These three Windsor-Essex businesses are keeping it green
As the world wavers in its commitments to the Paris Accord and global net-zero carbon emissions, the businesses of Windsor and Essex County are working hard to create forward-thinking, renewable, sustainable, and green solutions to our everyday needs.
This region’s commitment to green business, in the fields of renewable energy, eco-conscious fashion, zero-waste retail, and sustainable and locally sourced foods, are fueled by the energy and commitment of our local progressively minded entrepreneurs.
These three businesses are examples of how the Windsor-Essex region acts as green leaders in the fight against climate change.
Green Heart Kitchen
Located at 28 Main St. W in Kingsville, Green Heart Kitchen serves locally sourced meals to schools, Meals on Wheels, and childcare centres across Windsor and Essex County. Operated by Green Heart Services, with food grown at their Green Heart Farms, owners Dennis and Haley Rogers have built their company as a hub for daily food security with sustainability and eco-friendliness at its heart.
“Our environmental impact has always been important to us and a part of our business model from day one,” explains Dennis, who was also elected Mayor of Kingsville in 2022. “All of our packaging is biodegradable or recyclable and we have zero single use plastics. We offer a refill station for detergents, shampoos, conditioners, and dish and hand soaps. You can bring in any container and pay by volume.”
In conjunction with the non-for-profit Ontario Student Nutrition Program, the Rogers also operate the Green Heart Lunch Club, which prepares lunches for dozens of local schools. Utilizing grass-fed beef, ethically raised poultry, locally sourced dairy, natural food, colours, flavours, and spices, locally grown fruit and vegetables without harsh chemicals or pesticides, and organic ingredients where possible, their meals are made fresh, from scratch, with locally sourced and non-processed ingredients.
“Where our food comes from plays a key role in the quality of our meals, so we started growing our own organically grown vegetables on Green Heart Farms in 2021,” states Dennis. “If we can all do just a little, it will make a big difference!”
Green Sun Rising
Converting the sun’s rays into energy is at the core of what Green Sun Rising does—alternative energy, getting away from coal dust and harmful fossil fuels. Green Sun Rising is Southwestern Ontario’s longest-operating solar tech company. Founded in 2008, they have implemented more than 500 projects across Ontario and Canada.
Green Sun Rising provides materials and experience for the installation of residential and commercial solar photovoltaic cells as well as solar thermal systems, allowing their customers to harness the power of solar radiation for a greener outlook on life.
“The team of Green Sun Rising develops and implements turn-key solar systems,” explains Green Sun Rising president Klaus Döhring. “Under good solar conditions, we can make an account net-zero, generating as much clean solar power as the building consumes. With the net-metering program, this can completely eliminate the consumption charge of the account. It also protects the account from future cost increases of electricity, doing the right thing and also saving lots of money in the process.”
Located at 1680 Kildare Rd. in Windsor, Green Sun Rising also helps northern and isolated communities in Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Northern Quebec, British Columbia, and Labrador with their energy needs, while reducing their carbon footprint through installing diesel-reduction systems at their community-owned buildings.
Habitat For Humanity Windsor-Essex
For Habitat For Humanity, home is where the heart is. Dedicated to building strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable home-ownership, Habitat For Humanity is working to help local families break the cycle of poverty in Windsor and Essex County by providing geared-to-income home-ownership models, while providing safe and decent housing, while allowing families to build equity and invest in their futures.
“Sustainability is a key pillar of our work,” states Habitat For Humanity Windsor-Essex CEO Fiona Coughlin. “On average, our homes are 42 per cent more efficient in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions than required by the building code. By building energy-efficient homes, we help families save on utility costs while reducing our collective environmental impact in Windsor-Essex.”
Operating in more than 70 countries, Habitat For Humanity partners with families in need of affordable housing, helping them to build their own homes with the aid of volunteers and allow homeowners to pay a more affordable mortgage. Habitat For Humanity also acts as advocates for policy reform, helping to remove barriers that keep low-income families from obtaining affordable housing. Habitat For Humanity has helped more than 59 million people since their founding in 1976.
“Another major way we contribute to a greener future is through our Habitat ReStore,” explains Coughlin. “The ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement and resale shop that diverts over 1,400 tons of useful goods from landfills each year, giving new life to gently used furniture, appliances, and building materials. Every purchase made at the ReStore directly funds everything we do to build affordable housing in our community.”
The Habitat ReStore is located at 51 Edinborough Dr. in Windsor, just behind Tepperman’s Furniture. There you will find unique and affordable items for purchase, all while supporting Habitat For Humanity, and, by extension, your community. “Donating gently used household items and building materials is another fantastic way to keep usable goods out of landfills while making a direct impact on local families in need,” she adds. “By combining sustainability with social impact, we are not only reducing waste but also ensuring more families in Windsor-Essex have a place to call home.”
