Frequently Asked Questions

Issue 70
November 16, 2006

Is there a difference between a species being threatened, at risk or endangered, or can these terms be used interchangeably?

Issue 69
October 12, 2006

Does the weather affect the Northern Lights? Where and when is it best to view them?

Issue 68
September 14, 2006

Can I plant a tree in fall? How do I prepare the young trees in my yard for winter?

Issue 67
August 10, 2006

What costs more, driving on the highway with the air conditioning on or with the windows down?

Issue 66
June 15, 2006

Who should I talk to about an Asian Long-horned Beetle I found?

Issue 65
May 19, 2006

I found an injured bird in my backyard. Is there someone I can call to get help for the bird?

Issue 64
April 12, 2006

When does the Greater Snow Goose hunting season begin?

Issue 63
March 22, 2006

What is an Earthquake?

Issue 62
February 16, 2006

How do I find out about recycling in my city?

Issue 61
January 19, 2006

What is the sunrise and sunset time today?

Issue 60
December 15, 2005

What do I need to export protected species and their products from Canada?

Issue 59
November 17, 2005

How do I obtain historical weather data?

Issue 58
October 13, 2005

How do you calculate oxygen production of a tree?

Issue 57
September 15, 2005

What is probability of precipitation (POP)?

Issue 56
August 11, 2005

How many tonnes of greenhouse gases are created by a forest fire per hectare?

Issue 55
June 9, 2005

Do you have any CO₂ emissions data of a Suzuki Aerio SX 2003 Fastback, manual transmission?

Issue 54
May 13, 2005

What produces more carbon dioxide: driving a 13-year-old van or the manufacturing of a new vehicle?

Issue 53
April 14, 2005

Does a campfire create as much pollution as a fireplace?

Issue 52
March 10, 2005

Where can I find information on water usage?

Issue 51
February 10, 2005

Are there any subsidies or rebates for a household that installs solar panels?

Issue 50
January 13, 2005

Why was the tsunami in Southeast Asia so devastating? Is there anything I can do to help?

Issue 49
December 9, 2004

How can polar ice melting increase the world's sea level?

Issue 48
November 15, 2004

How do various light bulbs compare for energy efficiency?

Issue 47
October 18, 2004

Where can I find information on carbon neutral conferencing?

Issue 46
September 10, 2004

Why should people recycle?

Issue 45
August 5, 2004

What are the environmental benefits to using cloth versus disposable diapers? What types of cloth diapers are available?

Issue 44
June 3, 2004

What are the main causes of air pollution?

Issue 43
May 7, 2004

How did the Zebra Mussel originally get into Lake Erie and why did they populate so quickly?

Issue 42
April 16, 2004

What causes a tornado to form, how long does the average tornado last and how is it tracked?

Issue 41
March 11, 2004

What causes the temperature to drop as the sun rises, commonly known as "sunrise sag"? Are there any environmental or scientific benefits to snow?

Issue 40
February 12, 2004

When the temperature is extremely cold is it better to idle the car to warm the engine before driving or warm the engine by driving?

Issue 39
January 15, 2004

Will climate change have an effect on storm systems such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards and hurricanes?

Issue 38
December 4, 2003

Why are the salt trucks going out before the snow falls?

Issue 37
November 13, 2003

Are electric solar panels an efficient and cost saving alternative for household use?

Issue 36
October 9, 2003

How do pollutants enter our drinking water from a landfill site?

Issue 35
September 11, 2003

Are there incentive programs in Canada to take older vehicles off the road?

Issue 34
July 24, 2003

In the last 10 years, what natural disasters has Canada faced and at what cost?

Issue 33
June 26, 2003

Are fluorescent bulbs that contain mercury more harmful to the environment and human health than incandescent bulbs?

Issue 32
May 22, 2003

Is diesel fuel more or less polluting than regular gasoline? Do motorcycles and scooters emit more toxins than other combustion engine vehicles?

Issue 31
April 24, 2003

I would like some information on lawn care products.

Issue 30
March 20, 2003

What are future concerns about landfills?

Issue 29
February 20, 2003

Which areas of Canada have the greatest number of species at risk?

Issue 28
January 23, 2003

Is it true that using salt on roadways to prevent icing in the winter is bad for the environment? Are there alternatives?

Issue 27
December 19, 2002

How much do I save in greenhouse gas emissions by not having a car?

Issue 26
November 21, 2002

What does the recycling symbol stand for and what do the numbers inside the triangle represent?

Issue 25
October 17, 2002

How do I buy good quality compact fluorescent light bulbs? Does turning them on and off every time one leaves the room shorten the life of the bulb?

Issue 24
September 19, 2002

Why doesn't Canada get any hurricanes? What climate is associated with hurricanes?

Issue 23
August 15, 2002

What guidelines or regulations does Canada have in place for the use of two-stroke engines? Will they be restricted for marine use?

Issue 22
July 18, 2002

What are the major causes of water pollution and what is being done to prevent them?

Issue 21
June 21, 2002

Is pressure-treated wood a good choice for fencing? What are the alternatives? Are the alternatives worth the fuss?

Issue 20
May 21, 2002

What can be used to seal or paint a pressure-treated wooden play structure to make it safe?

Issue 19
April 22, 2002

How does a rooftop garden improve air quality? How much air can a rooftop garden clean?

Issue 18
March 21, 2002

What is a wetland and what good is a wetland?

Issue 17
February 21, 2002

What is the difference between a sea and a lake? There are salt water lakes and fresh water seas and some lakes that are bigger than other seas.

Issue 16
January 31, 2002

What do you do with old computers and the parts that are obsolete or just a few years old but lack the latest capabilities?

Issue 15
December 19, 2001

Are plans available for building your own compost bin?

Issue 14
November 30, 2001

How much does wearing a hat or tuque in the winter help prevent body heat loss?

Issue 13
October 30, 2001

What are endangered species and how do they obtain their designation?

Issue 12
August 27, 2001

Why not ban the sale of lead sinkers, jigs and shotshell altogether?

Issue 11
July 25, 2001

How do hydroelectric plants affect the environment?

Issue 10
June 27, 2001

Where would I be able to find an overview of the air, water and soil quality in different regions of Canada?

Issue 09
June 4, 2001

Could you give me a historical picture of the air quality in Ontario, and include information on what is being done to clean up the air?

Issue 08
May 18, 2001

Do you have any information on the effects of weather on human behaviour?

Issue 07
May 1, 2001

How long does a cotton t-shirt take to decompose in a landfill?

Issue 06
April 2, 2001

What is the procedure for cleaning up oil spills?

Issue 05
March 19, 2001

Where do I get general info on landfills? How many are there in Canada?

Issue 04
February 15, 2001

Does composting create greenhouse gases? How to calculate relative humidity.

Issue 04
February 15, 2001

Can relative humidity be calculated if you have the Barometric pressure, elevation, temperature and dew point?

Issue 03
January 29, 2001

What happens to confiscated endangered species products?

Issue 03
January 29, 2001

What to do with your old appliances?

Issue 02
January 15, 2001

How many trees does it take to convert the carbon dioxide produced by a car travelling 20 000 kilometers per year to oxygen?

Issue 02
January 15, 2001

Which plants are the most efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen?

Issue 02
January 15, 2001

Do coniferous trees continue to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen or are they simply inactive during the winter months?

Issue 02
January 15, 2001

What is an Alberta Clipper and how did it get its name?

Issue 01
December 18, 2000

How much fresh water does Canada have?

Issue 01
December 18, 2000

How much carbon dioxide does a litre of gasoline produce?

Issue 01
December 18, 2000

What is climate and how is it different from weather?