In this episode of The Conscious Builder Show, Casey sits down with the Executive Director of Ecology Ottawa, Robb Barnes.
Ecology Ottawa is a not-for-profit, grassroots and volunteer-driven organization that provides residents with the information and tools they need to understand local environmental issues and promote environmental leadership at city hall. During this episode, Robb talks about Phase Two of Energy Evolution, what we as individuals can do and what other cities are doing to combat the climate crisis. Please enjoy the show!
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Ecology Ottawa Website Great Glebe Garage Sale follow on Instagram @ecologyottawa email: robb.barnes@ecologyottawa.ca If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and it makes a huge difference in bringing on hard-to-get guests. 
Karen and Cameron met playing at the Shaw Festival, which is a major non for profit theatre in Niagara on the Lake. Karen and Cameron share how they gradually planned and built a tiny home off grid in Prince Edward Island, which included living in a Yurt. They discuss how their careers in the arts has evolved with the change in lifestyle. This isn’t a story about why you should be a minimalist or live in a tiny home, this is really about a couple that finally took action to pursue their dreams. Episode includes a song from Karen's recent album "The Bayfield Sessions" featuring guest singer Alicia Toner.
Casey participates in Smart613's Green Building Tour, taking place at Beaver Barrack's hosted by Graeme Hussey Director of Housing Development at CCOC. Graeme gets into the details of the site, including the installation of the first ever multi unit Geo-Thermal System in Canada at the time. In part two of the tour, Anthony Leaning Principal Architect at CSV Architects introduces us to their first passive house for CCOC.
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CCOC/CAHDCO Beaver Barracks CSV Architects: Salus Project CCOC Arlington Envirocentre Carbon613 
The Conscious Builder recently completed a Net Zero Fossil Fuel Free custom home in Ottawa, Ontario. Casey discusses the project and interviews some of the professionals involved including designer Lynne Lafontaine who addressed some design flaws on the original plans, lead carpenter Darcy Lott talks about his biggest regret, energy advisor Stephen Magneron takes us through the blower door test, solar installer Mike Gauthier, talks about the costs and the homes current performance and director of Net Zero Housing for the Canadian Home Builders Association, Sonja Winkelmann gets us excited about some future financing options. This is a must listen for anyone considering building a high performance home or a custom home in general, or wants to stay up to date in the industry.
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In order of appearance Lynne Lafontaine Designer - Designfaze Darcy Lott Lead Carpenter - The Conscious Builder Stephen Magneron Energy Advisor - Homesol Building Solutions Mikael-Pierre Gauthier Owner - Exconstruction - Solar Installer Sonja Winkelmann Director - Net Zero Housing
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 Jeffrey Leiper is the current Ottawa city councillor for Kitchissippi Ward. He was first elected in the Ottawa municipal election, 2014. Leiper was born and raised in Ottawa. He studied History and English at the University of Ottawa, and Print Journalism at Algonquin College. As a youth, Leiper was a member of the youth wing of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, though he is now a committed progressive. He has lived in Kitchissippi Ward since 1995 when he and his spouse Natalie moved into the Julian Apartments in the Wellington West area. Today, he lives in Hintonburg with Natalie and their son. In this podcast Jeff talks shares his motivations for getting into politics, what are his principles are and what it means to be courageous. He touches on how quality of life should influence policy and planning and some of the Climate initiatives including the recently declared Climate Emergency and the ongoing energy evolution and on the personal side adapting to work and life after his recent heart attack. Episode LinksSocial MediaEpisode Timeline
"At the end of the day you just try to be true to a certain set of principles, and when the trolls comes out, if you’ve done your work and stayed true to your principles and been courageous in your pursuit, a lot of the negative comments will roll off. Some of it stings, everyday someone will be hypercritical of something that you are pursuing or a decision you’ve made, or a process that hasn’t turned out the way they want. But if you can go to bed, staying true to your principles, being open minded, did I do the right thing, than ultimately it will roll off, it’s a huge rollercoaster" Jeff Leiper 
Kristy has been involved in the Real Estate industry for over 15 years in various levels. She started with her first home purchase at 21 by selling everything she & her boyfriend Eric (now husband) owned just to get a down payment. By 25 she started her own company transforming homes even though another ”specialist” told her not to bother she would never be successful. Over the years alongside building her business she and Eric renovated 5 homes & 1 commercial property with great success. She jokingly calls it ”Flipping up” even though she had no intention of taking on properties to “Flip” alongside her personal home for various logistic reasons.
