GC 2020
657 results found
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Recycling of all sorts of metals.
I don't think there's any metal that can't be melted and reused. It makes sense that we recycle all types of metals.
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More glass recycling
There used to be a lot of glass bottle recycling back 20-30 years ago. It seemse less so now. I think it should be increased again since there's still a lot of glass usage. And not just bottles but jars and containers. I think al glass can be broken up, melted and reused again.
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Express Bus Lane to Seattle
Express Bus (way cheaper and easier to do than high-speed rail) to Seattle. Set aside a dedicated lane for bus service between the two hubs and watch transit (and business connections) take off. Bonus idea: Specific buses that require all passengers to be nexus approved, meaning swifter border crossings.
Already in place on the East Coast: http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/travel/25Prac.html?adxnnl=1&hpw=&adxnnlx=1279735270-6prOYEpRjwtJ5CN5jXa6mA
1 voteOutside jurisdiction. Inter-regional transit is a great idea.
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solar trash compactor
City of Vancouver has 2,400 public space litter bins on streets, transit stops and parks. By introducing a wireless capable solar trash compactor system to replace this system significant financial and environmental benefits can be realized. Operating costs will be reduced by 70% as well as Green House Gas emissions from the Diesel powered waste collection vehicle that go out at least once per day to pick up each of these 2,400 bins. Imagine having the collection take place once per week instead of seven times per week and have the reduced trip frequency pay for all this equipment in…
1 voteThe City is piloting over 20 solar-powered trash compacting bins in South East False Creek and Cambie Street.
However, this idea isn’t included in the Draft Greenest City Action Plan. Compacting waste reduces volume and makes collection more efficient, but it doesn’t reduce the tonnes of waste sent to landfill or incinerator. The proposed Zero Waste target is to reduce 50% (by weight) of garbage sent to landfill or incinerator by 2020.
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City Of Vancouver internal operation need to be leaders
I can't believe how far behind city operation are with regards to recycling it's embarassing. We need easy accessible recycling facilities on each floor and or lunch room. Examples of companies that do this well Microsoft, Whole Foods even Metro Vancouver Head Office.
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2 stroke scooters
The 2 stroke engine requires both gas and oil to burn, the emissions of a 2 stroke lawnmower are worse than even large trucks, a 2 stroke scooter is even worse than a lawnmower as the engine is bigger. It's great that a 2 stroke scooter is not so bad on fuel consumption and is smaller in need of materials to build. But 4 strokes and electrics are readily available. I think that we'd all breathe easier if 2 stroke scooters weren't allowed to belch out noise and pollution in Vancouver.
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green teams at work
All companies have green teams - staff run program that engage staff in being greener at work and at home.
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Create a surface network for transit
[Submitted via email by Ann Foster]
Improve transit by creating a surface network which covers all the main streets of Vancouver, instead of focusing on one or two very expensive "corridors". This has been done in Zurich, Switzerland where 70% of all trips are made by transit. Cycling in Vancouver is limited by hills, rain, bike theft, and the perception that showers and special clothing is required.
1 voteMost arterial streets in Vancouver already have local service which is “frequent” by TransLink standards. The City is supportive of increased frequency and reliability, especially in high-demand corridors.
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change building code to allow ventilated service areas
Apartments and condos would have ventilated service areas, where people would be able to hang clothes on clotheslines, instead of using electrical driers all year long for drying any amount of clothing. Also, a tank with tap for manual washing of small loads of clothing will save water and will add up to hygiene.
1 voteWhile not specifically addressed in the draft Greenest City Action Plan, this strategy will be consider as a means of promoting conservation
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Implement Vancouver Zoom Your Roof Project
Since building heating is one of the biggest uses of natural gas in BC it should be a priority to reduce this footprint. In Belgium communities are implementing a project where residents can easily see how effective their insulation is. This lets people actually see for themselves whether investing in insulation would be worth it for them.
