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How can we reach our 2020
Greenest City Targets?

AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020)

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  1. 55 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Ruben's idea "tool library" has been merged with this one.

    "VPL can sign out tools as well as books. There are awesome models for this in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle. Time to cross the border."

  2. 16 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: TM Vcr's idea "Prohibit the use of black roofing shingles and black commercial roof surfaces." has been merged with this one.

    "Such black surfaces are known to contribute to the heat island effect, require more office cooling and related energy use. A simple change to the building code could mandate light surfaces for commercial buildings, and lighter shingles for homes. Latter may be toughter to implement, given home owner concerns about aesthetics and the difficulty in preventing DIY stores from stocking such products. One benefit of this is that it can be part of building retrofits. I believe some US cities in the US Northeast have successfully implemented this approach already."

  3. 190 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Sylvain Martel's idea "Crack down on single use packaging" has been merged with this one.

    "I still see people using plastic bags, single use coffee cups and drinking bottled water in Vancouver. The city must crack down on these behavior. I know it may be hard to make this a law but by the way of taxation on every items that could be eliminated from the weekly garbage can would be a good deterrent for the use of such items. Things like single use coffee cups, plastic grocery bags, take out containers and bottled water should be heavily taxed by the city as an environmental tax - then apply these monies to education, and more greening initiatives."

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Elle Zed's idea "Ban takeout coffee cups" has been merged with this one.

    "This is a long shot, but if we can convert Vancouverites to be more European and drink their espresso standing at the coffee "bar" or their lattes while sitting in the cafe, it would reduce the piles of cups overflowing from garbage cans on street corners. (My European friends are horrified that anyone would want to drink coffee from a paper cup while walking for 30 minutes anyway... but I guess that's a question of taste). This would also encourage social sustainability - people might actually pause for conversation and engage with neighbours."

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Lisa Giroday's idea "Ban non-biodegradable "to-go" containers/bags at restaurants" has been merged with this one.

    "When there are so many bio-degradable options available, it makes no sense why they have not been imposed on local restaurants/cafes as "to-go" options."

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    FYI there is another idea on the forum to ban all disposable cups, plates and cultery in restaurants and cafes.

    http://vancouver.uservoice.com/forums/56390-gc-2020/suggestions/921417-ban-disposable-cups-plates-and-cutlery-in-all-res?ref=title

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    To expand on this, Seattle passed an ordinance that bans the use of styrofoam fast food containers and requires restaurants to switch to containers that can be composted or recycled. Impressive!

    http://earth911.com/news/2010/07/06/seattle-bans-single-use-restaurant-packaging-from-landfills/

    http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CBOR&s1=116250.cbn.&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=/~public/cbor2.htm&r=1&f=G

  4. 146 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Michèle Smolkin's idea "Ban plastic and paper bags in stores" has been merged with this one.

    "People bring their own bags and baskets"

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Heather Burton's idea "BAN plastic bags" has been merged with this one.

    "Now is not the time to be dainty about this. If you are going to be buying enough stuff *ahem* items, to need a bag, you thought about it before you left the house. Meaning...you can bring your own bag. “But I always forget…” Well it will only take once or twice of having to schlep home dropping your toilet paper and lemons down Robson St. before it becomes a habit. It wont be hard I promise."

  5. 118 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Caroline Farquhar's idea "City wide program for styrafoam recycling" has been merged with this one.

    Styrofoam is an exceptionally toxic product - both in the making and in it's post use shelf life. Many large companies recycle their shipping styrofoam - but what about the end use consumer?
    As much as I would love to see styrofoam completely banned, we could at least start with a recycling program.
    But we should certainly ban styrofoam for grocery display & fast food!!!!

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Charles' idea "Soft plastics collection" has been merged with this one.

    OK - I recycle, all my paper, cardboard, glass, hard plastic containers, compost and then I look at what's left my garbage and for the most part it's bread bags, soft plastics from packaging wraps from packaged goods, etc. So we've taken pretty much everything out of our garbage stream except these soft plastic wraps and bags... this is all I send to the land fill? So the land fill these days must be pretty much all soft plastics? Can we encourage washing and collection of these plastics please??!!!

