IN THE AIR @ CAP
Online Fleet Management Tool – Fresh Air Fair Essay Contest – Green Development Best Practices Exchange – Green Doors Open
UPCOMING EVENTS
2008 ARC Webinars: April 15,
May 20, June 10, July 15
May 10, 2008 Fresh Air Fair
Energy Conservation Fair
June 4, 2008 Smog Summit, April 25, 2008 Bike Summit
NEWS
FROM GTA-CAC
AMO(LAS) - City of Hamilton
joins Earth Hour global initiative - City of Hamilton implements corporate Energy Policy - City of Hamilton’s 2008
Upwind Downwind Conference - City of Toronto Green Fleet Expo 2008 – City of Toronto Renewable Energy Zoning By-law - Town of Markham Energy Conservation Office - Region of Waterloo New Energy
Conservation - Region of Waterloo Neighbourhood Walkability
CAP Coordinating Assessment of Online Fleet Management
Tool
The Clean Air
Partnership, Bronson Consulting Group and New Brunswick Power have been
engaged by Natural Resources Canada’s ecoENERGY for Fleets Program to
coordinate the assessment of an online fleet management tool to support
commercial and institutional fleets in their efforts to reduce their fuel
consumption and related GHG emissions. For more information, or to get
your municipality involved in the project, please contact Virginia Mersereau by e-mail at virginia.mersereau@cleanairpartnership.org or
by telephone at (416) 392-0268.
<<http://www.gtacacintranet.org/Fleet%20Tool%20Pilot%20Overview.pdf >> back to the top
Fresh Air Fair - 2008 Essay Contest “Give Us Your Air
Pollution Solution”
Tell us what
you and your family will do to save energy and reduce air pollution and
climate change. This might include walking and biking more, driving less,
conserving energy by turning off lights, TVs and computers, turning the
heat down, using fans instead of air conditioners…the possibilities are
endless! Students are also encouraged to tell us what advice they would
give family, friends, and/or businesses and politicians to reduce air
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
<<http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/smogsummit/faf08_contest.php>> back to the top
Green Development Best Practices Exchange
A Green Development Best
Practices Exchange will follow the 2008 Smog Summit. The Clean Air Partnership
will bring together experts, governments, municipalities, and developers
to highlight green development standards, incentives and practices from
the GTA and beyond. The Best Practices Exchange will review where we are
now on green development opportunities and practices and where we are
likely to go in the future. For more information contact Gabriella
Kalapos by e-mail at gkalapos@cleanairpartnership.org or by telephone at (416) 338-1288.
<<http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/smogsummit/index.php>> back to the top
Green Doors Open - Coming in April 2008
CAP is partnering with Ontario
Heritage Trust to increase awareness of Ontario’s green buildings. Doors
Open is an opportunity for the public to learn about and explore
buildings that work in harmony with our natural environment. Tour,
discover and learn about green buildings. For more information, please
contact Priscilla Cranley by e-mail at priscilla.cranley@cleanairpartnership.org or by telephone at (416) 392-0260. back
to the top
Good
news for the Alliance for Resilient Cities (ARC)!
The
Ontario Ministry of the Environment is providing financial support for
two Canada-wide ARC webinars this year on issues related to water and
stormwater management under climate change. The new funds will also
pay for a third webinar targeted to Great Lakes communities on climate
impacts and adaptation strategies for the region.
This allows us
to offer the next two ARC webinars free of charge. Members who have
already joined ARC will have their memberships extended to May of 2009.
Upcoming
webinar topics include:
§ April
15, 2008 – Estimating the Costs of Climate Impacts
and Adaptation
§ May
20, 2008 – Climate Change and Urban Flooding
§ June
10, 2008 – Climate Change and Water:
Impacts and Adaptation in the Great Lakes
§ July
15, 2008 – Health and Climate Change: Assessing
the Risks and Preparing the Response
Note: All
webinars are held at 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST to allow for participation from
across the country.
