Biosphere Commitment Monthly Newsletter - July
Biosphere Commitment Monthly Newsletter
July was a busy month with five new businesses (Clos du Soleil Winery, Tightrope Winery, Sperling Vineyards, Quaaout Lodge at Talking Rock Resort, and Le Vieux Pin Winery) joining the Biosphere Commitment Program. Each business is contributing to sustainability in their own way, from water conservation and soil regeneration to improving social equity. Learn more about our new members below.
Save the date: Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle platform launch ~ August 12
New Marketing Partner: Sustainable Life App™
The Sustainable Life App™ connects eco-conscious consumers with sustainable businesses and brands. With 4000+ listings, 10,000+ downloads, and 6000+ users, the app is growing in popularity across Canada and internationally.
TOTA’s Biosphere team is currently working to create business listings for all Biosphere Committed Companies and we will notify you once your nomination is complete. To claim your listing, there is a one-time registration fee of $97 however Biosphere Committed Companies receive an exclusive $50 discount. In addition, $40 of the $47 one-time fee will be reinvested through targeted social media ads in the Thompson Okanagan.
Did you know that an Eco Efficiency Toolkit was created for Biosphere Committed Companies to use as an additional resource? The toolkit is divided into four key areas: water, energy, waste and carbon and provides helpful tips and low and no-cost solutions for companies of all sizes.
This summer, we have experienced quite the heat wave and drought is currently impacting approximately half of BC, with extremely dry or very dry conditions throughout the Thompson Okanagan.
Here are some helpful tips from our Eco Efficiency Toolkit to help you reduce water usage:
Establish your water usage baseline
Consider using grey water management systems or harvest rainwater
Install low-flow fixtures
Track your water consumption, by installing a water meter or using the free Energy Star Portfolio Manager program
Check for leaks and drips in your water systems
Xeriscape with native drought-resistant plants
Use mulch at the base of plants to reduce evaporation from soil
Reuse water for gardens and plants
Ensure your irrigation system uses water efficiently and use low flow garden hose nozzles
Adopt water-efficient cleaning procedures
Are you planning to purchase or upgrade lighting, HVAC equipment (boilers, furnaces, heaters, heat pumps, rooftop units, etc), or other business appliances? Have you purchased or installed any of these within the last 365 days? You might be eligible for FortisBC rebates if you are a FortisBC electricity or natural gas customer and meet their requirements for energy-efficient equipment.
Some of the FortisBC rebates that are available:
If you are a tourism business operating in the Thompson Okanagan and would like to find out if you are eligible, book a free appointment with our Energy Analyst to learn more.
News Highlights
A few Biosphere updates and highlights from this month:
