply Now

Read the Green Scene

With the sunny, warm weather comes new ways to go green. Here are some great tips to keep in mind during the summer months!

• Try using fans when possible instead of air conditioning
• Look for non-chemical versions of sunscreen
• Shop locally at Farmers' Markets to reduce waste (don't forget to bring reusable bags!)
• Walk or bike for your daily commute
• Carry reusable items with you - water bottles, shopping bags, straws, utensils for picnics/takeout, etc.

Come spring time, many residents are eager to get outside after a cold winter and start their spring cleaning and yard projects. Here are some helpful and environmentally friendly tips to keep in mind;

• Toss the air fresheners and chemical cleaners! Try opening windows - the natural air freshener - and use baking soda or vinegar for more eco-friendly cleaning options.
• Be smart about your water consumption; switch to low flow showerheads and two-stage flush toilets.
• Thinking of painting? Use paints with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) - these are made with less toxins.
• Reuse, reuse, reuse! Make a good use of old t-shirts and clothing and repurpose them as cleaning rags and dusting cloths.
• Think lighting! Spring is a great time to switch old lightbulbs from incandescent light bulbs to compact florescent blubs (CFLs) and save energy.

Summer Idling Tips

During warmer weather, many motorists idle their cars in an effort to cool it down with AC. Rather than letting it idle, here are some environmentally friendly alternatives;

• Try to park in the shade. It may mean a longer walk, but the additional exercise will be good for you!
• Use a car sun shade - this is a foldable cover that is placed on your dashboard to help prevent those hot rays from heating up your car.
• Crack your windows. By leaving the windows open a half inch, you will allow the air to keep moving. Roll down the windows for a few minutes before you get in, or open and close the door a few times to help fan the cooler air in.

Turn Down the Heat!

Come winter, it's tempting to make our homes as warm and cozy as possible. Setting your thermostat to 18-20°C will provide a comfortable heating level. If you're still feeling a little chilly, bundle up in a sweater or curl up with a blanket.

There's a common misconception that it takes more fuel to restart your engine than to leave it idling - that's not true! Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more emissions that contribute to smog and climate change than stopping and restarting your engine does.

Here are some opportunities to change your idling habits;

• Waiting to pick up friends or family? Turn off the engine (and if it's hot, open the windows to keep air circulating)
• Stuck waiting for a train to pass or at road construction? Turn off your engine until it's clear to go
• Avoid drive-thrus if you can. Park and pick up your order

Little changes around the house can not only have an impact on our environment, but on your wallet too!

• Install a water-saving shower head
• Change your furnace filters frequently for better efficiency
• Turn down the thermostat on your hot water heater
• Wash your clothes in cold water
• During the winter, install plastic to cover the windows and prevent heat from escaping
• Pay attention to food waste. Try planning your meals for a few weeks at a time and only shop for what's needed
• "Eat down" the freezer and/or pantry. Make a meal plan based on what you already have at home

Make your own gift wrap for upcoming birthdays or holidays. Glue colourful pictures from junk mail or magazines onto plain paper bags - a good way to recycle all those old greeting cards you've been saving!

According to Greenpeace, if every Canadian had wrapped just three gifts in reused materials last year, enough paper would have been saved to cover 45,000 hockey rinks.

When spending time with kids, it's always helpful to have some fun, out-of-the-ordinary things to do. Why not make sure they're eco-friendly?! Here are some suggested activities;

• Plan a picnic in your backyard. Put our a blanket, reusable dishes and utensils, and aim to prepare foods with no waste or wrapping.
• Spend an evening looking at the stars and moon. No supplies needed - just minimal light pollution!
• Plant a family tree. Give everyone a responsibility in taking care of it, and watch it grow together!
• Pick up some second hand board games, cards, and/or yard games and unplug. Setting down the devices also helps lower your carbon footprint.

If you're in need of something, try sourcing it second hand or even free! Buying or trading second hand for goods and services is great for the environment, as it reduces the need for large corporations to produce new items. And most of all, it's fun!

