Future Proof Radio

Renewable energy is the future. The price of installing solar and wind is continually falling while the supply of fossil fuels is in decline. Thus the price of fossil fuels is prone to steady increase. Is it intelligent to further tie ourselves to old technology which is polluting our air, water, soil and minds when enough energy hits our planet every single day to power the entire world for 27 years? When one considers the shifting prices, environmental benefits, abundance of satisfying jobs and the dependable supply of renewable energy, it makes sense that we must change. A clean energy revolution is underway and it is mainly our mindset that must shift if we are to bring about a healthier tomorrow. Are the fossils only in the fuels? In this episode of Future Proof Radio, Shane interviews Sean Magee the director of Bullfrog Builds. Bullfrog Power is a renewable energy company that gives Canadian's the option of powering their homes and businesses using clean renewable energy.

Do you take modern life and conveniences for granted? Imagine if you could no longer find common products like diapers, toilette paper, condoms, milk or sugar. Imagine if it cost more for a bottle of water than it does to fill up your vehicle with gasoline. This is a reality in #Venezuela at the moment. When a country with incredible income from oil and gas resources is a third world country, there is definitely a problem with the system. What can we learn by exploring another culture that is experiencing economic and political turmoil at the moment? Can we in North America be setting ourselves up for greater abundance and freedom? Can we build better food systems, electrical systems and distribution networks into our society? How can we learn from the situation in Venezuela to Future Proof our lives and society?

What's it like to be Future Proof? Would you rather pay yourself, or would you rather pay a utility company? Do you have the peace of mind that your home is more resilient in the event of an emergency? Would you like to know for sure that your home is part of the solution towards building a better world? Welcome to Net Zero living. In this episode of Future Proof Radio, Shane and guest Murray Guy, Principle of EcoSmart Developments and Integrated Designs discuss Murray's new net zero duplex in Saskatoon. We discuss the how and why to build to net zero as well as the costs involved. This episode removes the myth that building above and beyond the code has to be more expensive.

Cities are the heart of our civilization. How to we make them better for residents? How do we optimize them for business and industry to thrive? How do we ensure that they are healthy places to congregate and live out our lives? In this episode of Future Proof Radio, Shane and guest John Norquist discuss how to Future Proof our cities to meet the needs of all residents. Mr. Norquist is a leader in national discussions of urban design and development issues. Norquist’s work promoting New Urbanism as an alternative and antidote to sprawl's social and environmental problems draws on his experience as mayor of Milwaukee from 1988 to 2004 and his service as President and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism from 2004 to 2014. Norquist is the author of The Wealth of Cities and has taught courses in urban planning and development at the University of Chicago, Marquette University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

This week's episode is a compilation of extra interviews with past guests. There is a lot of momentum keeping our economy moving in it's current direction. Is this what's best for the world's citizens? Is this cost-effective? Can we do things in a more equitable and environmentally friendly way? In this episode Shane and past guest James Glennie discuss the $1.4 billion Boundry Dam Clean Coal project in Southern Saskatchewan and the economics behind it vs.wind energy. Should public subsidies be extended to the oil and gas industry? Should we subsidize a clean energy future instead? Also Paul Hanley and Shane discuss how education and cooperation are necessary to move our society forward, but how do we shift the momentum of the current system? With most people more interested in immediate survival, how do we ensure that economics and the environment are not in conflict?

The population of the earth is projected to reach 11 Billion people by 2100. With the carrying capacity of the earth already exceeded, how can we create a sustainable world as the population continues to increase? What are the problems with the current systems on which we depend? Our food systems, transportation system, energy systems, education systems and political systems are in serious need of change. How can we transform these systems? What must really change so that we ensure our survival and also our prosperity? In this episode, Shane and guest Paul Hanley, author of the book Eleven talk about how our planet and attitudes must shift for our world to become sustainable.

Our society's energy paradigm must shift in the coming years as the price of fossil fuels rise and implications of its usage become more obvious. Renewable energy is the future, and large scale, community owned wind farms are a large part of the solution. brbr Community wind projects are particularly attractive as they are an ethical, local investment that can provide localized jobs and increased energy independence. brbr In this episode, host Shane Wolffe and guest James Glennie, president of Saskatchewan Community Wind discuss the economics, advantages, implications and barriers to powering our society with more wind power.

Imagine if human development had only positive impact on the planet. This is the objective of The Living Future Institute. A proactive means towards meeting this objective is by building according to The Living Building Challenge. The Living Building Challenge is the ultimate standard to achieve with regard to sustainable architecture. The standard uses the simple analogy of a flower, a building informed by its bio region's characteristics, that generates all of its own energy with renewable resources, captures and treats all of its water, and that operates efficiently and for maximum beauty. In this episode guest Eric Corey Freed and Shane will discuss the solutions that are presented by the Living Building Challenge and how they contribute to a better world. Eric Corey Freed is Vice President of the International Living Future Institute, a global hub for visionary programs, including the Living Building Challenge and Living Product Challenge.

The Living Building Challenge is the ultimate standard to achieve with regard to sustainable architecture. The standard uses the simple analogy of a flower, a building informed by its bio region's characteristics, that generates all of its own energy with renewable resources, captures and treats all of its water, and that operates efficiently and for maximum beauty. brbr In this episode guest Eric Corey Freed and Shane will discuss the standard, it's challenges and why it's objectives are essential towards building a more sustainable world. brbr Eric Corey Freed is Vice President of the International Living Future Institute, a global hub for visionary programs, including the Living Building Challenge and Living Product Challenge.

Reducing energy consumption through proper design is the most cost-effective means towards net-zero. brbr The Passive House standard has done the analysis and found how to reduce the energy consumption of buildings by 90% for approximately 10% extra cost. brbr In this episode Dr. Guido Wimmers of the Canadian Passive House Institute will speak with Shane about Passive House and how the standard frees us from unsustainable practices.

In this episode Shane and guest Ronn Lepage will discuss the economics and challenges with smart green homes. Guest Ronn Lepage is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Management Consultant, Chartered Director, and LEED AP Homes. Ronn was a partner with Deloitte, Canada’s largest professional services firm. His 30 years of experience at Deloitte have provided him with a broad background in consulting. Over the years he has had the opportunity to serve clients in Canada, United States and Australia. Ronn took early retirement from Deloitte to start a second career helping people to move to a more eco friendly life style. His company, Vereco Homes Inc, is focused on helping Canadians to build smart green homes. Ronn's first project was to build Saskatchewan's first net zero home - the VerEco home - which was on display at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon during 2011.

How did we create a system of energy dependence that affects our climate and health? Where does our energy come from? Is our energy actually cheap and if so why? Are you dependent on a system beyond your control? What happens if there are problems with this system? What can you do to cost-effectively free yourself from this system and how is this of benefit to you and your family? In this episode we will discuss host Shane Wolffe's book, How to Future Proof Your Home: A Guide to Building with Energy Intelligence where Shane and his guest will discuss what YOU can do right now to both save money and reduce your environmental impact in a cost-effective manner.

The journey that has brought me to Future Proof Radio started in 2004. It has been a very long and interesting one. I'll be discussing how my career evolved from working with databases in the insurance industry to learning automation, mechanical systems and building science with Honeywell. I'll also discuss my life as a consultant and how I saw green building not catching on as it should despite it's high importance regarding the health and well being of our society and our planet. These insights led me to create the idea of Future Proof, write my book and inspire me to create FutureProofMyBuilding.com. I want to help the public understand how simple and cost-effective green options can be while helping green product and service providers so that together we can build a better world. brbr Tune in to learn more.