Speak Up Winnipeg

Actions for Sustainability: City Green Building Standards, a Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy and More

Patti Regan

November 12 2009

2 Comments.

This post is from the draft Call to Action and is now archived. The final version of the Call to Action is now available. Click here to read more about it.

Through SpeakUpWinnipeg, we’ve identified some actions that can be completed over the next 24 months. These actions respond to community priorities and bring us closer to our vision. While we continue to work as a community to complete OurWinnipeg, the City will work with partners to start taking action right away.

The design of these actions is based on an understanding of social (including cultural), environmental and economic sustainability. While the actions in this section may seem most closely aligned with the environmental “pillar” of sustainability, economic and social considerations have also been made. Additional actions in the City Competitiveness and Communities sections speak more directly to these other pillars.

Action	Description
Green Standards for City Buildings	Establish green building standards for new and renewed City-owned buildings.
Plan for a Sustainable Winnipeg	As part of OurWinnipeg, involve Winnipeggers in planning for a sustainable city. With community involvement, draft a direction paper on sustainability and a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy
City of Winnipeg Green Workplace Initiative	As part of planning for a sustainable city, the City will embed sustainable thinking and action into the City of Winnipeg’s operations. Initiatives would include a “green” orientation for new employees, sustainability learning opportunities and changes to business practices to reduce resource use. This action can be undertaken with existing City resources; although external grant support could be used for pilot projects.
Green Living Campaign	Through the support of an external grant, institute a public education and awareness campaign focused on urban sustainability.
Online Sustainability Tools for Citizens	Develop and implement tools to support sustainable choices, such as a personal carbon footprint calculator. This action is part of planning for a sustainable city and would rely on external grant support.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy	As a partner in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection Program, the City of Winnipeg commits to cutting corporate greenhouse gas emissions by a further 20% over 1998 levels, and to the creation of a community-wide climate change plan to reduce community emissions by 6% over 1998 levels, as approved by the City’s Executive Policy Committee in September 2009.
Green Fleet Vehicle Plan	Present a plan to green the City’s fleet operations, including direction on anti-idling, hybrid vehicles, use of alternate fuels, right-sizing of vehicles, efficient driving training and other approaches to reducing the impact of vehicle use.
Expanded Sustainability Scope for Mayor’s Environmental Advisory Committee	Expand the scope of the Mayor’s Environmental Advisory Committee to recognize all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic.
Examine Curbside Composting	Examine options for a curbside collection composting program.
Residential Toilet Water Conservation Program	Offer an incentive to reduce toilet water consumption through a dual-flush toilet rebate on municipal water bills, as approved by the City’s Executive Policy Committee.

These actions are based on what we’ve heard about Sustainability

See More: Sustainability; See the Possibilities

The following comments were e-mailed to the OurWinnipeg group, and permission to post them was granted:

Already doing some of the ideas, such as dual-flush toilets, and reviewing the possibility of a composting program. Both good ideas, and the sooner the composting program is implemented the more environmentally friendly this city will be. If Winnipeg was to incorporate such a feature, it would show the youth of this city and the province that this city is indeed trying to be with the times. It would also save the landfill space plus, creating dirt for the city flower beds down the road. How much will dirt cost in 20 years? Just because we are a prairie city, doesn't mean we should take our fertile soils for granted.

Have a green fleet would also be smart and if this could be done in our transit area as well, so much the better.

Even though some feel that this environment friendly trend that all governments are following is bunk, one does have to ask what kind of city do we want Winnipeg to look like in 25 years? How do we want to maintain it, and what is the most efficient way to do that? Would composting cut costs dramatically in 25 years? Regardless, I think it would send a strong message to the youth of this city. We are also becoming a very disposable type of society and is this a feature that we wish to see continued? Cities have to show educational means as well, and those 3 R's are something that would work.

Ian Hall Nov 26, 2009 at 2:40 PM

Creating 'dirt' for flower beds??? Plants grow in soil. Dirt is what you wash out of your clothes!! Anyway while the City was dithering, the province decided that Resource Conservation MB (funded by the Province) and the NA agencies would handle composting downtown. And they have done it in their Little Way. Sambourski handles the other stuff. And the Province has funded their little 'Climate Change Commection' project. They are not saying too much about it. There is nothing much to say. The government in this province is funny. Lip service. Dirt for the flowerbeds indeed! this is embarassing. In terms of sustainable urban environments Winnipeg is embarassing.

karen Jan 25, 2010 at 6:57 AM

Comments now closed

Call to Action for OurWinnipeg: Visions & Directions for the OurWinnipeg Plan Released!