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Raymond's idea "Recycle more plastics in the residential blue box program" has been merged wtih this one.

    "Lets recycle more plastics in the blue box program."

  6. 7 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Lauren G's idea "A more organized waste and recycling program like Germany" has been merged wtih this one.

    http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/recycling.html

    A 5-bin separation program designed to reduce waste and increase recycling. The following four bins are kept at your house, while large, public glass recycling 'dumpsters' are scattered throughout all neighbourhoods, separating glass according to colour.

    Brown = Biological/Organic/Garden waste
    Blue = Paper, cardboard, etc.
    Yellow = Plastics, cans, composites, etc.
    Gray = Everything else (to be incinerated)

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    Pls note, the idea submitted by Anynomous to "Follow Calgary in their program http://www.calgary.ca/bluecart/" has been merged with this idea.

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    Pls note, Raymond's idea "Implement a single stream recycling system in each neighbourhood" has been merged into this one.

    "This would encourage residents to recycle more then now and will also be easier for residents to recycle as all materials go into one bin on wheels.

    If Waste Management can do it, so can the city of vancouver."

  7. 256 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Lisa Giroday's idea "substidize property tax on land used for urban farms" has been merged with this one.

    Land is so expensive in Vancouver. Lets consider giving people a break who use their land to reduce emissions, create bio-diversity and fulfill a social/environmental obligation to a better planet!

  8. 15 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: diana's idea "Vancouver must improve its recycling capacity for several types, as they have in the suburbs." has been merged with this one

  9. 11 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Thomas's idea "Businesses responsible for there waste" has been merged with this one

    "Business should be responsible to recycle goods and packaging they sold. Consumer should be allowed to return packaging (cardboard, Styrofoam etc) to the business where they brought a good. When the good is on the end of there live the business should take it back and recycle it responsibly. This program could be extended that if you buy a new good you can return the business is obligated to accept the old good. For example you buy a new printer the business is responsible to take back the old broken printer. Same with all the TV: People that buy a flat screen TV return there old TV."

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Charles Latimer's idea "Maker stores take back all of their products for recycling." has been merged with this one

    "That it been clothing, electronics or appliances, stores should be responsible for the full life-cycle of their products.

    If you purchase batteries at a store, you should be able to bring them back once they are spent. The same should go for camping gas canisters.

    Every product that is put out by stores should have a end of life solution that is implemented by the same stores."

    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) shared this idea  · 
  10. 18 votes
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    Great idea!
    The City has been interested in scramble intersections for some time, and staff are currently exploring different locations where they might be suitable. High pedestrian volumes are an important criteria, although there are other considerations as well.
    Those interested in learning more about pedestrian volumes downtown and throughout the city might want to check out the City’s 2001-2002 Pedestrian study (http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/transport/pedstudy/).

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    @ rick - I just merged this scramble intersection idea with another. follow the links in the comments for time lapse videos of scramble intersections and other information.

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: DanielCKRMT's idea "Redesign Cross Walks in Busy Locations to Scramble Cross Walks" has been merged with this one

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    Here's a time-lapse image of the scramble intersection at Younge and Dundas in Toronto.
    http://spacingtoronto.ca/2008/08/29/pedestrian-scramble-time-lapse/

    @Jacob, good question.

  11. 202 votes
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    The Draft Greenest City Action Plan includes an action to develop a building deconstruction policy. The City is piloting a building deconstruction project and is exploring options for an incentive program to encourage deconstruction.

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Ian Mass's idea "Deconstruct Buildings, Don't demolish Them" was merged with this one

    In Vancouver there are 850 to 1000 housing demolitions/year with an average of 15 to 20 tons/home which go straight to the landfill. Deconstructing buildings, selling the materials through non profits and employing inner city youth and adults would meet financial, social and environmental goals. Housing deconstruction policies and programs are being developed all over North America so why not Vancouver.

