Parks Canada Follows The Lead Of A Visionary:
Alexander Graham Bell And The Quest For Renewable Energy
Sustainability is a key theme of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck, Nova Scotia is a resource and learning centre dedicated to the remarkable achievements of one of Canada’s early pioneers of alternative energy sources and sustainability. Today, Parks Canada follows in the tradition of Alexander Graham Bell in promoting “green” technology in the national parks and national historic sites.
Alexander Graham Bell, circa 1915 © Parks Canada
Alexander Graham Bell is a Canadian known for his invention of the telephone, an instrument he foresaw connecting people around the world, but few are aware how truly remarkable a visionary he was. A century ago, Bell proposed echolocation for exploring the ocean depths – a technology still vital to marine navigation and research today. As early as 1896 he predicted travel in motorized aircraft would be more successful than with balloons, and forecast the availability of overnight transatlantic flight! It was Bell who brought together a team to develop and test aircraft, and orchestrated the first powered flight in Canada. In 1899 he also correctly predicted that handwriting would be displaced.
Perhaps most remarkable however, was Bell’s understanding of the interconnectedness of the natural world, and his belief in renewable energy. In 1914 he was discussing the principles of something he called the “greenhouse effect”. A few years later he was foretelling the dwindling of coal and oil supplies and proposing alternate forms of “renewable energy sources” for fuel, such as the use of garbage and alcohol from cornstalks.
Bell’s extraordinary vision is celebrated at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada, but more importantly, the ideals he pursued are put into practice in several ways throughout the network of Parks Canada sites. At Manitoba’s Riding Mountain National Park, waste vegetable oil is collected from local businesses and refined into biodiesel fuel for use in park equipment. Applying Bell’s “greenhouse effect”, Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in Nova Scotia utilizes a solar hot water system for the shower building. This saves other energy streams thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve along Québec’s St. Lawrence River utilizes solar power to operate a vitally important radio repeater station. Not only does this avoid the expense of transporting fossil fuel to the site, but it also eliminates the noise and pollution of a diesel generator. The photovoltaic power supply is clean, quiet, and indefinitely sustainable. At another site located on this iconic Canadian river, St. Lawrence Islands National Park, the strong wind conditions are ideal for harnessing. A hybrid system couples solar panels with wind turbines to reduce reliance on the power grid.
An innovative clean energy project was launched at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site that includes a SOLARWALL® ventilation system, an earth energy system, and photovoltaic panels, as well as several other energy-conserving features. The installation allows solar warmed air from the outside to be collected and circulated through the Visitor Centre kitchen. The natural geothermal energy of underground wells is also used, heating the building in winter and cooling it in summer. Solar cells above the patio provide additional electrical energy for the Centre and light tubes installed on the roof funnel natural sunlight into the centre, reducing the need for artificial lighting.
Wapusk National Park, near Churchill in northern Manitoba, tested a remarkable appliance that integrates potable water purification, wastewater management, and power supply, without reliance on an external generator. The unit draws upon the sun to provide the power required to operate the small on-site facility and the water treatment and water quality is very high, comparable to or better than most municipal systems. This unit now serves as a model for environmentally sound development in other areas where built infrastructure would adversely impact the environment.
Along with a reduction in carbon footprint, these efforts in environmental sustainability have earned accolades. Parks Canada Heritage Areas have been recognized as Canada’s best green spaces, and the Operations Centre for Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on Harbour Road in Sidney B.C. was the first to receive the Canada Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum accreditation.
With these projects and others like them, Parks Canada continues to demonstrate leadership and commitment to environmental stewardship, following the visionary ideals of Alexander Graham Bell – the true father of resource sustainability in Canada.