Massive oilfields, huge offshore rigs, high-tech refineries, colossal dams, sprawling wind farms — how much do you really know about BIG power in Canada? While we have come a long way in terms of producing and distributing energy (from smashing rocks together to light sparks), few Canadians know much about where our energy comes from […] READ MORE
Today, fossil fuels are necessary in order to maintain the current level of technological development. However, as fossil fuels become depleted over the next century, it is imperative that Canada and other countries examine ways to transition to other sources of energy, particularly renewable energy. Until renewable energy becomes affordable for all, countries with fossil fuel resources should […] READ MORE
Because abandoned mines are often associated with enduring liabilities, often involving significant costs long after the mine has been decommissioned, capturing usable heat from mine water can help to improve the sustainability of the mine. This extracted heat can then be used as an energy resource for communities living in areas close to the inactive […] READ MORE
The town of Golden has a population of roughly 4600 and is located in southeastern British Columbia, 260 km West of Calgary, in the Rocky Mountain Trench. It is situated where the Columbia River and Kicking Horse Rivers meet, and is surrounded by 3 different mountain ranges and 5 National Parks: Yoho National Park, Banff […] READ MORE
The west coast of Canada is part of the pacific ring of fire, an extremely active tectonic margin that encircles the Pacific Ocean. As the pacific ring is characterized by active volcanic zones, a dozen young volcanic edifices and more than one hundred hot springs are present in British Columbia and the Yukon. These features […] READ MORE
“Sustainable development” is a postmodern socio-environmental concept first officially defined in 1987 as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations”. Essentially, this definition links economic development to the sustainability of human livelihood. The postmodern era began with important historical events, including the introduction to the internet […] READ MORE
Mining operations during the last decade have continuously sought out lower operating costs as competition has intensified in the world mining industry. Comminution costs are a significant contribution at 30-40% of the total operating costs, while 3% of the world’s electrical energy and 1.3% of the United States is consumed by this process. Thus, every […] READ MORE
Geothermal energy is abundant in Canada from coast to coast, particularly in BC and the Yukon; these areas overlie the extremely tectonically active Pacific margin. However, Canada has lagged behind other countries on the Pacific Rim in terms of the development of high temperature geothermal power. The reason for this inactivity can be attributed to […] READ MORE