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How to Be Eco-Friendly in Calgary

Updated: Jan 5

Calgary cares about the environment, and it shows. Out of 812 cities ranked by CDP, the city of Calgary made the A List along with only 87 other cities. To make the A List, Calgary showed climate-adaption innovation and strategy while remaining a prosperous place to live, work, and play.


Some of Calgary’s eco-friendly initiatives include:


● 100% renewable electricity for all municipal operations

● Wind farms constructed in southern Alberta

● Solar photovoltaic systems in city-owned facilities

● 80,000 LED public streetlamps

● The Green Line, a light rail system in development


That gives us a picture of Calgary’s green energy and initiatives, but what about you? How can you, a Calgary citizen, be eco-friendly in this city?


Here’s your guide to being eco-friendly in Calgary, with links and information about all things green and sustainable living in this city.


Use Eco-friendly Transportation[1]

Public transit

Ride-sharing

Choose Locally-Sourced Food

Calgary Year-Round Farmers’ Markets

Calgary Seasonal Farmers’ Markets

Buy Used Clothing, Furniture, Books & Other Household Items

Calgary Consignment Stores

Mid-Century Furniture & Decor

Buy & Sell Used Books in Calgary

Sports Equipment

Children’s Clothing

Men’s & Women’s Clothing & Accessories

Calgary Thrift Stores

Recycle & Donate Used Stuff

Donate furniture & appliances

Recycle electronics

Donate clothing, shoes, & blankets

Aim for Zero Waste

Stop Getting Junk Mail

Practice Eco-Friendly Yard Maintenance

Build an Eco-Friendly Home



Use Eco-Friendly Transportation

Calgarians have many options for transportation. You can make eco-friendly choices about how you’ll get from Point A to Point B, and you don’t have to choose just one - an eco-friendly lifestyle in Calgary likely includes a combination of transportation methods.


The most eco-friendly option is to walk, but that’s not always feasible. Next up would be to bike, but again, that’s not always an option.


If you must drive, consider carpooling or using a hybrid or electric vehicle. Learn how to be eco-conscious as you drive by accelerating smoothly, maintaining your vehicle and tire pressure, planning and combining trips, and reducing idle time.


The following are other eco-friendly transportation options for citizens of Calgary.

Public transit

Calgary Transit - Download the app for convenient access to routes. City drivers are trained in the Green Driver program to reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. The city also uses cleaner fuels, compressed natural gas buses, and 100% renewable energy to power C-trains.

Ride-sharing

Communauto Alberta - Access a vehicle for as little as 41 cents per minute and up to $149.75 per week at the long distance rate.

Bird - E-scooter sharing

Neuron - E-scooter sharing

Lime - E-bike and e-scooter sharing

Choose Locally Sourced Food

Locally sourced food doesn’t have to travel as far to get to your table. This means less fuel emissions in the process from the farm to your plate.


Calgary has plenty of options for buying locally grown and locally made food!


SPUD.ca - a food & grocery delivery service

Calgary Year-Round Farmers’ Markets


Calgary Farmers’ Market

Open Thursday-Sunday 9am-5pm

510 77th Avenue SE


Crossroads Market

Open Friday-Sunday 9am-5pm

1235 26 Avenue SE


Farmers & Makers Market at cSPACE

Open Saturday 10am-1pm in winter, and 10am-3pm from June to October

1721 29 Avenue SW


Fresh and Local

Open Thursday-Saturday 11am-8pm and Sunday 11am-5pm

426, 12445 Lake Fraser Drive SE


Granary Road

Open Friday-Sunday 9am-5pm

226066 112 Street West, Foothills


Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers’ Market

Open Wednesday 3pm-7pm

Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre, 1320 5 Avenue NW


Prairie Horizon Fresh Market

Open Saturday-Sunday 11am-5pm

New Horizon Mall, 260300 Writing Creek Crescent


Calgary Seasonal Farmers’ Markets


DJ Market

May-November

Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm; Sundays and holidays 10am-5pm

4645 12 Street SE


emergeMarket

Check website for dates in the summer months

3111 17th Avenue SW

Buy Used Clothing, Furniture, Books & Other Household Items

When you buy used clothing, furniture, books, and other household items, you save those items from ending up in a landfill. The more we buy used, the less demand there is for manufacturers to produce new items. Less manufacturing means fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less energy consumption.


Be eco-friendly in Calgary by shopping at consignment and thrift stores. You’ll find treasures you didn’t know you needed! And you’ll save big bucks on brand name products.


