Tag Archives: sustainable peterborough

The City promotes its Low-flow Toilet Replacement Rebate Program as part of World Water Day March 22, 2013

The City of Peterborough is pleased to promote its Low- flow Toilet Replacement Rebate Program in recognition of World Water Day.
 
With toilets accounting for up to 30 % of domestic in-house water, replacing your current toilet with a low -flow toilet is a sustainable approach to saving both water and money.
 
The City of Peterborough offers a $50.00 per toilet rebate on the purchase and installation of “WaterSense certified” low – flow toilets as part of an effort to conserve water.  Over 900 residential toilets were replaced through the rebate program in 2012.
 
The Low -flow Toilet Replacement Rebate Program is funded to a maximum of $40,000 for 2013. These rebates will be available on a first come, first served basis or until the funding has been exhausted.
 
To qualify for a rebate, you must be replacing a residential toilet. The rebate program is open to all residential units, including apartments, condominiums, townhouses, social housing, and single family houses.  The rebate, however, does not apply to toilets being installed as part of additions or new construction. Industrial, commercial and other non-residential properties are not eligible at this time.
 
The Low – flow Toilet Replacement Rebate Program application forms are available on the City’s website or may be picked up at the Recreation Division at City Hall.
 
For more information on the rebate program contact the City of Peterborough
Sustainability Office at 705-742-7777 ext. 1441 or view our web site at
 
For further information please contact:
Melanie Kawalec,
Sustainability Manager
Community Services
Department City of Peterborough
500 George Street North
Peterborough, ON K9H 3R9
Phone: 705-742-7777 ext. 1441
Toll Free: 1-855-738-3755 ext. 14

Can you chew gum and be sustainable at the same time?

I like to chew gum, mainly the breath freshening type.  Yesterday, my wife returned from a grocery shopping trip and tossed me a small bottle of Dentyne Ice containing 60 pieces. “Check it out”, she said.  Examining the bottle I immediately noticed the label highlighting Earth Pack Compostable Bottle. Interesting, but why would a company go to all the trouble of developing a compostable gum container, unless of course there was a business benefit associated with it.  As it turns out, the company behind the product is Kraft, and a quick review of their website revealed a well-developed sustainability strategy.(http://www.kraftfoodservice.ca/en/bw/Sustainability/default.aspx ). Kraft definitely sees a business benefit to developing more sustainability business practices.

But sustainability isn’t a smart business strategy for solely for large corporations like Kraft.  You can also find it happening right here in small and medium sized businesses in the Peterborough region.  An upcoming event will feature a panel discussion by three local businesses who have first hand experience in the business case for sustainability. They include Dan McWilliams or McWilliams Moving and Storage, Greg Elmhirst of Elmhirst’s Resort, and Scot Murison of Wild Rock Outfitters.  Each will provide their take on the business case for sustainability at the upcoming launch of The Sustainable Business Initiative.

In addition, the event will also feature guest speaker Bob Willard, author of several books including The New Sustainability Advantage: Seven Business Case Benefits of a Triple Bottom Line. Bob is somewhat of a business sustainability guru, having given more than 700 talks around the world on the business benefits of sustainability.

The event takes place on Thursday, January 17th from 7:30am – 9:30am at the Holiday Inn.  Tickets are $10 with proceeds to a Fleming College Sustainability Bursary.  You can register at http://businesscaseforsustainability.eventbrite.com/#

Educate, Motivate, Empower

Sustainable Peterborough launches the Sustainable Business Initiative, Educate, Motivate, Empower.  A program designed to foster sustainable economic activities among our regions small and medium sized businesses.

Kick off event to take place Thursday January 17, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Peterborough, 7:30am-9:30am.  Guest speaker is Bob Willard, author of The Sustainability Advantage – Seven Business Case Benefits of a Triple Bottom Line.

Register online at http://businesscaseforsustainability.eventbrite.com/ or by calling Brigid Ayotte 705-743-0777 ext. 2160 .

Event sponsored by Cambium Environmental in partnership with Green Business Peterborough, Peterborough Business Advisory Centre and Sustainable Peterborough.

CANADA MORTGAGE & HOUSING CORPORATION HONOURS DR. STEPHEN HILL FOR INNOVATIVE WORK IN SUSTAINABILITY

This morning at the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation (GPA EDC), Dr. Stephen Hill an Associate Professor at Trent University’s Environmental and Resource Science/Studies Program was recognized by the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) for his innovative work in teaching and projects in sustainability.

The CMHC’s Excellence in Education Award, presented by Steve Jacques, Regional Manager, Community Development and Research for CMHC, honours secondary and post-secondary educators who have encouraged students in the development of sustainable communities by integrating sustainable concepts in housing and community development into their curriculum.

The award itself was created in Ontario and is made of reclaimed materials. Each award looks similar, but differs in that the stone base is hand carved each time an award is presented. The laurel at the top symbolizes achievement and the base, carved into the shape of a book symbolizes knowledge/learning.

Dr. Stephen Hill uses a cross-disciplinary approach to teach and partners with institutions to connect ideas, theories and practices. Dr. Hill was an integral part of the development of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan – Sustainable Peterborough

Background

Dr. Hill’s research focuses on environmental and renewable energy management and policy. He also studies processes of social learning and innovation around community-based sustainability initiatives.

As a result, Dr. Hill uses a cross-disciplinary approach to teach and partners with institutions to connect ideas, theories and practices. He encourages his students to get involved with Trent University and the wider Peterborough area community organizations such as Sustainable Trent, the Community Opportunity and Innovation Network, Peterborough Green Up and the Peterborough Centre for Social Innovation.

Dr. Hill is known for his ability to motivate and mentor students and was recently recognized with Trent`s highest teaching award. His teaching has inspired many of his students’ interest in sustainability and encouraged their continued studies in the field.

In 2011, Dr. Hill was an integral part of the development of an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan – Sustainable Peterborough. Developing the Sustainability Plan was a collaborative endeavor by all members of the Greater Peterborough Area, including the City and County of Peterborough (and eight member municipalities along with Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. The Plan defines what a Sustainable Peterborough will look like for the next generation.

Implementation of the Plan is moving forward and Dr. Hill is an active member of the Co-ordinating Committee. Action items of the plan will help to foster healthy environments, people, and economies by guiding the way to reducing environmental impacts, strengthening social networks, and increasing economic prosperity. Already a provincial and national leader in environmental awareness, the community’s reputation only stands to strengthen with the implementation of the sustainability plan.