  12. 6 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: weaver's idea "Solar cells on street lamps"

    "Our street lamps are connected to the grid, so have the infrastructure there already to have solar cells attached. These would feed electricity into the grid during the daylight hours and help offset the electricity used at night."

  13. 155 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    The title of this idea hs been changed slightly for clarity.

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    @Germanadian you can also upload your green images to Green the City Vancouver http://www.greenthecityvancouver.com/

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    @Germanadian We'd love to see your images! Can you add them to our Facebook page? http://www.facebook.com/greenestcity

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    Note: Geordie Milne's idea "Install Bicycle sharing systems" has been merged with this one.

    "Vancouver joins the list of great cities to have its own bike sharing scheme, including Seville, Brussels, Vienna, Paris and many more.

    http://www.dublinbikes.ie/misc/maintenance.html

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_sharing_system"

  14. 20 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Kirsten's idea "A massive materials trading post" has been merged with this one.

    Create a city-supported organization with a central warehouse to create a trading post of sorts, where people can bring their scrap or unwanted materials (building materials, fabric, art supplies, garden supplies, bikes etc) and the organization sorts it for resale or trade.

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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Big Dave's idea "Create "Trash to Treasure" Stores at Waste Disposal Sites and Transfer Stations" has been merged with this one

    Whenever I go to the transfer station I am amazed at the high quality items that people throw away. We could reduce a huge amount of waste if there was a "store" right at the transfer station where people could drop off items that they no longer want but that others might want. Provided that the items were accepted by the store, the people dropping them off would avoid paying a tipping fee for them. The collected items could then be sold for just enough money to cover the operating costs of the "Trash to Treasure" stores. This approach has been implemented very successfully in some other North American and European cities.

  15. 12 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Big Dave's idea "Create a special "environmental" zone in Vancouver" has been merged with this one.

    "Many cities and regions have created special economic zones to stimulate economic activity. The City of Vancouver could create a special "environmental" zone to stimulate environmental activity. In this zone, new eco-friendly building technologies could be test-piloted without having to adhere to local building codes. This zone could also be used as a demonstration site for new environmental initiatives and technologies."

  16. 8 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Tanya's idea "Promote more car sharing - instead of pay-as-go insurance or buying electric vehicle" has been merged with this one.

    "Car sharing focuses on the #1 R - Reduce - including # of parking spots, # of vehicles manufactured, road space needed, car washing going into all drains, etc. Encouraging people to use pay-as-go insurance won't cut down car usage in same way, nor will encouraging buying electric vehicles."

  17. 25 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    NOTE: Jacob Sussman's idea "Turn Off Downtown Office Lights at Night When No One is Working" has been merged with this one.

    "There are better ways to use that power."

  18. 1 vote
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    The 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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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    @gifford We've kind of already done that. The 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%). Read more here:
    http://vancouver.ca/sustainability/building_neu.htm

    And if you want a tour, Connecting Environmental Professionals is offering a free tour of the facility on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 10:30 am - 11:30 am.
    Click here to register - http://www.eventbrite.com/event/858450649?ref=elink

  19. 60 votes
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    AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) commented  · 

    Note: Geordie Milne's idea "Provide free edible Perennials, fruit and nut trees." has been merged with this one.

    "I am currently reading, http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/about_gardening
    In forest gardening we mimic the way nature works. The plants that are not edible still have many uses, nitrogen fixers, green manure, ect.. but why not plant edible? Perennialtake ... more

    I am currently reading, http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/about_gardening

    In forest gardening we mimic the way nature works. The plants that are not edible still have many uses, nitrogen fixers, green manure, ect.. but why not plant edible? Perennials take a lot less work, coming back healthier year after year!

    Free trainings on cultivation and jobs created in producing edible plants.

    Are you aware of the current lack of nursery's selling edible food?

    Nut trees often take 10 years to produce."

  20. 3 votes
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