GC 2020
657 results found
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Use and Promote recycled paper
We could require the City of Vancouver to develop a policy stating that it will only use recycled paper. Encourage the use of recycled paper throughout the city, and when that is not possible - give preference to Forest Stewardship Council certified Products. We could then require that a portion of our newsprint that is collected to be used in newsprint here in Vancouver - and require a minimum recycled content in newspapers that are distributed in Vancouver (like California!) - which will reduce our climate footprint.
6 votes -
Sodium Carbonate CO2 Scrubbers
See http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/big-idea/13/carbon-capture. If Vancouver could allocate land and funding for prototype scrubbers, it would not just be the Greenest City, but its local action would have a global impact - as removing CO2 from the air benefits the entire planet.
6 votes -
Waste to resource programs
Have the remaining 19 Vancouver Business Improvement Areas adopt the Strathcona Business Improvement Area’s recent waste-to-resource program throughout the city to find opportunities to convert waste from one business to a resource for another business.
6 votes -
Payment for ecosystem services
Build a world-leading payment for ecosystem services program for the freshwater. A multi-tiered water user system that redistributes money from water users to watershed managers to restore and manage the watershed so that it continues to purify water naturally!
6 votes -
Solar Powered Lights
Use solar powered street lights, they look cool and very futuristic, and they can help us use less energy
6 votes -
Stop the use of toilet paper made from virgin trees.
TP made from post-consumer waste paper is already available, and even the likes of Costco are starting to stock it. Enact a bylaw that ensures all TP sold in Vancouver is at least 30% from recycled paper.
6 votesThe City can look to this in our own operations. Purchasing choices, and their effect on ecological footprint, will form part of the engagement campaign
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Serve only nitrate free hotdogs/ cooked meats
All the food served in City should be free of chemicals & nitrates. Support organic/ natural -local if possible.
6 votesLocal and healthy local food options are under consideration in the draft Greenest City Action Plan. Parks board already has an Ethical Purchasing Policy in place that encourages the purchasing of Fair-Trade and organic products. http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/policy/pdf/policy_ethical_purchasing.pdf
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Water Reclamation and Re-use
Use a local sustainable technology such as Solar Aquatics to clean waste water for re-use within our communities. Decentralizing our waste water treatment and using fully aerated biological systems will reduce energy (pumping) costs, eliminate greenhouse gas and water pollution that come with conventional sewage treatment, reduce the amount of fresh water we need to take to take off the mountain and clean, and provide an abundance of recycled water for use in parks, gardens, green roofs, fire suppression, or a host of other needs we have.
6 votes -
Mandatory composting of horse manure at barns within city limits
As a U. of Guelph Equine Sciences student last fall, I used Stanley Park as a research area and was surprised to learn the manure at the police barns was not composted on site and used for the city's gardens. It's trucked away and nobody seemed to know where to. Then I recently learned that Southlands Heritage Farm has a proposal for a biodigester on their property, but the city will not approve it due to a "lack of understanding of the unit". I don't believe Hastings Park has a composter either. Raw horse manure is toxic to the environment…
6 votes -
Create a 'Green Capitalist' campaign that lets Vancouverites proudly participate.
A simple modification of the 'Green Capital' logo lets individuals claim ownership. Offer free 'Green Capitalist' cycling vests to commuters during bike-to-work week. Have a secret shopper team give reusable coffee mugs or 'Green Capitalist' shopping bags to people who buy local, organic or free-trade. Give high-quality water bottles to every family that signs up for a water meter. Why should Green Capital just be for trade missions? Let every citizen wear their civic green pride!
6 votesInteresting ideas to encourage a connection to the Green Capital brand with specific activities
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Let's be tolerant
I think "going green" necessitates a healthy level of tolerance by everyone.
Tolerance will not pit cyclists against car drivers, but will allow each their own choice while working towards the goal that is best for everyone. Tolerance will recognize different viewpoints with an understanding that others views are as important as your own.
Intolerance alienates others and if we continue to do this, our green objectives will never be met.