Over the next
month, we will be developing a web page for ARC members, providing links
to useful guides, reports, presentations and other resources for Climate
Change Adaptation in Canadian Cities and Urban Regions. For more
information on ARC, or to register for upcoming webinars, please contact smirza@cleanairpartnership.org. back to the top
May 10, 2008 Fresh Air Fair Energy Conservation Fair
Saturday May 10th from 10 – 3 pm – Everyone is
welcome
Toronto Renewable Energy
Co-Operative and the Clean Air Partnership are working in partnership to
bring you the Fresh Air Energy Conservation Fair, which will be held at Toronto Exhibition Place. An award ceremony will be held in the afternoon of the May 10th where the Give Us Your Air Pollution Solution winners will receive their
prizes.
For more information contact
Gabriella Kalapos by e-mail at gkalapos@cleanairpartnership.org or by telephone
at (416) 338-1288. back to
the top
2008 Smog Summit
The ninth annual Smog Summit
will take place on June 4, 2008, National Clean Air Day. At the 2008 Smog
Summit Federal, Provincial and Municipal government leaders will have the
opportunity to announce new initiatives they will undertake in the coming
year to reduce smog, air pollution and greenhouse gases. For more information contact Gabriella
Kalapos by e-mail at gkalapos@cleanairpartnership.org or by telephone at (416) 338-1288.
<<http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/smogsummit/index.php>> back to the top
Toronto Coalition For Active Transportation – Bike Summit
2008
Save
the Date – April 25, 2008 – for Bike Summit 2008 at the St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto!
The Toronto Coalition for Active
Transportation and the Clean Air Partnership are partnering to host this
one-day Summit, covering topics such as public policy, economic
incentives and disincentives, business support, infrastructure policies
and design, planning, and government support. Join leading thinkers,
practitioners and decision-makers who are on the fast track to creating
bikeable communities.
Enjoy innovative and
forward-thinking sessions that will:
· Share
international and Canadian best practices and perspectives on putting
policy into action
· Build
local, regional and provincial momentum and leadership for bikeable
communities
· Engage
key stakeholders on how to effectively implement policies and strategies
to realize and maximize the value of bicycling for transportation,
health, tourism, recreation, economic development, energy conservation
and the environment.
For information on speakers,
registration details, and the session schedule, please visit the Bike
Summit web site.
<<http://www.torontocat.ca/main/bikesummit2008>> back to the top
Latest news from GTA-CAC members
AMO (Local Authority Services) Rolls
out a number of exciting energy conservation projects under its Energy
Services Division
AMO’s subsidiary, Local
Authority Services (LAS), has released a load profile of the entire
municipal sector and is also rolling out a number of exciting energy
conservation projects under its Energy Services Division. Municipalities
are encouraged to visit the LAS website to learn more about this study as
well as a free audit service, plus a range of other programs targeting
CDM, retrofit and other energy management opportunities across the
sector.
<<http://www.amo.on.ca/Content/las/AboutUs/EnergyServices/default.htm>> back to the top
City of Hamilton
Public Works
Department
Hamilton joins Earth Hour global initiative
In
support of the Earth Hour global initiative on March 29th,
the Corporation of the City of Hamilton will lead by example by turning
off all non-essential lights and reducing energy consumption in the
City’s corporate facilities; reducing power at the City’s Water Treatment
Plant for one hour and shutting off decorative tree lighting in the
Downtown Core. The City is also promoting the initiative to Hamilton
residents and businesses to encourage participation and to demonstrate
that we can all make simple changes that will go a long way to creating a
healthier, more sustainable community. back to the top
Hamilton implements
corporate Energy Policy
Hamilton’s Public Works
Department has developed a Corporate Energy Policy that was approved by
Council in November 2007. The Policy provides a road map and strategies
for changing the way Hamilton manages its facilities and operations,
bringing energy conservation and demand management to the forefront of
the decision-making process. Specifically, the Energy Policy calls for
targeted energy reductions in energy intensity of City-owned facilities
and operations of 20 per cent by 2020.
<<www.hamilton.ca/energy>> back to the top
City of Hamilton
Clean Air Hamilton
Hamilton’s 2008 Upwind Downwind Conference a Success!
