A GREEN COLLAR JOB

G R E E N S O L U T I O N S

Rick Hunter is a green homebuilder. He believes that green is the future of building.

“People are getting excited about green collar jobs. They make people happier about what they’re doing. And you can earn a living.”

Rick uses green products in new construction and renovation. Solar panels in the picture save energy.



What other jobs can be green?

List some construction products that can be green.

Why are green products better? Browse a hardware catalogue and look for better alternatives. Bring some construction products to the classroom and discuss their environmental impact.
Don’t forget, no matter what the smog index is outside, the inner air quality is always worse.

YOUR INPUT…
What green company could you start? What name would you give it?
Write an ad for your company.

GROUP WORK

A. You want to renovate your living room. Make a list of better alternatives for your healthier living and energy conservation.

B. You live in a building. Make a plan how it can be upgraded to be greener.

You are looking for an apartment. Narrow down the list to three that you will consider. Explain your choice.
� It is large and cheap, near a gas station.
� It is near a park, the windows don’t open.
� It is on 22nd floor, it overlooks the lake.
� It is Bullfrog powered, has recycling facility.
� The size and price are attractive, far from the TTC.
� It is reasonably priced, furnished with furniture that you don’t like.
� It has wall-to-wall carpets in all rooms and a daycare in the basement.
� It is near a gym and library, has no parking.

Green Buildings Toronto

Ravina Project

Fill in the gerunds: using, adding, replacing, becoming, living.



The Ravina project is a fascinating experiment in renewable energy and off-grid ______________. It is an 80-year old building in the east, on the verge of _______________ one of the first homes in Toronto using its own resources.
Several upgrades were made, such as _______________ insulation to the attic and basement and ___________________ the old windows with modern double pane glass. It has a computer-controlled boiler using natural gas and operating at an astounding 95% efficiency.
A 1,500-watt solar array on the roof provides power for the house on a daily basis, charges the storage batteries, and exports excess energy into the grid. _________ this house is an experiment that will test new theories that are very promising.

Green Buildings Toronto

G R E E N
B U I L D I N G S
T O R O N T O





Cecelia Murphy Building

Write words for the numbers in parentheses:

________ (60) solar thermal panels were installed on the roof of ________ (11) Coatsworth Crescent, a ______________________________________ (174) unit
residential building run by Neighbourhood Link Homes. The solar set-up is the largest in Toronto and is expected to generate __________________________________________ _________________________________________ (134,000) kWh of power annually. The solar panels capture the radiant energy of the sun, and use this energy to heat water for showers and sinks in the building. Energy savings are expected to be______________
________________________________ ($ 10,200).

Green Buildings Toronto

G R E E N
B U I L D I N G S
T O R O N T O





Beach Solar Laundromat

Use the Comparative or the Superlative of the adjectives in parentheses:

The Beach Solar Laundromat is located at 2240 Queen Street East, in a 65-year-old building. It houses 21 washers and 14 dryers. The house is far _________________ (efficient) than it was at the time the owner bought it in 2002. After many heating and lighting retrofits, the Laundromat has become one of Toronto’s __________________ (energy efficient) buildings and one of Toronto’s ____________________ (profitable) laundromats.
Eight solar panels on the roof heat water, and the natural gas consumption was reduced by ___________ (much) than 30%. The revenue has grown 200% over 4 years.
A ____________ (high) efficiency lighting system reduced the lighting bill by 72%.
The company was awarded as the _____________ (good) greenhouse gas emission reduction project in Canada in 2004.

Green Buildings Toronto

G R E E N
B U I L D I N G S
T O R O N T O



401 Richmond








Use the correct passive form of the verbs in parentheses:


401 Richmond is a 200,000 ft2 century-old tin factory that _________ (restore) .The building is home to a thriving community of 130 cultural producers and micro-enterprises.
A courtyard, early learning center, café and stunning roof garden __________ (include). Many of the flowers, vines and bushes ___________ (grow) from seeds. The plants and flowers in the roof garden ________ (select) for beauty, aroma and their ability to attract butterflies, ladybugs, birds and other insects. A roof composter _________ (use) to build up the organic matter for supporting new seeds and potted plants. In 2005 another 2,600 ft2 roof garden _______________ (add) to the deck. Two small 100 ft2 rooftops ____________ (install) on two skylights showing that no roof is too small to green.
The reuse of historic buildings is one of the greenest things ____________ (do).