Let's work together!
6 votes -
New types of crosswalk signal
Here's two new crosswalk signal ideas. The first is to make the city more accessible to seniors, strollers and people in wheelchairs. Have a walk signal like a dual-flush toilet--press the big button for more walk time and the small button for fast walkers.
The second idea is for cycle crossings. Since bicycles are human-powered it really sucks to stop at red lights while you press the button and wait for the light to change. So, the crossing button could be halfway up the block so cyclists can slap it on their way by--the light will be changing as they…
6 votes -
Improve Neighbourhood Roundabouts to provide for safe pedestrian crossing
Neighbourhood roundabouts are being developed across the city. These roundabouts serve to maintain a comfortable traffic flow for cars and cyclists on residential streets. Unfortunately, due to their design, these roundabouts fail to provide security for pedestrians since there are no visual cues to suggest that pedestrians even have a right to cross the street. In a local classroom survey, grade 4’s exclaimed that they feel unsafe crossing at these roundabouts and I regularly see uncertainty in the eyes and actions of pedestrians crossing at roundabouts.
There are a number of ways to improve this situation. Here are two examples:
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6 votesAll new traffic circles are designed to keep cars and bicycles out of the pedestrian crossing areas.
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Creating more municipially based arts grants and funding.
Creating a socially sustainable community is as integral as an environmentally sustainable one. With provincial arts funding reaching a record low, the climate for local artists is dyer. Creating municipal grants will provoke creativity, inspire change, create a healthy living environment and entice the provincial/federal government to respond to the needs of its' people.
6 votes -
Small Businesses
Need incentives to recycle, or reuse materials (between business and or/ public) through soemthing like a local online materials reuse/exchange database (similar to Free stuff on craigslist)
6 votes -
Municipal GRANTS for businesses who build shower, changeroom, and bike lockers
Through a municipal grant program, encourage businesses to build showers, changerooms, and bike lockers for employees who commute via active transportations. Grants could also be applied for expansions of existing facilities. Also, encourage businesses to partner and share facilities.
6 votes -
Invent roofs with adjustable reflection coefficient
Expanding on the suggestion by Hashem Akbari's to combat climate change by painting all roofs and paved surfaces in the USA white, our idea is to develop roof materials that can change their reflection coefficient by changing their colour to cover a range from black to white. Regions like Vancouver, with warm summers and cold winters, should have white roofs in the summer and black roofs in the winter, to minimize air conditioning and heating energy needs throughout the year. Roofs with adjustable reflection coefficient could be "dimmed" from inside a house as simply as a light. Smart house technology…
6 votesCurrently exploring an approach to addressing cool roofs, green roofs & walls.
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Sustainability departments, faculties
Corporate 'green' hiring should lead all the way to the top - as it's own silo within the company (Accounting, HR, Sustainability, Marketing, etc.) intsead of an outward focus on 'green' jobs specific to operational abilities.
This will allow a more tailored educational offering, and will aid a paradigm shift throughout firms in Vancouver. Sustainability can finally align itself as a true part of an organization - and will have as much to do with a firm's mission and corporate aims as do the other categorical functions.
6 votes -
Control energy efficiency of systems in buildings, rate it as a standard like A, B, C, D, ...
Control, approve and publish the rate of energy consumption and carbon emission of the mechanical equipments in all of the buildings that encourage the people to utilizing the sustainable energy and environmental pollution free system and equipments.
6 votesPart of the draft Greenest City Action Plan is to implement mandatory energy performance disclosure through a building labeling program
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Increase incentives for people to trade in old woodstoves for more efficient ones
Metro Vancouver already offers a $250 rebate to trade in their old uncertified wood burning appliance for a new low emission appliance. This could be increased and/or more heavily advertised.
http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air/health/Pages/WoodStoveExchangeProgram.aspx
5 votesCity of Vancouver is part of, and encourages, Metro Vancouver’s woodstove exchange program. This idea is included in the Draft Action Plan.
