Green Energy Doors Open (GEDO) is an annual event highlighting sustainable energy projects across Ontario (with partner initiatives taking place in Alberta and B.C). Hosted by the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, the program is entering its sixth year. Since 2011, individuals, communities, and commercial sustainable projects have opened their doors allowing community members to have a glimpse into leading sustainability projects.
Below are a few of the projects you can visit this weekend:
Dickey Bee Honey Inc.
Located in Cookstown Ontario, Dickey Bee Honey Inc. is a green business thru and thru. The company prides itself as ‘no waste’; all the honey and byproducts are utilized. Sandi Dickey, who owns the business with her husband Peter, explains, “We need to work very diligently to protect our bees’ existence, crops and the environment.” The company recently erected a new facility, which uses a geothermal system consisting of 600-footloops of water lines across the 2-acre property.
Visit Dickey Been Honey on September 9-11, all day.
Durham York Energy Centre
The Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC) is a waste management centre that produces energy from the combustion of garbage. The facility safely process 140,000 tonnes of residential garbage per year, waste that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. The Energy from Waste (EFW) technology at DYEC generates enough electricity to power approximately 10,000 homes, which helps conserve fossil fuels.
Tours of DYEC will be occurring September 9 at various times.
Photo provided by durhamregion
Living Architecture Tour
Green infrastructure exists all around the city, yet it is often hidden on top of buildings or behind closed doors. The Living Architecture Tour is a self-guided tour, which reveals Toronto’s vegetative roof and walls. On the tour, you can discover the importance of vegetative infrastructure, urban heat island effects, the role of nature in our lives and many more topics.
The Living Architecture Tour will take place September 9, 2016 between 12-2 pm.
Artscape Wychwood Barns
Also, make sure to check out our friends at ZooShare and TREC Education, who will be sharing some fun facts and hands-on activities about biomass, wind and solar at Artscape Wychwood Barns in Toronto. This event coincides with the Stop Community Food Centre’s Farmers’ Market, where you can tour the Stop’s 3000 square-foot state-of the-art greenhouse and compost demonstration centre.
The Stop’s Farmers’ Market runs from 8:00am – 1:00pm on Saturday September 10.
GEDO runs September 9-11 this year and is free for all attendees. With over 7,000 participants, GEDO showcases sustainability projects across the province to demonstrate 100% renewable energy is achievable in Ontario.