CLICKING ON THE MAP WILL REDIRECT YOU TO THE GOOGLE MAP TOUR

What is this blog?

This blog was created to increase awareness of how Vancouver is taking steps to mitigate climate change. In this blog we provide links to more information on local organizations and research to both educate and empower Vancouverites to tackle climate change themselves. This blog is a compliment to a Google Map walking tour of False Creek that points out the climate change mitigation features in that neighbourhood. The walking tour can be accessed by clicking on the photo directly above this post on your computer or smart phone. 

Further resources about all stops of this walk and how you can make your own photo tour are included at the bottom of this page.

(This blog was created as a part of the course Aesthetics and Sustainability taught by Stephen Sheppard at the University of British Columbia)

Olympic Village Skytrain Station

By using public transportation like Skytain or car shares you can help take cars off the road and combat climate change. Also as almost all power in British Columbia is produced from cleaner hydroelectric power Skytrain and trolley buses are almost emission free. Even a traditional gas powered bus when full will help reduce the carbon emissions of its passengers by 75% (Environment Canada).

Why use transit and car shares, and how do they make cities more sustainable?

How to sign up for Car2Go, Zip Car, or Modo in Vancouver:

Bus Schedules, Transit Maps, and Skytrain times for Metro Vancouver

Southeast False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility

The Southeast False Creek Neighbourhood Energy utility is an example of sustainable infrastructure within the City of Vancouver. By collecting the heat given off by the neighbourhood's sewage system this station is able to provide 70% of the required heating for the neighbourhood while producing only 40% of the emissions of traditional heating systems.

What is the Southeast False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility?

Find out more about the story behind the project

Why should we use district energy and sewage to heat homes­­­­?

City of Vancouver number to learn more about the sewage energy system.
604-673-8510 (102)

A False Creek

Produced by the artists Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky the work A False Creek shows the amount of sea level rise in Vancouver and False Creek in one hundred-years if climate change continues at current rates. Together the markers show the height of False Creek as five metres above where it is today.

Further information on the piece

What will False Creek look like as climate change increases?

http://www.afalsecreek.ca/

Mason Bee Houses

The Orchard Mason Bee Osmia lignaria plays an integral role as a pollinator for flowers, fruit trees and vegetables. These guerilla Mason bee houses can contribute to providing valuable habitat for our native bee population.

Why keep bees and how to care for them

How to get a bee keeping permit in Vancouver

Community Garden

Community gardening is a great way to learn more about food production and help combat climate change by growing food locally and cutting down on carbon emissions from transportation. They also help contribute to the area's biodiversity and create a stronger sense of communit through social interaction.

How to join a community garden in Vancouver

How to start your own community garden in Vancouver

Tips for your first vegetable garden from the UBC Botanical Garden

             

Engineered Wetland

This engineered wetland is nothing more than an artifical wetland. By creating an area for water to collect in and then planting it an engineered wetland can help purify water, reduce stormwater runoff, and create valuable habitat for birds, amphibians, and other local animal species.

How does this engineered wetland work and why is it there?

Why use green infastructure, like Engineered Wetlands

                

                

Nearby birdhouses

Habitat Island - Bringing Back Birds, Brush and Barnacles

Habitat Island is planted with 200 + native trees, as well as shrubs, and perennials, the island was created as a urban sanctuary for birds. The rocky shoreline creates a home for many other creatures including shellfish, crabs and fish.

What does Habitat Island do?

Benefits of habitat restoration

Video Feed of Habitat Island over time

Native Plantings

  Ribes sanguinum - Red flowering currant

By being better adapted to our local environment than many exotic species native plantings reduce the need for watering and other environmentally damaging practices such pesticide and herbicide use. Also having evolved alongside local animal populations native plantings help create a stronger, more diverse local habitat.

Why Use Native Plants?

Guide to Using Native Plants in British Columbia

Native Plant Database for British Columbia (via Evergreen.ca)

         

          Oemleria cerasifolia - Indian plum 

           

Solar Compacting Garbage + Recycling Bins

By using using solar power to run compacters these garbage and recycling bins are able to reduce the number of visits from garbage collectors by up to eighty percent, cutting down on green house gas emissions and many of the costs associated with waste collection.

Find out more about the False Creek solar compacters

Giant Birds

These giant birds by artist Myfanwy MacLeod are a massive representation of the small House Sparrow introduced to North America from England in the 1800's.  Since then this small invasive sparrow has aggressively out competed many native bird species for food and nesting sites and now dominates the local landscape, just as these giant sparrows dominate over Olympic Village Square. "The Birds" speak to the fact that even a little songbird can turn into a huge and menacing problem, upsetting the balance of the ecosystem. 

