Green Initiatives

Selwyn Township has launched a Clear Garbage Bag Program with enforcement effective September 1, 2021. 

Clear garbage bag programs are shown to help divert recyclable material from landfills and encourage residents to be more mindful of their waste habits.

Climate change is a global challenge, but we’re already experiencing the impacts locally, such as more frequent flooding and drought events.

In this region, our homes and residential buildings are responsible for one third of our community’s greenhouse gas emissions. Taking climate action at home is an essential part of our collective approach to addressing the climate crisis and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

In our homes, most of our emissions are related to burning fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, or propane as we heat our homes. The electricity we use at home also creates emissions.

Over the past 15 years, nearly 5,000 residents have undertaken home energy retrofits to reduce their emissions and save on their energy bills! Most of these retrofits have focused on improvements to the building envelope to increase air-tightness - things like increasing insulation levels, sealing cracks around doors, and replacing windows – as well as the replacing old heating systems. These retrofits are essential because they help our homes to be more efficient.

Video Series

GreenUP, in partnership with Peterborough County and the City of Peterborough, has developed a series of Climate Action at Home videos to help you take action!

• DIY Retrofits - To learn about easy DIY retrofits that you can complete in your own home or apartment, check out the DIY Retrofit Series. Chris Magwood from the Endeavour Centre shares tips to help you reduce emissions, save money, and increase the comfort of your home.

• Achieving Carbon Neutrality - To find out how you can go further to significantly address climate change, check out the Achieving Carbon Neutral video. This video also features local expert Chris Magwood, as well as Sean Flanagan from Flanagan and Sun, and Brianna Salmon from GreenUP. 

Visit the GreenUP website to watch this series, to learn more about available retrofit incentive programs, and to find out how you can book an energy audit. 

Sustainable Peterborough has developed a Climate Change Action Plan for the Greater Peterborough Area. The Climate Change team is currently transitioning from planning to implementation.

• Greater Peterborough Area Climate Change Action Plan (Sept 30, 2016)
• CCAP - Township of Selwyn PCP Milestone 1 Report
• Chapter 9 - Selwyn Community and Corporate Climate Action Plans (Sept 30, 2016)

Between 2011 and 2017, Selwyn Township reduced its GHG emissions by 65%! Check out how:

• 2019-2020 Corporate GHG Emission Reduction Efforts Report
• 2019-2020 Corporate GHG Emissions Update Report

In September 2019, Lakefield District Public School was awarded funding from TD Friends of the Environment Fund for a food and organic waste reduction and diversion project. This project has changed how students, teachers and their families think about food waste.

The project included:

• food waste audits
• diverting food scraps through vermicomposting, traditional composting and digesters
• educational programming on food waste reduction, seed ordering and garden planning
• using the compost generated to plant vegetable and pollinator gardens.

Project partners included Selwyn Township, Nourish Lakefield Community Garden and the Peterborough Master Gardeners.

We are thrilled to partner with Green Up, Winfield Shores Corporation, and Green Communities Canada on Lakefield's first Depave Paradise project!

 

In early July, Green Up and volunteers depaved and planted a beautiful 100m² pocket park at the entrance to Winfield Shores Harbour on Stewart Drive in Lakefield. Together, they liberated the soil, making Winfield Shores Rain Ready, and adding beauty and biodiversity for the whole community to enjoy!

Depave Paradise is a project of Green Communities Canada and local partners such as GreenUP, in communities across Canada. Volunteers work together to remove unwanted pavement and plant gardens filled with native species in its place. Removing asphalt and concrete at the neighbourhood level is an exciting new trend that renews neglected urban spaces by improving biodiversity and stormwater infiltration potential.

Energy Consumption Data

• 2019 Energy Consumption Summary
• 2018 Energy Consumption Summary
• 2017 Energy Consumption Summary
• 2016 Energy Consumption Summary
• 2015 Energy Consumption Summary
• 2014 Energy Consumption Summary
• 2013 Energy Consumption Summary
• 2012 Energy Consumption Summary
• 2011 Energy Consumption Summary
• Annual Comparisons, Energy Consumption & GHG Emissions 2008 - 2017

Energy Management Plan

• 2019 Township Energy Management Plan
• 2014 Township Energy Management Plan

LED Streetlight Project

As part of the Township Energy Management Plan, the Township converted all traditional streetlights to LED.

Our Green Event Policy supports event organizers in making sustainable choices when planning an event. If you are planning a green event, we encourage you to keep the Township updated so we can recognize your efforts.

"The Link" Rural Bus Service will help reduce the number of passenger vehicles on the road and the pollutants they emit into the environment. Township staff will be tracking ridership to determine approximate GHG emission reductions achieved through the availability of a public transportation program.

• Municipal Office
• Lakefield Library
• Bridgenorth Library

Climate change has brought on increased frequency of storm events as well as extreme heat and drought, causing issues of flooding, pollution to waterways, and water scarcity and security. In partnership with Peterborough-based environmental charity - GreenUP, Selwyn Township is offering a two-part workshop and subsidy program to Township residents to learn about the importance of water conservation and how they can take action on their properties to reduce flood risk and enhance drought tolerance.

• Bullfrog Power
• Buildium's Green Building Resource Guide
• "Car Heaven", a program of the Clean Air Foundation
• Conservation in Action: Township of Selwyn
• Getting Clean by Going Green
• Going Green in Your Home
• Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs - Energy Opportunities
• Ministry of the Environment "My Environment"
• Peterborough Greenup
• Recyclopedia
• The Great Refrigerator Roundup