Making the Holidays a Little Greener

At West 5 we strive to reduce, reuse and recycle. But, even those of us who are careful can get caught up in the excitement of the season. We challenged our team to come up with some fun ways to save on waste, here are just a few the ideas to make holiday gift giving a little bit ‘greener.’

Living a Lower Carbon Lifestyle

You hear a lot these days about climate change and pollution. Many people are becoming more aware that they can be doing more to reduce their individual carbon footprint, but, it can seem overwhelming. It doesn’t have to.

Thanks Mother Nature

Thanksgiving is upon us. A time for gathering with family and friends, enjoying delicious food and giving thanks for everything you have.

Unfortunately, the holiday can be quite wasteful. As you contemplate all that you’re thankful for this year, here are a few ways to show your thanks to Mother Nature.

Cleaning Green

Every day we are exposed to hundreds of chemicals in the air, water and world around us. You may be surprised to learn that household cleaning products are among the biggest contributors.

Plastic World

While the majority of people have embraced recycling and waste reduction, there are still a number of items we use every day that unfortunately get tossed in the trash. The biggest culprit? Plastic. Here at West 5 we’ve put a lot of thought into making the neighbourhood as sustainable as possible. We know that small changes can have a huge impact.

Back to School

Though it’s been some time since I returned to school I always get a little rush of excitement as September approaches and we prepare to leave the lazy days of summer behind. Looking back, I can vividly remember the anticipation of the first day.

SMART Gadgets for your home

These days it seems as though there’s a gadget for everything. Unfortunately, many of these gadgets are short-lived, or even disposable. The good news is that with the growing movement towards waste reduction and a connected lifestyle, technology designers are working hard to create devices that are both useful and sustainable.

Your Ride – Powered By the Sun

Sleek. Sustainable. Sophisticated. It’s what we expect from all our electronics, appliances, homes and even our offices. At West 5, our vehicles are no exception. We don’t just want to live green; we want to drive green, too. Electric Vehicles (or EVs) produce zero tailpipe emissions and significantly minimize environmental impact. They’re well worth the investment and are set to replace traditional vehicles within the next few decades.

Trash the Trashcan

At West 5, you’ll have a hard time finding a trashcan. The strong presence of recycling bins throughout the neighbourhood sets the tone for sustainability at West 5. That’s because the minimal waste lifestyle is the way of the future. It’s pragmatic. It’s visionary. And it’s something you can start today.

Throwback to Oakridge Acres

It’s been over a month since we moved into our new home in the Sifton Centre. The drive west down Oxford always hits me with a wave of nostalgia when I get to Oakridge Acres, Canada’s First Planned Community and one of my dad’s proudest achievements.
The design of this community was well before my time, in the fifties. My dad had just incorporated Sifton and the economy was in an upswing. Families were getting bigger and needed homes and communities built to last.