Enlisting architects, animators and more importantly residents, an NFB film titled One Millionth Tower, provides ideas for revitalizing Toronto's aging highrises. Some of the ideas include eliminating first floor apartments to make room for cafes and businesses, creating a marketspace, and networks and paths linking to the towers to parks and community gardens.
A series of slides in the Globe and Mail highlights Dockside Green's innovative green energy technologies. View slideshow here.
In 2009 the Province handed BC municipalities more regulatory power. Local governments have taken advantage of new bylaws and regulatory powers to promote sustainability. From curbside composting, to encouraging energy efficiency to promoting cycling through bike lines, local governments are accomplishing many great things despite the limited revenue at their disposal. Read more in the Tyee.
A new beverage, electronic s and paint recycling plant opened in Saskatoon last Friday. The plant is owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres, (SARC). SARC consists of 83 member organizations that provide support to people with disabilities. The new plant is modeled on ecological principles and contains a low-flow water system, a thermal roof and wall system, and usage of recycled materials.
The province of New Brunswick set a target to have greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2012. The province is on track to meet its climate change reduction goals, a remarkable accomplishment given the economic growth in the province. The province worked with citizens and encouraged partnerships to achieve this goal. Some highlights of the plan include:
There seems to be a distinct correlation between the number of intersections and the more walkable a city is. At the Walk21 conference in Vancouver, planners are looking at the concept of messy streets, streets with interruptions or intersections and how this creates choice and greater walkability. The city of Surrey is currently applying this concept and has plans to add 100 intersections to its city centre.
Dawson City is one of many BC municipalities that have voluntarily signed on to be carbon neutral by 2012, but it hopes to achieve neutrality without purchasing carbon offsets. To reach this goal the city is setting aside $100 for every tone of carbon produced from its government offices, recreation facilities and trucking fleets. That money will then be directed into projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The city expects to generate $360,000 annually for its carbon fund.
Saanich BC has had such success in implementing a voluntary carbon reduction program that nearby Victoria is now seeking advice from the municipality's civic politicians and staff. Rather than buy offsets to achieve carbon neutrality, Saanich has, since 2007, been investing money equal to the amount they would have to put into offsets into greening infrastructure. Projects range from solar heating systems at the local rec centre to lighting upgrades.
The belief that adding more traditional playgrounds will encourage activity amongst children has proven to be a false assumption. A study that used GPS (Global Positioning System) to examine the link between environment and activity levels amongst children has shown that traditional playgrounds do little to promote activity. The large metal structures are often intimidating for children and unusable in winter or rainy months.
With Victoria pulling parking meters off its streets, advocates are wondering where cyclists will be parking their bikes. John Lutton is hoping the city will adopt a new bicycle parking strategy that includes a requirement for developers to include bike parking in all new buildings. Ideally new developments would also include shower facilities for cyclists.
