ReThink Red Deer
Where to take old electronics in Red Deer?
What do you do with outdated electronics?
It is an unfortunate fact that much electronic gear is obsolete within five years. Even when we try to hold onto older equipment and keep it running, software changes often force our hand. The IT industry has certainly taken the 'planned obsolescence' of the car industry a few steps further...
There are of course a number of charities that gather electronics for re-use and distribution to organizations or places in the world where they can still serve some useful purpose. If, however, you have dead electronics hanging around your home or office, don't throw them out with the trash.
In Red Deer, electronic equipment can be recycled at two locations:
Recycle Logic, 4645 - 62 St. (Riverside Industrial area), OR
City of Red Deer Waste Management Facility (on Delburne Road). Note that you have to be weighed in and out so that the facility can track the volume and types of materials coming in and out.
For more information on recycling in Alberta, visit Alberta Recycling Management.
Posted in Recycling & Waste Reduction by: lornedaniel 2009/11/24 1 Comments
Children, green spaces, routes to school
Children and 'green' planning
There is growing interest in gardening, green spaces, and safe walk-to-school routes for children. A number of communities are realizing that they can make significant positive impacts on children's health and their learning through 'green' programs and environments.
Here in Red Deer, a number of people recently participated in sessions sponsored by the Columbia Institute, looking at the 'nature deficit' that children experience, and how to turn things around.
Mayor Flewwelling passed along the following resource link on Children, Youth and Environments.
Posted in Education by: lornedaniel 2009/11/20 0 Comments
Safety and community planning
Safety a key element of sustainable communities
We can all get quite worked up about the latest crimes in Red Deer, or in our neighbourhoods. That’s natural and that’s the way it should be – we don’t want to be complacent about it.
Yet reacting to crime with policing, courts, social services and other responses is only part of the picture. The other (and, some would say, more important) element is what we do to prevent crime and encourage healthy, non-criminal, community activities.
In talking with people about safety on our streets in Red Deer, the conversation can easily get bogged down on some variation of “get the bums off the streets.”
It’s interesting to note, though, that our sense of safety on our streets is not dictated solely by individuals on the street (“bums” or otherwise). There are many factors, ranging from lighting and street surfaces and points of view – but an often overlooked one is simply how many other people like me or you are on that street.
If I’m walking down a street and one shady-looking character is shuffling toward me in a hoodie, I might be intimidated. I will be much less intimidated if that one shady-looking character is mixed in amongst 100, 200 or more people who I am comfortable rubbing shoulders with. If I go out walking in a neighbourhood after dark, I like it when there are lots and lots of other people out strolling the streets too.
So from a planning point of view, what can a community do to create the kind of urban environment that encourages people out into the streets? Can we dedicate more time and energy to this positive goal and not get fixated on getting certain other people off the streets?
ReThink Red Deer (www.rethinkreddeer.ca) thinks that there is a strong connection between our urban planning and our safety.
We are fortunate to have an expert on the connection between community planning and crime prevention here in Red Deer. Steve Woolrich of SeCure Consulting Services advises organizations, individuals and businesses on effective methods reducing crime using “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design” (CPTED) principles. Steve also has an interesting blog site at www.targetcrime.ca
On Tuesday, November 24, Steve will give a one hour presentation on “Planning for a Safe Community,” followed by a Q & A session.
Steve has recently participated in a number of international conferences on crime prevention and will bring his insights on issues like graffiti, urban planning, and property protection to share with you.
We hope to see you November 24, 6:30 pm, in room 1303 at RDC.
As usual, thanks to RDC Green Campus (www.rdc.ab.ca/greencampus/) for the donation of meeting space.
Posted in City Planning by: lornedaniel 2009/11/03 2 Comments
Residential wind energy being considered in Red Deer
Roof-top wind energy generators are being considered in Red Deer.
A pilot project being proposed to the Municipal Planning Commission would see one or more turbines installed and tested. We understand that the units being considered are horizontal blade systems that take advantage of the updraft from a home's sloped roof.
The jury is still out on the overall suitability of wind energy - concerns about high construction costs and significant impacts on bird populations lead some to question their suitability. However, pilot projects such as the Red Deer one are sure to lead to a better understanding of the options.
You can read more in this Red Deer Advocate article.
Posted in Renewable Energy by: lornedaniel 2009/11/01 1 Comments