After many moves and renovating her homes over time, she also built her Home Staging Company to #1 with an amazing team working directly with many of the top 20% real estate agents in the city of Ottawa. After a decade of building success, she made the bold decision to sell her business and focus on building relationships, understanding her clients needs and custom tailoring solutions for those needs. This is why she chose to be apart of Ottawa’s top real estate team the Ottawa Capital Group. In this podcast Kristy talks about her decision to join the Ottawa Capital Group as a licensed realtor, she talks about her plastic restaurant fiasco which inspired a major change in her life and her new Guinea Fowls she takes care of with her husband Eric at their home in Kemptville and so much more! Check out the podcast details below:
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QuoteAll I do is let them out in the morning, they run around during the day eat ticks and mosquitoes and bugs throughout my yard, and than I lock them up at night and fill up their food and water every couple of days" --Kristy Morrison on her Guinea Fowls 
Bea and her family generate a quart size jar of waste per year. With her passion and positive outlook, Bea launched a global movement and has become the spokesperson for the zero waste lifestyle. She inspires a growing community to live simply and take a stance against needless waste with the application of the 5R's: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot. She shatters misconceptions, proving that waste-free living can not only be "stylish", but also lead to significant health benefits, and time and money savings. She regularly speaks at universities and corporate events and opens her home to educational tours and the media. She is a French native who currently lives in California.
This episode is perfect for anyone looking to hear an inspiring story of a modern, urban family who switched from “having all the things” to “having all the experiences.” It’s also great for anyone looking to learn about the big and small steps they can take to reduce their waste – in all its forms! In Zero Waste Home, Bea Johnson shares the story of how she simplified her life by reducing her waste.
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Quotes A life based on experiences instead of things based on being instead of having" --Bea Johnson Today my wardrobe is comprised of 15 pieces….. my 15 pieces has allowed me to create 50 different looks" --Bea Johnson 
Breanne Gibson is a global change leader for regeneration, speaker. She's an educator, holistic nutrition expert, and permaculture practitioner. She is the founder of Breanne Gibson LLC, a coaching and consulting company focused on helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations align with the intelligence of nature for ultimate energy, health and resiliency.
Her mission is to reconnect humanity with nature and remove the gap between soil and health for both human and planet. In this podcast Breanne touches on her journey beginning in British Columbia growing up on 10 acres "in nature", to her experience in the army before branching out and creating her own coaching and consulting business. Breanne shares some insights into her own diet, how to make soil for growing your own food and so much more. Her passion and wealth of knowledge is contagious and might inspire you, if you haven't already to do some research into what your eating. After listening to this podcast make sure to visit Breanne's links for more information. Episode Links
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"Nature never leaves herself bare only humans leave her bare" --Breanne Gibson talking about soil quality "I think for us and it's evolved but we’ve always supported each other in our individual journeys there’s never been a feeling that I can’t live my life because I’m with you and vice versa and that’s been really freeing .” --Breanne Gibson on fourteen years with her husband Questions for the farmers market: How do you keep your soil healthy? A farm that is focused on building soil health first is what you are wanting.
Do you use synthetic fertilizer, fungicide, or herbicides? No These chemicals are toxic to the living soil microorganisms and make their way into both the water you drink and the food you eat. Who works on your farm? A farm that sees their team as a extremely valuable part and not random labor. If it is an meat product ask: Do you have a grazing plan? Yes... Are you working with your animals to maximize plant growth and biodiversity? Yes... Overall, you want to support farmers, businesses and brands that are regenerating soil, restoring native grasslands, truly caring for their animals through holistic management, and sequestering carbon through healthy soil practices. 
Andy is a Red Seal General Carpenter, with training and experience in restoration, traditional timber framing, drafting and design, stairs, custom housing and high-performance residential construction. He was also lucky enough to teach at the Algonquin College Perth Campus for about 15 years in the Construction Carpentry Advanced Housing Program, both part-time and full time. In 2017, he trained and earned his certification as a Passive House Consultant with the Canadian Passive House Institute.
After years of membership with his local Home Builders’ in Perth, Ontario, Andy worked with the Canadian Home Builders Association national office as Director of Professional Development and Manager of Association Services. Always looking for a new challenge, Andy is now working with Guides.co, an online knowledge sharing platform, as well as helping a STEM mentorship program from Nova Scotia called Techsploration with a pilot program expansion into Ontario. Andy lives in Perth, Ontario with his wife of 24 years and their 2 teenage kids. Episode Links Sponsor Offer Episode Timeline
"A classroom with a teacher talking in front of students is really cost effective, a classroom where each student has a circular saw and a whole bunch of pieces of wood in front of them, is not" --Andy Cockburn “I’ve seen the lightbulbs go on with students, especially the students that were struggling and it was such a rewarding experience. I would never look back on my time and consider it a waste, it was one of the best times in my life.” --Andy Cockburn |
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