Calgary Consignment Stores


Mid-Century Furniture & Decor

Left and Found

4108 17th Street SE

Buy & Sell Used Books in Calgary

Fair’s Fair


● 907 9 Avenue SE

● 104 61 Avenue SW


Books Between Friends

14, 3434 - 34 Avenue NE

Sports Equipment

Play It Again Sports

● 270 Stewart Green SW

● 303 Shawville Boulevard SE Unit 560

Children’s Clothing

Sproutz Uturn

Bay #36 2835 - 37th Street SW


Once Upon a Child

● 8228 Macleod Trail SE

● 2770 32nd Avenue NE

● 4625 Varsity Drive NW

Men’s & Women’s Clothing & Accessories

Armadio by Delia

488 10816 Macleod Trail SE


Clothes Up and Personal

2024 Edmonton Trail NE


Clothing Bar Boutique

1911 34 Avenue SW


Expressions Ladies Consignment

202 12100 Macleod Trail SE


Feisty Consignment

12, 2100 4 Street SW


Kensington Konsignment

130 10 Street NW


Man of Distinction

1418 9 Avenue SE


Peacock Boutique

● 1145 Kensington Crescent NW

● 1415 11 Street SW

● 1226 9 Avenue SE


Plato’s Closet

● 3131 27th Street NE

● 109-4625 Varsity Drive NW

● 10233 Elbow Drive SW


SalvEdge Fashion Boutique

● 1002 Macleod Trail SE

● 1013 17 Avenue SW


Sproutz Uturn

Bay #36 2835 - 37th Street SW


Style Encore

227 153 Avenue SE


Thrifty Princess Consignment Boutique

810 Edmonton Trail NE


Trend Fashions

120 10 Street NW


Velour Clothing Exchange

200, 1022 17 Avenue SW


Vespucci

8244 Elbow Drive SW


Wilder’s Consignment House

7702 Elbow Drive SW


Calgary Thrift Stores

Goodwill


● 9655 Macleod Trail SW

● 5707 Macleod Trail SW

● 1440 - 52 Street NE

● 4625 Varsity Drive NW

● #710, 12024 Sarcee Trail NW


Junk in the Trunk

2808 Ogden Road SE, Bay 11


Mission Thrift Store

3423 26 Avenue SW


MCC Thrift Shop

2946 32nd Street NE


Salvation Army Thrift Store

● Unit #128 11520 24 Street SE

● 121 - 58 Avenue SW

● 3200-17th Avenue SE Unit 3A

● 3508-32nd Avenue NE Unit 461

● 11520 24 St SE Unit #128


Value Village

● 104-58th Ave SE

● Unit #1, 240 Midpark Way SE

● 3405-34th St NE

● 9737 Macleod Trail SW

● 5720 Silver Springs Blvd NW Suite #28


WorldServe Thrift Store

105 - 58th Avenue SW


Urban Thrift

906 Center Street N

Recycle & Donate Used Stuff

Buying used stuff is good, but you can also be more eco-friendly by donating your used stuff. Someone else may benefit from it. In addition to selling used books, sports equipment, furniture, and clothing at the consignment stores listed above, you can donate or recycle your stuff at thrift stores and the following locations in Calgary.

Donate furniture & appliances

ReStore - Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta

● 3465 Sunridge Way NE

● 7291 11 St SE

Recycle electronics

City of Calgary

● Spyhill Landfill - 11808 - 69 Street NW

● East Calgary Landfill - 3801 - 68 Street SE

● Shepard Landfill - 12111 - 68 Street SE

Donate clothing, shoes, & blankets

There are many non-profit organizations that welcome donations. Women’s shelters, animal shelters, homeless shelters, and many others. Here are a few to get you started.


Calgary Drop-In Centre

3640 11A Street NE


The Mustard Seed

● 102 11 Avenue SE

● 7025 44 Street SE

● Bay 27, 4216-54 Avenue SE


Women in Need Society

7007 54th Street SE


Aim for Zero Waste

A zero-waste lifestyle is one that doesn’t produce any garbage. You use everything you purchase, including the packaging. Naturally, this is easier when you buy products without packaging, or when you buy products in reusable packaging. This can apply to food, beverages, personal care products, and more.


Calgary has several businesses that promote zero waste, either by selling products without packaging, or by selling products that will help you transition to a zero waste lifestyle (such as reusable straws or bulk laundry soap, for example).


The Apothecary

921 9 Avenue SE


Bulk Barn

● 3508 - 32nd Avenue NE, Unit 431

● 4889 - 130th Avenue SE

● 9250 Macleod Trail SE

● 409 East Hills Boulevard, SE

● 55 Sage Hill Plaza NW


Canary Goods

1225A Kensington Road NW


Grinning Goat Boutique

323 17 Avenue SE


Lush

● 6455 Macleod Trail SE (Chinook Mall)

#P054-3625 Shaganappi (Market Mall)


Nudemarket

1312B 9 Avenue SE


You can also aim for zero waste by refusing to receive junk mail. Find out how to stop junk mail in Calgary at Green Calgary’s Dump the Junk Mail Campaign.


Practice Eco-Friendly Yard Maintenance

Eco-friendly yard maintenance aims to reduce water consumption and storm runoff by collecting rainwater. You can conserve up to 900 gallons of water a year with a single rain barrel!


You can also reduce waste by using a composter. This can reduce your garbage by up to 50%. That’s a lot less waste in the landfill!


Visit Green Calgary for rain barrels and composters.


Build an Eco-Friendly Home

One more way you can be eco-friendly in Calgary is by living in an eco-friendly home. Key features of an eco-friendly home include[2] :


● Renewable energy technologies

● Electric vehicle charging stations

● Sustainable environmentally friendly materials

● Energy-efficient windows & skylights

● Low-flow water fixtures

● ENERGY STAR appliances

● Smart home technology


An eco-friendly home is designed to make eco-friendly living almost effortless. When your house incorporates features like these, you’re being eco-friendly just by living in your home!


Melcom Homes is Calgary’s eco-friendly home builder. Contact us today to find out how you can build an eco-friendly home in Calgary.

I recommend adding a Table of Contents here when you publish the post because of the nature of the post. It can be used as a reference tool, and it will be easier to use if readers can access the information they're looking for without having to scroll through the entire post. Include an internal link to the blog post "7 Key Features of an Eco-Friendly Home" when it's published.

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