Project Neutral in the Junction

Project Neutral in the Junction

Earlier this year Green 13 had heard of Project Neutral, and decided to apply to participate in it.  We are one of the two groups selected out of the 25 or so city-wide which applied. You may read more background material on the project at their newly launched site

http://projectneutral.org/

At the bottom of this email, to provide you with background, please find some information copied from the site.

For this first year, the target area in our part of Toronto, here in the Junction, has a population of approximately 1,000 households and includes the area bordered by Clendenan Avenue on the east, Annette Street on the south, and Runnymede Street to the west. The northern border follows Maria Street until Gilmour Avenue and then Dundas Street east to Clendenan Avenue. Green 13 has been delivering invitations to addresses within the defined area.

On June 18th, at 10 am at Annette Branch Public Library, we will be launching Project Neutral in this community. Besides residents and businesses in the defined area, we are inviting dignitaries from our vicinity, and the wider public. We are still finalizing our program for that morning.

Our main speakers will be from Project Neutral, to outline the project and the GHG emissions survey, and take Q&A. We will have a speaker from Green 13 as we are the community partners for Project Neutral. We anticipate the event will last about 75 minutes, depending upon the length of Q&A after the presentations by Project Neutral founders.

We are inviting dignitaries from our area to give their blessing on the project, and reiterate that this is doable.
To date, we have confirmed that Councillor Sarah Doucette and MPP Cheri DiNovo will be in attendance. We know that they are very supportive, and will help us promote the Project. We have been in touch with both our recently elected MP, Peggy Nash, and with David Miller. Although they are out of town that day, we are arranging for brief (i.e. 2 minutes) videotaped statements from them in support of the Project and neighbourhood.
We have also invited:
• Neil Ross, head of the West Toronto Junction Historical Society
• an expert speaker on energy, likely Keith Stewart
• Charles Simon and Linda Sword from Eden Mills’ carbon neutral project
• Gerald Butts, E.D of WWF

Please contact me at your convenience with any questions or comments regarding this Project, and regarding the morning of Saturday, June 18.  I look forward to hearing from you.

The Toronto Star is preparing an article for tomorrow’s paper about Project Neutral, both the project locally, and the project in Riverdale.
Sincerely,
Rita Bijons      (416) 766 6331
Chair, Green 13
www.green13toronto.org

We are Project Neutral.
Transitioning neighbourhoods to carbon neutrality.
One neighbourhood at a time.
We recognize this is an ambitious goal. Yet we feel passionately that the most important action that a neighbourhood can take is to start on that journey. With the right leadership, support and tools, we are confident great things will happen: neighbourhoods will come together and take ownership of their carbon footprint, innovative technologies and funding mechanisms will be piloted, and neighbourhood resiliency will grow in the face of one of the most daunting challenges currently facing our planet.

Our strategy:

Step 1:    Develop a baseline of GHG emissions for the neighbourhood
Step 2: Analyze results to determine the characteristics of the carbon footprint of the neighbourhood and key areas of opportunity
Step 3: Host a Neighbourhood Summit to come up with the best ideas and solutions to moving the neighbourhood towards carbon neutrality. Invite neighbourhood leaders, and innovators from public and private sector.
Step 4: Develop an Emissions Reduction Plan for the neighbourhood that will be lead by community leaders and supported by public and private sector partners
Step 5: Implement the Plan and track progress on an annual basis

The Emissions Reduction Plan will identify actions that enable neighbourhoods to transition towards carbon neutrality, including an implementation plan.

Why?

Over 25 million Canadians currently live in urban areas, with over 5 million in the Greater Toronto Area. In Toronto, the residential sector represents the source of approximately 25% of the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Worldwide, over 50%of GHG emissions are produced in cities – an amount expected to increase as more people move to urban areas. To date, the majority of sustainable design projects in the in the GTA have focused on major redevelopments or new developments in urban expansion areas (both brownfield and greenfield development). As a result, the City’s established communities are underrepresented in our collective efforts to reduce environmental impact. Furthermore, much of the residential building stock is old and inefficient, representing potential energy savings of up to 75% (average of 22%) for households. Strong leadership, innovation and action are needed to effectively capture potential energy savings and address the impact of urban neighbourhoods on climate change.

How do we define Carbon Neutrality?
Balancing the amount of ‘measurable’ carbon produced by the neighbourhood with the amount sequestered or offset. So basically this means what your neighbourhood emits in carbon emissions will equal what the neighbourhood will take out or reduce – resulting in a neutral or net zero effect!

Measurable carbon includes the carbon produced by each household in terms of energy use, water use, solid waste, transportation use and high impact food consumption.

Is carbon neutrality possible?

Absolutely, although certainly not overnight.

Start now. Start possible. The first step is always the most challenging and we know we’ll hit some bumps along the way, particularly with our first pilot projects. But with each neighbourhood it will get easier. And we believe Project Neutral has the potential to be adapted to all neighbourhoods across Canada. And it all starts here, with you.

This is a long-term commitment. Our research shows that a 20-50% reduction in household GHG emissions can be achieved within five years through zero to low cost retrofits and behavioural change. Greater reductions will require greater resource commitments, deep retrofits and more intensive behavioural change campaigns. Transitioning to carbon neutrality will take time.

New technologies will evolve. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? The exact amount of time that it will take to achieve carbon neutrality will depend on a number of factors, including the innovative technologies that emerge within 5, 10 or 15 years – some of which can be piloted in the neighbourhoods.

Expert advice. Several of our partners and advisors have experience with residential retrofits and energy conservation. Interested in helping out?

Private sector partnerships will be key. Entrepreneurs are increasingly providing mechanisms for funding retrofits and assisting with transformation to a low carbon society. If you are interested in partnering with us let us know!

Neighbourhood level solutions. Our model uses a neighbourhood approach to encourage participation. Similar to a running group, you are more likely to go for a run if you have a running partner. In this case, each participating household in the neighbourhood is your running partner, encouraging participation. This initiative will also be championed by local neighbourhood leaders. It will always be in your hands how fast you move to carbon neutrality and how you get there!