Group items tagged

"Carolinian Canada is a unique ecosystem zone found in southern Ontario. The term 'Carolinian' refers to its similarity to the forests found in North and South Carolina in the southern United States."

"The animals found in the Carolinian forest are some of the most unusual in Ontario. In these relatively dark, closed in spaces, animals must adapt in ways that allow them to thrive."

Murray and Becky Monk yearned for the best of both worlds: life in the breathtaking wilds of northwestern Ontario and the conveniences of modern life. They turned their wish into reality by moving to the solitude of a remote lake and setting up their own eco-friendly power system.

"Initial estimates pegged the number of dead waterfowl as high as 6,000, but Cooper said ministry staff were going to do an updated assessment on Monday. Tests were being done to determine the cause of the deaths, but previous such die-offs often were caused by the waterfowl eating botulism-laced fish, Cooper said."

"Building scientists have known for a long time that glass-walled structures are less energy efficient than the stone and concrete buildings that were put up forty of fifty years ago. But the market demand for glass combined with the relatively low cost of glass-wall construction means the building industry has been happy to oblige."

Throw-away Buildings Thermal Window Failure: How it Happens Virtually all glass condominium towers feature window wall systems (floor-to-ceiling walls of glass) enclosing the entire facade. Window walls yield spectacular views, but owners who buy a condo unit for the view may not realize that they're relying on a couple of panes of glass separated by less than an inch of insulated space to protect them from the elements. That insulated barrier will degrade over time, even as energy costs increase. On some buildings, five per cent of the thermal windows may have failed before they're even delivered to the construction site. Another 10 - 15 per cent will fail by the 20-year mark as they're exposed to the physics of heat expansion. By the 25 year-mark, a growing number will fail every year.

Science

"Resources: Issues Habitat Conservation Invasive Alien Species Pollination"