Known for its calm pace of life and natural environments, Nova Scotia has developed into a bridge between traditional and avant-garde culture, acknowledging sustainable design as a key influence in the development of the Province. Ever wondered what Nova Scotians are working on in the field of sustainability? Well after extensive research we are proud to present the Top 15 Sustainable Initiatives in Nova Scotia. From food to travel to jaw-dropping technologies, Nova Scotia is actively working on becoming one of Canada’s leaders in sustainability. If you believe you should be in Nova Scotia’s Top 15, feel free to contact us and we will evaluate your sustainable initiatives in Nova Scotia.

Top 15 Sustainable Initiatives in Nova Scotia

Off The Hook – Fair Fish from Nova Scotia

Ever heard of Fair Trade Coffee? Well Off The Hook offers a similar concept for fish. By buying off the hook fair fish you can be sure the fish you eat was fished sustainably, and that the prices you paid will help support small-scale fishers and their families. If you are interested in learning more about fair fishing, check out this infographic.

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Due to its old buildings and appliances, Nova Scotians are often using up more energy than they should on their old appliances. Efficiency Nova Scotia saw this gap in the market and started offering its people simple solutions to replace these old appliances with more energy efficient models.

6 of the most energy inefficient appliances are:

Fridge/ Freezer

Stove

Water Heater

Dehumidifier

Cooling System

Heating System

For more information on how to increase the efficiency of some of these appliances, here is a great article by how stuff works!

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After hurricane Juan hit Halifax in 2003, the city was stranded without access to global resources for weeks. Having to work as a community to feed everyone in the city, two local restaurant managers were inspired to start a restaurant that would solely rely on locally sourced supplies. Check out their full story here and if you are ever in Halifax be sure to support this great initiative.

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This non-profit foundation plays a key part in helping Nova Scotians green-proof their homes, as well as educating them on all things sustainable. Their video on carpooling is a great example of promoting best practices in sustainability.

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Located in the heart of Halifax on Agricola Street, the Local Source Market offers full access to locally sourced fruits, vegetables, meats, and other products. They even offer a catering service that boasts an entirely locally sourced menu. Once you discover them, it is more than likely they will become a part of your daily life!

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Afishionado Halifax fishmongers are a relatively new and independent distributor of fresh, sustainably-harvested fish. For them, knowing the story behind the fish they sell is important. They follow Ocean Wise certification as their main guide, a classification that ensures responsibility to a fishery’s abundance and catch method. To maintain close relationships with those who catch their fish that have set up , and work hard to help foster a fair, transparent and sustainable exchange of seafood in Nova Scotia, from the ocean all the way to your plate.

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Since 1971, the Ecology Action Centre, has been working at the local, regional, national and more recently, international level to build a healthier and more sustainable world. While all of their work is connected to Nova Scotia, they draw inspiration from many places.They work closely with communities as well as social and natural scientists and make strong use of science in communicating our message.

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Just Us! Coffee strives to put people and the planet before profits in the hope that we can make a difference by helping advance a consumer movement that increasingly respects the human and natural value associated with everyday products, while remaining conscious of our impacts in our everyday operations.They are also one of the founding members of Bullfrog Power in Nova Scotia. As of September 2010 all of their coffeehouse locations now use wind and/or low impact hydro power.

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Clean Foundation works for a clean climate and clean water, by providing the tools, knowledge and inspiration required to influence individual positive actions. In addition, they foster and support green leaders within their community, which we at L’Autre Couleur truly agree with. On December 11th 2015, Clean Foundation acknowledged some of the most influential leaders within their community, and here are a select few:

Mindshift – A great program lead through the Adventure Earth Center, Mindshift is a theatrical presentation designed by high school students to sensibilize other students about environmentalism.

– A great program lead through the Adventure Earth Center, Mindshift is a theatrical presentation designed by high school students to sensibilize other students about environmentalism. Doctor Solar – For the past 20 years this company has been designing, installing and maintaining solar hot water and photovoltaic systems.