A short video of the artist talking about "The Birds"

A list and descriptions of all invasive animal and plant species in BC

Green Streets

Permeable paving in Olympic Village

By incorporating green infrastructure elements such as permeable paving and rain gardens the green streets of Olympic Village help reduce run off and reliance on expensive, unsustainable engineered storm water systems. The streets themselves are also skinnier then traditional roads making bikes and pedestrians the focus while including ample bike parking leading to a more walkable, sustainable community.

Find out more about permeable paving 

Or check out the next stop on rain gardens

Olympic Village Rain Garden

Raingarden

Rain gardens are planted depressions designed to collect water and let it slowly clean and percolate back into the ground. By doing this not they only cut down on the need for unsustainable piping systems and cut costs they can if designed properly create valuable habitat for local animals.

Why use rain gardens and how do they work?

         

How to build your own rain garden in the Pacific Northwest  

How to get a rainbarrel from the City of Vancouver and help conserve water in other ways at home

          

Tubular Energy

Evacuated tube solar thermal system on the facade of Science World.

"When light from the sun hits the panel of tubes on the south side of our building, its heat energy is collected by metal fins inside. Liquid flowing in each tube transfers heat to our water system, so you can wash your hands in warm water. And just like with a Thermos, when the air between the tubes' two layers is removed. It creates a vacuum barrier that prevents heat from escaping and makes it possible to collect heat even on the rainiest day." - Telus World of Science

Build your own solar thermal collector (Via Instructables)

Recycled Music

Wind chimes made from reused pipes.

The instruments here are made from reclaimed waste destined for the landfill. By reusing or repurposing materials like the piping and propane tanks instead of recycling or taking them to a landfill the item can avoid going through sometimes energy-intensive conversions and the carbon associated with transporting them to waste facilities.

Why recycle or repurpose waste?

           

Do-it-yourself projects for reusing or repurposing waste (via Instructables):

Drums made from repurposed propane tanks.

Counting Bikes

The bike count for this Saturday afternoon was at 264.

"Below this bike path are wire loops that act like metal detectors. When a metal bike passes over the loop, the metal in the bike creates a small electric current and adds another bike to our counters."

By riding your bike instead of driving you can help take cars off the road, reducing greenhouse gases and combatting climate change.

Map of Bike paths and routes in Vancouver

Map of Bike paths and routes in West Coquitlam, and Surrey

Map of Bike paths and routes in Anmore, East Coquitlam, and East Surrey

Google Map Photo Tour

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE TOUR

Climate Change Mitigation Online Resources

Public Transit and Car Shares

Why use transit and car shares, and how do they make cities more sustainable?
(via City of Windsor)
How to sign up for Car2Go, Zip Car, or Modo in Vancouver

Bus Schedules, Transit Maps, and Skytrain times for Metro Vancouver (via Translink)

A False Creek

Further information on the piece - A False Creek (via Spacing Magazine)

What will False Creek look like as climate change increases? (via City of Vancouver)

Mason Bees
Why keep bees and how to care for them (via British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture)

How to get a bee keeping permit in Vancouver (via City of Vancouver)

Community Gardening
How to join a community garden in Vancouver  (via City of Vancouver)
How to start your own community garden in Vancouver (via City of Vancouver)

Tips for your first vegetable garden from the UBC Botanical Garden

Engineered Wetlands

How does this engineered wetland work and why is it there? (via Vancouver is Awesome)

Why use green infastructure, like Engineered Wetlands (via Enviromental Protection Agency)

District Energy - Southeast False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility 
What is the Southeast False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility?(via City of Vancouver)
Find out more about the story behind the project (via National Geographic)
Why should we use district energy and sewage to heat homes­­­­?  (via The Challange Series)

Habitat Island

What does Habitat Island do? (via Vancouver is Awesome)

Benefits of habitat restoration (via State of Massachusetts)

Video Feed of Habitat Island over time 

Native Plantings
Why Use Native Plants? (via Evergreen.ca)
Guide to Using Native Plants in British Columbia (via Habitat Acquisition Trust)

Native Plant Database for British Columbia (via Evergreen.ca)

Solar Powered Garbage Compacters
Find out more about the False Creek solar compacters (via Vancouver is Awesome)

Giant Birds
A short video of the artist talking about "The Birds" (via Capital Regional District)
A list and descriptions of all invasive animal and plant species in B.C. (via British Columbian Royal Museum)

Green Streets
Find out more about permeable paving  (via Capital Regional District)

Rain Gardens 

Why use rain gardens and how do they work? (via Capital Regional District)        

How to build your own rain garden in the Pacific Northwest (via Washington State University)

How to get a rainbarrel from the City of Vancouver and help conserve water in other ways at home (via City of Vancouver)      

Tubular Energy
Build your own solar thermal collector (via Instructables)      

Counting Bikes
Map of Bike paths and routes in Vancouver (via City of Vancouver)

Map of Bike paths and routes in West Coquitlam, and Surrey (via Translink)

Map of Bike paths and routes in Anmore, East Coquitlam, and East Surrey (via Translink)