Canadians urged to turn off the lights for Earth Hour CBC website

Turn off your lights tonight between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.

That's all that the supporters of Earth Hour 2012 are asking you to do.

It's easier than you'd think—fun, even. I blogged about my family's activities last year (Standing in the Dark: Earth Hour 2011) and the year before (Earth Hour 2010). The event is supposed to make us all think about our electricity use and little things we could do to reduce it.

If you'd like to have fun with just the light of the stars, you may want to take advantage of Public Star Night tonight from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Fish Creek Park by the Royal Astronomical Society and Fish Creek Provincial Park (it's FREE and there will be BIG telescopes).

Click on the links below for more information on Earth Hour 2012 and events taking place in Calgary tonight:

Earth Hour events in Calgary aimed at raising awareness of global warming: Calgarians asked to minimize energy consumption for one hour on Saturday night Calgary Herald

WWF Earth Hour info page

Will you turn out the lights tonight? I'd love to hear about your Earth Hour 2012 plans in the comments below!

How to see the great cities of Europe and not spend a lot of money? Try walking the streets.

Calgary Public Library has many books on walking and walking tours. Just recently received are these great guides from National Geographic.

Walking London and Walking Paris are "part of a brand-new series from National Geographic that showcase the world's great cities, These guides are divided into the following sections. The Whirlwind Tours section shows you how to see the entire city in a day or a weekend; what sights will interest kids most; plus, a hedonist's tour that's pure pleasure from dawn to midnight and beyond. The Neighborhoods section of the book presents each city broken down into itineraries that lead you on a step-by-step tour to the best sights in each of the cities' greatest neighborhoods...Travel Essentials provides information on how to get to the city and how to get around, as well as hand-picked hotels and restaurants."

Check out our other guidebooks, such as:

Think about using local transit to get around various cities. Check out the options for purchasing a transit pass for multiple days or stops.

You can also save money in many European cities, by purchasing a European City Card. Thirty-six of Europe’s most popular cities now offer ‘city cards’. Most City Cards offer free public transport, free entrances and discounts in restaurants, shops and entertainment.

Sandeman's New Europe Tours offer free tours of 14 European cities. Their guides operate on a 'tips only' basis.

"Sun shines on energy-efficient house" Edmonton Journal

An Edmonton neighbourhood celebrated the grand opening of the Belgravia Green Net Zero Project—three new net-zero energy building homes built through a collaboration between homeowners, local experts and Effect Home Builders, an Edmonton builder specializing in energy-efficient homes. One of the homes is a showhome open for viewings on Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

What exactly is a "net zero energy building (NZEB)?"

Generally speaking, a NZEB is a home that produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of one year. Experts divide net zero energy buildings in to four different categories:

Net-Zero Site Energy — A building that produces and exports at least as much renewable energy as the total energy it imports and uses in a year, when accounted for at the site. The measurement time frame is annual.

Net-Zero Source Energy — A building that produces and exports at least as much renewable energy as the total energy it imports and uses in a year, when accounted for at the source. "Source energy" refers to the primary energy required to generate and deliver the energy to the site. To calculate a building's total source energy, imported and exported energy is multiplied by the appropriate site-to-source conversion multipliers.

Net-Zero Energy Costs — A building where the amount of money a utility pays the building's owner for the renewable energy the building exports to the grid is at least equal to the amount the owner pays the utility for the energy services and energy used over the year.

Net-Zero Energy Emissions — A building that produces and exports at least as much emissions-free renewable energy as it imports and uses from emission-producing energy sources annually. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides are common emissions that NZEBs offset.

(source: U.S. Department of Energy)

Below are just a few of the books on green building in the library collection:

	Energy free homes for a small planet: a comprehensive guide to the design, construction, and economics of net-zero energy homes by Ann V. Edminster
	Green Design: From theory to practice by Ken Yeang and Arthur Spector
	Green architecture: advanced technologies and materials by Osman Attmann

Are you staying in Calgary with the family for Spring Break? There are many opportunities in the city for fun family activities, starting with Calgary Public Library.

Our libraries are always great places to spend a few hours, browsing for books, CDs, and DVDs. As well, many of our branches are offering special programs during the week, starting on March 23rd.

PD Day Movie at Central in the John Dutton Theatre.

