It may be one of Winnipeg's top historic properties, but staff at the Legislative Building are grappling with the same question as many homeowners: how do you make an old house eco-friendly?
Facility manager Todd Miclash isn't sure about the carbon footprint of Manitoba's legislature, but he can readily point out the hundreds of compact fluorescent light bulbs glowing around the building. Ditto for the green cleaning products used to polish the marble floors, and the recycling program that's been going for the past 15 years.
Facility manager Todd Miclash shows where products like toilet paper and cleaning materials are kept at the Legislative Building.
"Everything we do, we look at greening," said Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation district property manager Michael Hawrylak.
Here's a look at what's been done to green the legislature:
LIGHT BULBS:
The coiled compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) has become a recognizable symbol of energy-efficiency, and 200 of the bulbs light up the legislature.
"We're getting probably five to seven years for these bulbs," said Miclash. "It's quite dramatic."
Offices have had fluorescent tube lights replaced with energy-saving T8 bulbs, and there's more energy-efficient lighting outside - the holiday lights are LEDs, and the streetlights are high-pressure sodium lamps. And that sharp, bright light illuminating the Golden Boy? It's a metal halide, a compact bulb Miclash describes as "high-intensity discharge" - proof bright lights don't have to mean high energy.
LAWN CARE:
This will be the third phosphorus-free summer on the legislative lawns: grounds manager Jean Dorge previously used corn gluten to fertilize and stop weeds, but this year moved to locally-sourced phosphorus-free fertilizer.
"I'm really keen on using Manitoba products," said Dorge, who also keeps the lawns in shape using aeration, sharp mower blades and mulching.
ENERGY:
It's easy to talk about replacing old fixtures with energy-efficient ones. But what if that means ripping out stone walls to replace toilets as old as the legislature with low-flow models?
"We have unique challenges, as you can imagine, being built in the 1920s," said Hawrylak.
At the legislature, energy efficiency has to be balanced with preservation of the building's history: take the heritage windows, which in winter are layered with storm windows to save heat. "The windows are as efficient as we can get them," said Hawrylak, acknowledging it's impossible to compare them with modern, energy-saving windows.
Some retrofits are doable - the mens washrooms now have 'flushometers' to limit water flow, and the province is looking at a system to bring instant hot water to washroom taps.
LOCATION, LOCATION:
The province can't take credit for the Legislature's pedestrian-friendly location, but they can take advantage of it.
Employees at the legislature have access to a carpool program, and the province is assessing whether to join the employer-subsidized Eco-Pass program through Winnipeg Transit.
The legislature does have outdoor bike racks, but there isn't a place for employees to shower or lock up bicycles indoors, something advocated by environmental organizations. However, the outdoor racks are monitored by cameras, said Miclash.
"It's never been a problem for us," he said.
CAFETERIA:
The sign on the counter explains why the legislative cafeteria is using plastic soup bowls for orders to go - unlike the old bowls, these can be recycled.
"We're very into fresh, local, reduce/reuse/recycle, all of it," said Seasons Cafe owner Daisy Prockert. The cafeteria uses local food when possible, she said, has real dishes and cutlery, and gives discounts to those who bring their own coffee mugs. Next month they're signing up for a new phosphate-free dishwashing service, said Prockert.
RECYCLING:
Recycling is old hat at the legislature, where glass, plastics and paper are picked up weekly. The building recycles printer toner cartridges too, and aluminum cans are collected by Shriners. There's also a recycling arrangement with companies that sell mercury-containing compact fluorescent bulbs.
Recycled material pops up in other places - the washrooms stock recycled toilet paper, and office paper contains 30 per cent recycled content.
CLEANING GREEN:
The building has mostly gone over to environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies - those heritage windows and stone walls are cleaned with Swish Enviro-Products, which the company says are certified by Canada's EcoLogo program or the U.S. Green Seal.
The room deodorizer, all-purpose cleaners and window cleaners are non-toxic, but there are some less eco-friendly standbys, like standard bleach and furniture and brass polishes. "The reality of it is, not everything can be changed over," said Miclash, who said he's always open to alternatives.
lindsey.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca
Green Briefs
Spring tree planting
Fifth annual community spring tree planting at Henteleff Park, featuring a guided bird walk at 8 a.m. and jazz performance by Steve Kirby & Friends. Saturday, May 24, 10 a.m. to noon, Henteleff Park, 1980 St. Mary's Road.
Park Theatre EcoFilm
A showing of Slow Food Revolution, part of a monthly film series at the Park Theatre. Followed by moderated discussion. Tickets $8, $5 for members. Wednesday, May 28, 7 p.m., Park Theatre, 698 Osborne Street. For more information, call 947-6511.
Commuter Challenge
This year's Commuter Challenge, encouraging environmentally-friendly transportation, runs June 1 to 7. To get involved, call 925-3772 or e-mail challenge@resourceconservation.mb.ca.
WHAT'S UP AT CONGRESS?
The U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. is in the midst of a massive plan to make all 23 buildings in the complex carbon-neutral by 2020.
Here's some of what they do and have done so far:
Bought $89,000 in carbon credits to offset 30,000 metric tons of emissions
Replaced Styrofoam take-out containers with biodegradable options
Stocked only Fair Trade coffee
Signed up for the Zipcar car-sharing service (not available in Winnipeg)
Send all food waste and biodegradable containers for composting
Serve organic and local food
Sell only 100 per cent post-consumer recycled paper on-site
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