More info on Belgian project:
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/011446.html
http://infosthetics.com/archives/2010/07/zoom_into_your_roof.html1 voteBuilding labeling and energy audits will help building owners and occupants understand how their buildings are performing and where they are losing heat. While we may not implement the “zoom in” program per se, these other tools included in the draft Greenest City Action Plan address same issue.
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Recycled Plastic Lumber
Use recycled plastic lumber rather than IPE hardwoods on park benches and picnic tables. The plastic can be sourced locally reducing waste going into the landfills and creating local jobs. The Plastic is easier to maintain reducing maintenance costs
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nTio2
Replace power washers by employing the green techology of the self cleaning coating "nano Titanium Dioxide (nTiO2).
It's a better way to keep buildings clean while protecting the environment and it's available here in the lower mainland.1 voteWhile we don’t have information about this product, an education program that includes the appropriate use of power washers and alternatives to their use is part of the Draft Greenest City Action Plan.
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You Do Not Seem To Understand We Do Not Care About Your Targets
You would think you would have figured this out by now!
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Chrismas Tree Legacy Forest/Land
Allocating plots of land such as areas of park space, city sidewalks or other areas so that people can plant potted Christmas trees after use for the holidays would provide trees for people to enjoy in their homes and, once finished for the holidays, a place for the trees to grow and be appreciated by families for years to come.
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Cool Points: Resident Carbon Cap-and-Trade Scheme
Pilot the first municipal carbon trading scheme for residents.
Create citywide, scaleable carbon market where residents (and businesses, tourists) are assigned a personal/household ghg cap based on current avg ghg consumption. These cool points would need to be spent initially on ghg main offenders like gas, home heat, electricity. Over the cap? You'll have to buy cool points from wee emitters on our local carbon market. Buy, sell and save your cool points with a cool points visa-like card/number. The annual cap would gradually be reduced, and the price of carbon would increase.
Perhaps politically and logistically unfeasible, at least…
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Youth Pensions/Green Unjobs
An expensive city, living in vancity is particularly prohibitive for young people trying to get off to a good start. But we want them, and we need them. Finding ways and places to help them stay will also make a more compact, dense and green city.
So offer them an early pension loan for up to 12 years, provided that they’ve graduated from high school. Tax-free and the equivalent of current monthly cpp payouts, accessing the option means assigning post-age 65 cpp earnings for equivalent period of time. If they really want to, they can work too, but no pressure.…
1 voteThis is not just about green but in general about youth and job creation in Vancouver.
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Poonergy
Have city staff invent a machine to capture/burn the heat from your poo and transfer to hot water tank, or sell it into the city grid I mentioned earlier, exploiting a very domestic source of energy.
1 voteThe Neighbourhood Energy Utility (NEU) in Southeast False Creek provides space heating and domestic hot water to new buildings in the area. The system uses sewage heat recovery to supply most of the annual energy demand (70%). This approach is being considered in other areas. Read more here: http://vancouver.ca/sustainability/building_neu.htm
Metro Vancouver is also exploring opportunities to generate energy from liquid waste. See also: http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/publications/Publications/ILWRMP.pdf
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Comprehensive Carbon Emission Reduction Program Using Carbon Calculator to Track Our Efforts
In order to reach dramatic CO2 emission reduction targets, we need a comprehensive program that provides a framework and incentive for us to work together to implement the great ideas described on this site.
The city has set broad reduction targets and in order to meet our current and future targets (I and I think many others are willing to take even bigger steps), we need to be able to see, at a concrete level, the impact of our actions (ie - the amount of CO2 in the air going up or down) - as individuals and families, as businesses…
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To stimulate food waste recycling, offer a monthly bin cleaning service.
Since food waste will be in a bin for 2 weeks before collection, it tends to become smelly and full with bugs. This could be a major drawback for a lot of people, especially during the summer months. Therefore, offer a monthly or bi-monthly cleaning service on the day the waste is collected. In this way, recycling will become a lot less smelly! This service is in use in the Netherlands where food waste recycling has been around for a long time, and works perfectly!
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power monitoring
Power Monitoring - Commercial Buildings
1 vote
