Those searching for all things sustainable can find it at the Guelph eMERGE EcoMarket.
On Friday and Saturday, residents can come learn about the latest trends, services and innovations at the eMERGE EcoMarket, located in the Old Quebec Street Shoppes.
The EcoMarket will feature 13 exhibits and is free and open to the public. There will also be cars inside and outside the event, including two vintage cars which have been converted into electric vehicles. The vehicles are a 1974 Volkswagen with a 700 horse-power electric motor and a 1965 Ford Galaxie convertible.
The event is run by eMERGE Guelph Sustainability. This year marks the 13th anniversary of the environment sustainability expo, which normally attracts 5,000 visitors.
Running again after two years of the pandemic, eMERGE is nervous and excited to host the in-person event again.
"What we hope they take out of the experience is that they can do something today to reduce their impact on the environment and probably save themselves some money as well," said Evan Ferrari, executive director of eMERGE Guelph Sustainability.
A new feature at EcoMarket this year is 12 e-bike and electric vehicle (EV) ambassadors. Ferrari said the ambassadors will be available to answer questions and help people learn about e-bike and EV ownership, and its environmental benefits.
"It provides people with the opportunity to talk to just their peers who have been driving electric vehicles, or e-bikes, for well over a year, and in some cases, several years," said Ferrari, "because people always have a lot of questions and it provides a different approach to things as to just having the sellers there."
Ferrari adds the adoption of EVs is 'quite remarkable' in other countries, and the number of e-bike and EV owners has grown in Canada
"It's more than a fad, in both cases, I think it's an unstoppable trend that what we were hoping is it has a profound impact on stopping fossil fuel usage in Guelph," he said.
Along with the ambassadors, the EcoMarket will also have information about government grants that are available for residents to help retro-fit their homes.
Ferrari said another trend is people looking to upgrade the energy usage in their homes, including the use of an air source heat pump, which can help heat homes without the use of fossil fuels.
"Between transit and heating and cooling our homes, that's where the overwhelming majority of our emissions comes from those things," said Ferrari.
He adds eMERGE also offers a 'free home tune up' and will be promoting the program at the event.
"That free home tuneup helps people reduce their energy and water consumption in their homes, and we'll be there to help people sign up," said Ferrari, "we do that in partnership with the city water department."
The eMERGE EcoMarket runs on Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To learn more, go to ecomarketguelph.com.
