June 11, 2006, Burlington Post – News
Post surveys councillors about efforts to reduce air pollution
In light of a recent air quality testing tour that was conducted by The Clean Air Partnership in the city's west end (see page 1), the Burlington Post decided to conduct an informal survey of city councillors to determine how they might be helping reduce air pollution in Burlington.
We asked the mayor and councillors the following:
1. What mode of transportation do you use to get to work?
2. If by automobile, what is year and make of vehicle used?
3. What are you doing to protect air quality in our city?
These were their responses:
MAYOR ROB MACISAAC
1. Depending on where I will spend my day, I drive my automobile or if working in Toronto, I frequently take public transit.
2. I drive a 2004 Ford Explorer.
3. We have a home thermostat that automatically adjusts our temperature so as to economize on energy usage and have enhanced insulation in our attic. We are responsible in turning out lights when they aren't needed. We have installed energy-efficient light bulbs in our home. We have replaced our old appliances with energy efficient appliances. We car pool on sporting and leisure events for our children.
WARD 1 - RICK CRAVEN
1. Car
2. 2003 Century
3. Replacing an older model gas powered lawn mower with a newer, more efficient one.
WARD 2 - JOAN LOUGHEED
1. Walk to work
2. Walk, cycle for errands and recreation or take public transit, especially when travelling to GO Station for trips to Toronto.
3. Leave my car at home, when possible; by shopping downtown for needs such as groceries or limit my car trips by doing all my errands at once. Encouraging teleconferencing instead of travelling to meetings. Try to carpool. And keep car well tuned. Shut the engine off, even for short stops -- drive at moderate speeds and check tires regularly. Refuel car after sundown when air pollution levels are lower and gasoline vapours won't add to the problem.
WARD 3 - JOHN TAYLOR
1. By car to City Hall and Halton Region headquarters (in Oakville). (Also), generally by walking for site visits when the weather is good.
2. 2004 Nissan Maxima
3. Replaced furnace and air conditioner with high efficiency units; keep thermostat at 75 degrees F in summer and 66 degrees F in winter; replaced 2-cycle lawnmower with 4 cycle unit; turn off lights when not in rooms, do not heat or air condition infrequently used rooms; turn off car while waiting at railway crossings, never idle in parking lots; conserve water during household use.
WARD 4 - JACK DENNISON
1. Drive, walk, run, bike
2. 2001 Toyota solara
3. (I) walk, bike, run, drive economical car, do not leave (it) idling (and) have planted a lot of trees on my property.
WARD 5 - BOB WOOD
1. I drive to work and take Burlington Transit. I have a goal of taking 20 per cent of my trips to work each month on transit. Sometimes I do more, sometimes less. Occasionally I, have in the past and will in the future, bike to work.
2. I drive a 1991 Toyota Tercel.
3. See answer to number 1. During my previous terms on council I ... spearheaded a number of initiatives which promoted public transit and generally promoted more service and enhanced the accessibility of the transit system. I was one of two politicians who sat on the Centre for Transit Improvement (CTI) a group affiliated with the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) that worked to promote public transit.
WARD 6 - CAROL D'AMELIO
1. I drive my car.
2. 1999 Mercedes C230
3. Second storey temperature is set at 25 degrees. I car pool when possible and work from home when able to do so. At work, I walk to a nearby restaurant for supper rather than drive to one further away. My car is serviced on a regular basis to ensure efficiency. We fuel our cars at night. I turn the engine off when stopped for trains and waiting for the car wash. I do not use drive-throughs. I turn my computer off when I leave the office for the day. I avoid aerosol products. We do not mow the lawn on smog alert days and we reduce our outdoor activities.
