Environment Winners

Ecovert

Winner – Environment (Group)

Ecovert, an Etobicoke company committed to facilitating positive environmental change, helps people get green certification for their buildings, provides greenhouse gas calculations while providing sustainability consultation.

Jim Lord, an Ecovert principal, can take credit for orchestrating the largest LED lighting retrofit in North America as the president of his condominium board at the Palace Pier.

His efforts have served as an example to other buildings by demonstrating the positive environmental impacts this kind of project can have.

More than 25,000 light bulbs will be diverted from landfill during a five-year period; condominium owners will experience energy savings of 80 per cent while the corporation will save $180,000 over five years.

The project was recognized by Ontario’s Chief Conservation officer.

Lord can now call himself an Urban Hero as his company Ecovert, which he had a hand in establishing in 2007 with business partner Aldolfo Silva, was honoured with the award this month.

“As the saying goes, it’s not easy being green,” confessed Lord.

However, Ecovert’s headquarters on Ripley Avenue are 100 per cent Bullfrog powered by low-impact energy from wind and water.

And its offices are painted with 100 per cent recycled ‘Boomerang’ paint and it engages in a Blue Box program.

Lord, who used to work for a large real estate company, realized there was great opportunity to help people when “we built a building to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.”

Ecovert has grown dramatically since its inception three years ago, with a boost from its first client, BMW.
Lord credits his reputation in the real estate business and sheer luck to Ecovert’s success.

“People recognized us when we moved to consulting. We’re an interesting group. We have a real estate and business background and the rest of the team has an environmental background. They push us, we push them. The end solution is leading edge.”

Christina Sharma

Winner – Environment (Individual)

Christina Sharma has received countless accolades for her tireless work helping to protect and spread awareness about natural habitat for songbirds in the GTA.

A volunteer Certified Habitat Steward and Volunteer Educator with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Sharma is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee for public education. Now, she can add Urban Hero Award Winner to her resume.

“It feels great,” said Sharma. “I think it’s really exciting. It gives me an opportunity to connect more with the community.”

Three years ago, the environmental activist transformed the yard of her modest Etobicoke home into an urban oasis for songbirds by planting native shrubs, trees and flowers, digging a pond, erecting feeders and adding a green roof to her house.

Sharma is the founder of Project CHIRP (Creating Habitat in Residential Areas and Parkland), an urban-focused non-profit songbird conservation initiative.

“Through Project CHIRP, Christina teaches urban dwellers how to create and maintain songbird habitat on private and public properties,” said Stewardship Technician Colleen Cirillo of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, in her nomination.

“She voluntarily gives garden tours and dozens of lectures every year to audiences at important venues such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Toronto Zoo, the Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario, and Canada Blooms.”

To learn more, visit www.projectchirp.com