Come watch a feature film on your day off! Call branch for movie title.

Kids - with a parent/caregiver, 1:30 - 3:30 on Friday, March 23rd. No registration required.

Chess in the Library at Forest Lawn Library

Join members of the Calgary Chess Club and Calgary Junior Chess Club for the opportunity to play chess, supported by coaching. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

Kids & Teens - Ages 6 to 20, Sunday March 25^th, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Registration Not Required

Spring Break Movies at Signal Hill Library

Join us on your school break for a selection of short, funny films from the Library's collection.
Ages 5 to 12, Tuesday, Mar 27, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. No registration required

ESL Teen Talk at Fish Creek, Nose Hill & Saddletown Library

ESL teens and tweens can practice English language skills and enjoy a variety of fun activities at the Library.

Ages 10 to 14, Monday, Mar 26, Tuesday, Mar 27, Wednesday, Mar 28, Thursday, Mar 29, Friday, Mar 30, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Gaming For all ages at Nose Hill Library

Bring your friends and enjoy video games with the Nintendo Wii, such as Beatles Rock Band, Wii Sports, and selected Mario games. Wednesday March 28^th, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Kids & Teens - Ages 7 and up Registration not required

LEGO Club at Fish Creek & Shawnessy Library

Join us to build, create, and explore! Legos provided.

Kids & Teens, Registration not required

Create Fantastic Creatures! at Alexander Calhoun

Create creatures a la Parrototter or Rhinostrich inspired by "Mixed Beasts" by Wallace Edwards, learn pencil crayon shading, and read, write, and share rhymes. Presented by Pinkmittens2.

Kids - Ages 9 to 12, Saturday, Mar 31, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Other Venues

Heritage Park's Gasoline Alley Museum is offering Spring Rally in the Alley from March 23 - April 1, 9:30am-4:00pm.

The Calgary Zoo offers daily programs and special programs and has to be a great place to be with all this great spring weather. What a great chance to see the new penguin exhibit. (Of course, it is snowing as I write this! Spring in Calgary!?!)

Spring is an excellent time of year to visit the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. My bird-watching friends tell me that you have a better opportunity to see the birds before the leaves are on the trees.

Star Night - And speaking of viewing, why not take advantage of a great opportunity to view the stars. Clear or cloudy skies, The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and Fish Creek Provincial Park are offering viewing of the night sky with telescopes, astronomy presentations, interactive games and displays. Everyone welcome, no charge!

Telus Spark, the new science centre, is offering special programs for spring break.

Fort Calgary is open every day through the spring break, offering a chance to see where Calgary first started at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers.

Mom, Tot and Kids' Show website describes itself as a fun and interactive tradeshow for Alberta Families. More than 100 exhibitors will be present showcasing the latest in technology, apparel, furniture, products and toys. they invite you to come and play with your kids, be entertained, explore and just have fun!

When we travel to far distant shores, many of us are looking for a deeper meaning to our travels and our lives, searching out places that are sacred and mystical. The following book will help you move beyond the mainstream tourist destinations.

Sacred Britain: a Guide to Places that Stir the Soul by Martin Symington

"Britain is packed with places to visit that can be called ‘sacred’. Many are mainstream tourist sites, such as Iona, Lindisfarne and Stonehenge. Many more are out-of-the-way pilgrimage destinations, druidic circles, holy wells or obscure islands that few people would find without this book. Some are only recognised as ‘sacred’ by people with a special interest: Karl Marx's tomb in Highgate cemetery, the island on Althorp where Princess Diana is buried, or Twickenham rugby stadium. This is a travel guidebook to places in England, Scotland and Wales associated with a sense of the sacred. The book journeys from pilgrimage sites with tombs of martyrs and scenes of medieval miracles to the remote islands of Iona, Bardsey and Lindisfarne, as well as to modern Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic shrines. It visits pre-historic stone circles and ancient chalk hill carvings such as the phallic Cerne Abbas giant. As well as sites of myth, legend, and apparition it covers shrines to philosophers and locations revered for their connections with art, music, literature, sport, and crime." (Syndetics)

You can find more books about spiritual travel in a past blog. And if you are looking for appropriate accommodation for your spiritual journey, take a look at our blog on monasteries.