– For the past 20 years this company has been designing, installing and maintaining solar hot water and photovoltaic systems. Stephen Thomas – Present at the recent Climate Conference in Paris, Stephen is an engineer who has been greatly involved in the field of sustainability. He founded DivestDal, a fossil fuel divestment campaign at Dalhousie University, and chaired the Ecology Action Center’s Energy Action Team.

– Present at the recent Climate Conference in Paris, Stephen is an engineer who has been greatly involved in the field of sustainability. He founded DivestDal, a fossil fuel divestment campaign at Dalhousie University, and chaired the Ecology Action Center’s Energy Action Team. Cape Breton University – Cape Breton is on its way to becoming the first university in North America to completely offset its direct CO2 emissions by investing in renewable energies. The university is commissioning three wind turbines, which will save about 15,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

If you know of other great initiatives happening in Nova Scotia please comment on this thread and we will be sure to look into them and add them to our list!

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Great Earth Exhibitions – Eco Adventures Reach the Heart

Allow yourself to explore Nova Scotia like never before! Great Earth Exhibitions offer eco-tourism opportunities to those who want to experience the true nature of Nova Scotia. Ryan Barry, founder and operator of this great service has been working on this for years, and in 2014 his company was awarded a certificate of excellence by Trip Advisor.

Here is an eye opening video on the breath-taking beauty of Nova Scotia’s wonders.

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The Grainery Food Coop is a non-profit organization that runs solely on volunteers time and commitment. Promoting community involvement and values, this coop offers nutritional and tasty food that is purely locally sourced!

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Who said sustainability couldn’t be sexy?

Take a moment to check out Lion & Bright’s website and it’s guaranteed your mouth will begin to water (I know mine did!). Lion & Bright solely uses fresh local ingredients, and has developed ways to present their food in delectable ways. As if it weren’t enough, they reputation precedes them when talking about craft beers. When entering the restaurant, you are certain to feel right at home!

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Did you know that leatherback turtles were around in the time of dinosaurs?! For the past 100 million years that have remained unchanged, surviving the extinction of dinosaurs, massive ice ages and many more obstacles than we could imagine. Yet today they are considered a critically endangered species as they face their greatest threat yet: entanglement in fishnets.

The Canadian Sea Turtle Network is a one of a kind, grassroots, science-based group of individuals that help educate fishermen on keeping the leatherbacks safe. As Canadian waters around Nova Scotia are one of the places they gather most, their work is crucial to avoid the extinction of such a long-lived species.

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Currently 14% of Nova Scotia Power comes from Wind Farms across the province. By harnessing the power of the winds coming from the seaside, Nova Scotia has a plan to supply 25% of its energy from renewables by 2015 and 40% by 2020. This is a great attestation to the work Nova Scotians are doing to make Canada a leader in sustainable development.

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Mara Renewables Corporation a research firm based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, learned that the microorganism T18 – a form of algae that grows naturally in the Bay of Fundy – produces algal oil at a much higher rate than other strains of algae currently being used in biofuel research. MARA intends to build a pilot demonstration fermentation production site to produce algal feedstock oil for biofuels in a meaningful scale and competitive cost.

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FORCE – Harnessing Tidal Wave Renewable Energy

Last but most certainly not least, here is the finale of the top 15 sustainable initiatives in Nova Scotia!

Atlantic Canada’s Bay of Fundy is home to the highest tides in the world. In each 12 hour tidal period, more than 160 billion tonnes of water are forced in and out of the bay, making it one of North America’s best potential sites for tidal power generation. The Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) is developing the technology to harness this clean energy technology with the potential to deliver renewable energy for generations to come.

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And there it is! The Top 15 Sustainable Initiatives of Nova Scotia!

This was the first of ten posts; one for every Canadian province. By the end of 2016 you can expect a Top 15 sustainable initiatives for every province of Canada! To stay updated on the up and coming initiatives subscribe to our monthly newsletter and like us on Facebook. Also please comment if we have left out any important sustainable initiatives in Nova Scotia that you believe should be part of the top 15, or if you have any thoughts/ comments on the article.

Check out our the top sustainable initiatives of other provinces;

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