By Hallie Garfield, Robyn Rosario, Tahlia Kamagiannis, and Halle Petek
Ways to make Hillcrest more green:
Hillcrest can be more green by using stamps instead of wristbands for he pools and the fitness centre which would help with paper waste. Hillcrest can also plant bee friendly plants to attract more bees. In the Blue Parrot Cafe, they can start using compostable and/or reusable packaging. Using solar energy to heat the pools and the rest of the community centre will not only save money but is also a good way of benefiting from nature. Solar energy can also be used to power ceiling fans as well as the lighting in the building. And adding more electric car chargers will encourage people to use their cars less which would be better for the environment.
Waste Hillcrest creates:
People in pools cause pollutants to enter the water from swimwear, skin tissue, hair, and sweat. Water is also recycled causing the pollutants to increase and build up on the walls of the pools. Food packaging and food scraps from the Blue Parrot Cafe creates garbage waste. Hillcrest wastes energy from heating pools, ice rink, and to power machines in the fitness centre. They also waste energy on heating and the lighting in the community centre itself. The public pool and gym also creates waste by using wristbands which get thrown out after people are done swimming or working out. Hundreds of people go to Hillcrest for the pool and the gym daily, the amount of wristbands would be a lot.
How Hillcrest can upcycle waste:
Hillcrest can upcycle waste by having the machines being used in the gym be converted to energy. They can store that energy for future use, like if there’s ever a blackout or even if they wanted to save money on electricity. Having this would create a lot of energy because hundreds of people work out at Hillcrest daily. The food scraps can be turned into compost for the garden. They can also use food scraps for energy by breaking the food down to a reusable biofuel by pressure cooking it and making methane out of it. As for plastic bottles, Hillcrest can reuse them and make a greenhouse for the garden. Doing so would encourage the Blue Parrot Cafe to use and expand their garden for food in the cafe. Instead of throwing out used spoons and forks, Hillcrest can turn them into suspension lamps around the community centre and the library. As for wristbands, there can be a place to dispose of them and have a way of reusing them instead of buying new ones.
Wastes Hillcrest could use from the community:
Hillcrest could use wastes from the community by reusing used tires that nobody wants for deadlift pads in the gym. Used tires can also be used for new flooring, like in the gymnasiums, which is good for sports because it creates traction and doesn’t need to be waxed down. Art programs that are being held at Hillcrest can use things around the neighbourhood, like different types of flowers, as inspiration for their art. As for gardens, Hillcrest can reuse food scraps that are being thrown on the street can be turned into compose. For the library, books can be made from recycled plastic or can be used for laminating things.
What risks is Hillcrest vulnerable to:
Hillcrest is vulnerable to many risks like drought because they need water throughout the community centre to full the pools as well as the toilets and taps. Another risk would be extreme weather because Hillcrest is mostly all window which would make it hard to heat the building in the winter. Heating the community centre in the winter would also raise energy costs not only for heating but also for lighting. Another risk would be flooding because Hillcrest is right next to Queen Elizabeth which is an elevated land so if water were to run down the hill, Hillcrest would be the first to be hit. Also having a large public pool, a pipe could burst having the entire community centre in water.
Different ways to provide energy:
Hillcrest can use heat from cooling the ice rink to heat the pools and the rest of the community centre and heating from the pools can also be transferred to heat the community centre as well. Hillcrest can also have solar panels on the roofs of the building in the summer because that’s when it gets sunny. Hillcrest can also have the machines being used in the fitness centres converted into energy. Food scraps from the Blue Parrot Cafe can be turned into biofuel which can also be used for energy.
Develop collaborative relationships with nature:
Hillcrest relies on their geyser to collect rainwater so that it can be used in the toilet water and taps in the community centre. They also rely on potato starch for the utensils that are being used in the Blue Parrot Cafe. Wood is being used for paper in books at the library, paper for receipts that are being printed, wristbands for people that swim in the pools and workout in the fitness centre, paper for posters around the building, and wood for the flooring in the gymnasium.
How would people at Hillcrest benefit from being around nature?
People using the community centre would greatly benefit being near nature, while working out in the gym or being in the pool looking out the windows and being close to nature would improve everyone’s mental wellness. Hillcrest is right beside Queen Elizabeth Park which is surrounded by trees, which provide us with oxygen, being around Hillcrest is like a breath of fresh air. Being around nature at Hillcrest brings people together, people enjoy being at Hillcrest for its beautiful gardens.
How could you enhance nature around Hillcrest to benefit it and local wildlife?
Nature can be enhanced around Hillcrest by adding vertical gardens along windows and along the building. Not only will it be beautiful to look at, it will also attract bees that are currently on the verge of extinction. Berry bushes can be planted along the community centre which would be a source of food for animals. Planting more flower beds would attract tourists as well as people around the neighbourhood for its beauty. Planting more trees would make homes for birds and other animals. Hillcrest can also plant fruits and vegetables in the garden for the Blue Parrot Cafe.
Processes Hillcrest relies on from nature
Hillcrest has flower beds that surround the building which the community centre relies on the bees to pollinate the flowers. Hillcrest has a heat reflecting roof that relies on the sun for heat and energy. Hillcrest also relies on rainwater, collected by the geyser, that is used in the toilet water as well as the taps.
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