There are many "Buy, Sell, Trade" and "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook that serve Perth and the surrounding area. Be sure to read the group rules to find out about how and what you can post. If you can't find an item you need, you can share what you're looking for - someone may be able to help! Here are some examples of local group groups to check out;

• Perth & Area Buy, Sell & Trade
• Buy 'n Sell Perth, Ontario CANADA
• Smiths Falls, Perth & Area Swapshop
• Perth ON Canada Trading Post - Buy, Sell, Trade, or Give!
• Barter Board (Free & For Trade Only)
• Buy Nothing Lanark County
• Lanark County Ontario "Buy, Sell, and Trade"
• Westport Trading Post Ontario, Canada
• Lanark Buy 'n' Sell (Lanark, ON, Canada)
• Carleton Place Buy/Sell/Swap
• Almonte (Lanark County) Buy and Sell
• Sharbot Lake, Parham, Mountain Grove, Arden Buy and Sell

Buying locally sourced goods not only supports businesses in your community, but is eco-friendly too!

• It reduces carbon emissions - local goods do not create a large carbon footprint through overseas travel or long truck trips
• It creates less food waste - many imported goods often go bad before they're purchased
• Supporting local farms ensures that land is kept for agricultural purposes and not developed for commercial or industrial purposes, which can result in an increase in greenhouse gas emissions

Here are some ways to help keep your green bin in a cleaner (and less smelly) state!

• Store your green bin out of the sun
• Sprinkle baking powder into your green bin to reduce odors
• Use more newspaper or 100% paper to line your bin in layers
• Freeze leftover meat and other high odor compostables in containers and then empty them into your green bin just before collection day

Canada is home to over 800 species of bees, most of which are solitary bees. These bees handle pollination of our fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, but are experiencing a population decline due in part to habitat loss. By installing a bee hotel in your yard, you can help give these winged wonders a place to call home!

Learn how to build your own out of a milk carton - a great activity to do with kids!

Don't wish the rain away! Rain barrels can have a big impact, especially when whole communities use them. Here are a few of the benefits of having a rain barrel;

• Reduces rain water run off and prevents water from seeping into basements 
• Conserves water - especially important during times of drought
• Provides water for lawns and gardens, as well as other uses like washing your car or dog
• Reduces your household water consumption, which in turn saves money!

The David Suzuki Foundation's Butterflyway Project has taken flight here in Perth and Lanark County!

The Butterflyway Project focuses on creating habitats for local bees and butterflies in communities throughout Canada. The Lanark group is excited to bring this project to Perth and Almonte, with the goal of establishing pollinator patches throughout the region.

Pollinators are a crucial part of our ecosystems and they need our help. There is significant concern regarding decreasing populations of pollinator species. This can occur due to climate change, habitat loss, the use of pesticides, and invasive species competing with the native plants. By planting native plant gardens in our community, we can do our part in helping our pollinators.

Let's make Lanark County the place to 'bee'! The Lanark group is seeking locations for gardens in Perth. Please contact Clara Misener at lanarkpollinatorgardens@gmail.com for more information or to express your interest, and visit their website for more details.

During the Second World War, governments encouraged people to plant 'Victory Gardens' to supplement the local food supply. The program gave ordinary citizens not only fresh produce, but the satisfaction of contributing to the common good.

In the spring, try planting vegetables along with flowers to attract bees and butterflies to your yard. The rewards are personal, and the benefit to the environment in terms of beauty, sustainability, and evolving to meet the challenge of climate change are more important than you know.

Between online shopping and new gifts, many households have packaging galore to dispose of. Keep these tips in mind;

• Reduce packaging when possible when making purchases
• Reuse mailers and sleeves for storage or gift wrapping
• Break down all cardboard for the blue box
• Refrain from buying new wrapping paper - reuse old wrapping, or use newspaper or packaging supplies

There are a number of ways that you can incorporate eco-friendly décor into your home and celebrate mindfully. Here are some ideas;

• Thrift decorations - try buying second hand before buying new
• Decorate with native plant species - Poinsettias can be shipped from far away, contributing to more emissions
• Recycle paper, wrap, and tags for gift wrapping
• Get creative with nature - pinecones make great decorations!
• When buying lights for your tree or outdoors, look to LED lights - they're more energy efficient