On
February 25th and 26th, 2008, over 300 individuals
attended the 2008 Upwind Downwind Conference: Climate Change and Healthy Cities in Hamilton, Ontario. The biannual Conference is hosted by Clean Air Hamilton
and the City of Hamilton. The Conference generates many ideas and is an
excellent opportunity for Hamilton and other communities to share
practical solutions to air quality, transboundary and climate problems in
the fields of health, planning, municipal action and partnerships. This
year’s Conference featured a free public talk by Gil Penalosa on Walking and Bicycling: Creating a
Great Healthy City and a Clean
Air Tradeshow with 44 exhibitors ranging from electric bicycles and smart
cars; light rail transit; solar and geothermal heating; green roofs, wind
power to government agencies and environmental organizations dealing with
Climate Change and Air Quality.
<<http://www.cleanair.hamilton.ca/updown/udconf.asp>> back to the top
City of Toronto
Green Fleet Expo 2008 is in Toronto
On May 27, the Cities of Toronto & Hamilton will host the third annual Green Fleet Expo. The GFX is open to
fleet managers across the country, and offers the opportunity to learn
about and test drive new and emerging green fleet technology.
On display and available to test
drive at the GFX are various emerging and established green technologies
for fleets. Participants have the opportunity to test drive and learn about
hybrid, biodiesel and hydrogen technologies. The morning part of the
event focuses on educating fleet managers on how they can green their
fleet. The afternoon is dedicated to the test drive portion. This year's
event will be held at Black Creek Pioneer Village.
The
Cities of Toronto and Hamilton are leaders in greening their fleets,
which is why they have partnered on this event for the past three years.
<<www.toronto.ca/fleet>> back to the top
City Of Toronto Renewable Energy
Zoning By-law
In March 2006,
Toronto City Council adopted the Renewable Energy Zoning By-law for the
City of Toronto— a major step forward in expanding the opportunities for
renewable energy production within the City. The new bylaw permits the
production and distribution of energy from renewable energy devices, such
as solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps to convert sun, wind and
geothermal energy to electrical or thermal (heat) energy and cogeneration
devices.
Prior to the passing
of the Renewable Energy Zoning By-law, zoning by-laws did not include
permission for the capturing and selling of energy using renewable energy
sources or cogeneration devices, as anticipated by the City of Toronto Official Plan, the Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy
Action Plan and the Toronto Green Development Standard.
This new by-law permits the use
for renewable energy devices on all properties in Toronto, subject to the
zone regulations and provided that they are only located on a property
containing a permitted principal use. This ensures that the construction
and location of the device is in a manner which protects the existing character
of the community.
<<http://www.toronto.ca/planning/greendevelopment.htm>>
and <<http://www.toronto.ca/planning/ze_index.htm>>
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Town of Markham
The Markham Energy
Conservation Office
Markham continues to be a champion of energy conservation. The
Markham Energy Conservation Office (MECO) continues to promote the
efficiency of our Town-owned assets through retrofits of our corporate
buildings. We are encouraging energy conservation among our
residents by holding a series of free workshops at our public libraries
focusing on solar energy in May and June. In cooperation with several
external organizations, we are also helping the small business sector
achieve energy savings by offering up to $1000 in free equipment and
upgrades.
<<www.markham.ca>> back to the top
Region of Waterloo
New Energy Conservation Office Established
Recently, Region of Waterloo
Council endorsed the hiring of additional staff, including a data entry
clerk, energy analyst and auditor/project coordinator to help develop and
formalize a Corporate Energy Conservation Office. These additional
human resources will be funded largely from annual energy savings
achieved in the previous year by Facilities aggressive energy reduction
efforts. One of the main goals of this office in 2008 is to
formalize a comprehensive energy reduction plan for the entire Regional
organization and provide detailed monitoring and analysis of energy
reduction initiatives.
back
to the top
Neighbourhood
Walkability, Transportation, and Food preferences Study Underway
An ambitious three year research
project in partnership with researchers from University of British
Columbia, University of Alberta, and University of Waterloo is underway
that will combine the creation of an interactive GIS walkability index, a
travel diary, a survey on food consumption patterns and questions about
neighbourhood preferences and health. The study will provide new
insights into the creation of planning and development policies. For more
information, please contact Pat Fisher, Public Health Planner by email at fpat@region.waterloo.on.ca or by telephone at (519) 883-2004, Extension 5698. back to the top
