GC 2020
657 results found
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Host an sustainability ideas series (e.g. films, lectures, how to sessions)
Sustainability is a complex and difficult topic. Many people get a sense about what it is, some don't get it at all and many others think green consumerism (e.g. cloth bags, CFL lightbulbs) is all that's required to build a friendly and safe global future. A multimedia ideas series, perhaps at community centres, would be a great tool to inform people about what is actually required (e.g. reducing overall consumption) for us to build a sustainable global civilization.
10 votesWill share this idea with other organizations in the community that already have some of this type of programming.
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No more floor-to-ceiling windows
Change the building code to reduce floor-to-ceiling windows. This type of condo design requires an unecessarily large amount of energy for heating and cooling. These windows usually have a couch or TV unit or shelf shoved up against them and blocking the view anyway! Even putting a solid wall on the bottom 25% of each storey would reduce energy use. (And hopefully liven up the architecture compared to the currently ubiquitous - and boring - walls of glass condos.)
10 votesGlazing ratios are addressed in our passive design toolkits and may be revised in design guidelines. This idea is included in the Draft Greenest City Action Plan.
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Retrofit apartments to have individual control over radiator heating
Many low-rise apartment buildings are heated by radiators connected to a central boiler. In lots of these buildings, individual apartments do not have a thermostat or radiator control. Often the building is overheated in winter, with windows open and the boiler working even harder. Lobbies and hallways are also sweltering.
A City program could install valves on each radiator to give occupants individual control and reduce energy wastage. There would be a hugely beneficial return on investment in terms of reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the city.
10 votesHas been implemented in pilot program.
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10 votes
Outside City jurisdiction. TransLink is continually looking at ways to improve transit throughout the region, but additional funding is needed to make progress.
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Collect property tax on vehicles registered in BC
The state of Georgia charges an annual ad valorem tax on motorized vehicles. Car values decrease as cars age, so less wealthy people presumably pay less tax. I don’t think Georgia gives concessions for fuel efficient cars but that could be built in here. The new tax's unpopularity could be mitigated if the funds raised went to something really great and the accounting was extremely transparent.
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Ensure Park Board had adequate funding for programs and maintenance of facilities.
Building more parks is great, but they are far more valuable if there are community oriented programs available and the park infrastructure is maintained and attractive.
10 votes -
Make one floor of every condo a "farm floor" with vegetable garden. Feed the city from the city
Local food production in your own apartment building. A designated "farm floor" could be in the basement of the building where the underground parking is/was. Powered by solar panels on the roof.
10 votesA variety of urban agriculture opportunities are being incorporated into major developments.
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Eliminate minimum parking requirements within 800m of SkyTrain stations
New developments should not require parking if they are close to rapid transit stations. The developer can choose how many parking spaces to include, but they must be underground and accessed by side streets, not the main shopping street.
10 votes -
Mandatory 2 day "Green Building" 2 day workshop for Contractors & Sub Trades
Educate the small business tradespeople in Green Building technology and methods. Workshops would be geared to specific trades/phases in building/renovations e.g. demolition/salvage/recycling options, energy efficient design/products, sustainable and non toxic building materials and reducing what is sent to the landfill. Make it mandatory to attend every two years in order to operate in Vancouver. Offer the courses free to contractors, plumbers, electricians, painters, carpenters etc. Perhaps the province could also provide a tax incentive for attendance to offset their lost revenue.
10 votesWill not be mandatory but are exploring ways to promote, support and develop training & job creation opportunities as part of the draft Greenest City Action Plan.
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Encourage more transit use by putting in large free parking lots close to each Skytrain Station
Make Vancouver more Transit Friendly!
10 votes -
Super Insulate All Buildings
Super Insulate All Buildings rather than spend on finding ways to heat inefficient existing building
10 votesInsulation is addressed in the building code for new and existing buildings as well as by the Passive design toolkits
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Ban New paving
Stop paving green space! There is a new unneeded and ugly sidewalk (8th ave example) and the US style electric lit AstroTurf rec complex at Jericho that has taken ridiculous amounts of green space away - leave well enough alone!
10 votes -
"Smart" garbage cans that pay you to recycle
Modify city garbage and recycling cans to contain identification tags, so the biggest recyclers can get coupons, cash or credit rewards. The worst recyclers get warnings and fines that pay for the project quickly. The cost of this project has been only $2.4 million elsewhere.
Please look at these links:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/1001-smart_trash_cans.htm
http://www.telecomengine.com/newsglobe/article.asp?HH_ID=AR_6544
10 votes -
planted buildings
Use hedges or vines that cover buildings completely, roof top gardens, to help regulate thermal radiation. AC unit areas should be covered by plants or shaded so the energy wasted to cool the air is less.
10 votesCurrently exploring an approach to addressing cool roofs, green roofs & walls.
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free public transport downtown
like most greener cities, public transport is free downtown!
10 votes -
Carbon Tax
Impose a carbon tax on parking and building permits to fund new green infrastructure investments or pilot projects. Taxes are never popular but they are one way of curbing consumption and providing ongoing funding. Property taxes are already high and the City has very limited scope to tax consumption. Parking and building permits are one avenue they can tax.
10 votes -
Partner with non-profits for manufacturing using waste materials
As the landfills are all filling up, create manufacturing opportunities in partnership with non-profits using waste. Examples: waxed produce boxes make enviro-friendly fire logs; so do recycled newspapers; plastics can be mixed and molded into playground equipment and park benches
10 votes -
Micro-Hydro Power
Implement water collection systems on all new buildings and retrofit old buildings to generate power from rain water. "Inline stream engines" can also be connected to the city reservoir. Can support all grey water uses and generate compressed air and electricity to work towards creating closed-loop energy systems throughout the city.
10 votesGood ideas! The City is currently doing a feasibility assessment of connecting a micro-turbine to the City’s water system. If the feasibility is positive, it will be considered in the City’s capital budget for implementation.
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Reduce peak electricity demand
Vancouver can be a model of a community that works together to reduce its peak electricity demand and thus the generation capacity needed to sustain it. It can do this through proper monitoring of usage in both residential and commercial buildings and financial incentives to reduce beyond savings on the bill. Make Vancouver a model, and once shown successful, this model can be expanded to other BC cities and beyond.
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Plug the C02 holes.
Most would agree that the biggest monster is climate change. If Vancouver is to be a leader in greening tech. and practices it would do well to show in a practical way what can be done now.
On a massive scale, start installing solar hot water systems. Use economy scale to bring down the cost. Make it simple and share the knowledge with the rest of the world. Do a similar thing with car conversions. Pick a 100 different model autos, convert them, and post the process on a web page. Translate the findings to a dozen different languages and…10 votes
