Selwyn Township's Green Principles
Incorporating Green Principles is the aim of all Council and Staff in the Township of Selwyn and many initiatives have been undertaken to date.
The following are on-going initiatives in Selwyn Township that are benefitting the environment and the community. Each initiative is aligned with priorities in Selwyn’s Climate Change Action Plan and helping to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the corporation and community
| Between 2011 and 2017, the Township of Selwyn reduced its GHG emissions by 35%! |
| This Township of Selwyn Corporate GHG Emission Reduction Efforts 2012-2019 report provides yearly highlights of initiatives that have reduced GHG emissions across corporate sectors.
It is demonstrated that we have made significant progress toward reaching our GHG emission reduction targets outlined in Selwyn’s Climate Change Action Plan! |
| ReLeaf & Backyard Digester Program - Apply now! |
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| Green Event Policy |
| On February 25th, 2020, Selwyn Township Council endorsed a Green Event Policy. This policy will help support event organizers to make sustainable choices so that events produce as little waste and greenhouse gas emissions as possible. To make it as easy as possible for event organizers to utilize the policy, several resources have been developed. If you are planning a green event, we encourage you to keep the Township updated so we can recognize your efforts! |
| Closing the Loop on Food and Organic Waste |
| In September, 2019, Lakefield District Public School was awarded funding from TD Friends of the Environment fund to undertake a food and organic waste reduction and diversion project. Project partners include Selwyn Township, Nourish Lakefield Community Garden and the Peterborough Master Gardeners. In December, Grade 8s conducted waste audits to understand the food waste patterns at the school. Participating classrooms of various grade levels have begun to collect food scraps that will be sustainably diverted through vermicomposting, traditional composting and digesters on school property. Students can look forward to educational programming delivered by project partners on food waste reduction, seed ordering and garden planning and using compost generated through the project to plant vegetable and pollinator gardens. This project will change how students, teachers and their families think about food waste and its connection to our well-being and the health of the environment. |
| Clear Garbage Bag Program |
| On March 1st, 2020, the Township of Selwyn is launching a clear garbage bag program with enforcement commencing September 2021. Clear garbage bag programs have shown to significantly increase the diversion of recyclable material from the landfill and inspire residents to be more mindful of their waste habits. For more information on the program, visit: www.selwyntownship.ca/clearbag. |
| "The Link" Rural Bus Service |
| The Link 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 greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved through the availability of a public transportation program. For more information on The Link and to provide feedback on the proposed service design and branding, please visit: www.selwyntownship.ca/thelink. |
| 2020 Capital Budget Projects |
| In 2020 the Township looks forward to several capital projects with environmental benefits. Some of these include an LED retrofit of the Lakefield Marina Boardwalk Lighting, improved roof insulation at the Ennismore Seniors Club, stormwater management upgrades, improving active transportation infrastructure and corridors, and energy efficient upgrades to arena equipment. |
| Solar Panel Installation |
| The Solar Panel initiative involved the installation on some municipal building rooftops. The links below provide detailed read-out on these systems: |
| Selwyn Township Energy Consumption Data |
| Township Energy Management Plan |
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| LED Lighting Project |
| As part of the Township Energy Management Plan, converting all traditional street lights to LED is our first significant project that will help us in meeting our commitments over the coming years. |
| EV Charging Station available in Lakefield |
Residents of Selwyn Township can charge their electric cars while taking a tour of downtown Lakefield and all of its amenities. The electric vehicle charging station is located in the municipal parking lot beside The Village Inn of Lakefield. This is a level 2 charger and the rate charged is $1.50 per hour. How users can start a charge: There are three methods to initiating a charge at the units:
These are the only three ways to start a session. We recommend users to download and install the app. This app will allow them to start and end their charging sessions for free, as well as locate plugs anywhere in North America. If users plan on travelling outside the Peterborough area on a regular basis, then we recommend getting a Flo card and adding funds to it with their credit, as most chargers are not free. Lastly if the network should be down or in the case of an emergency, users can always call the toll-free number located on each unit for CAA assistance. All charging stations are also listed on several charging station map databases. Every EV comes with its own charging station finding app plus the following open networks including:
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| Sustainable Peterborough |
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Sustainable Peterborough has developed a Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for the Greater Peterborough Area. The Climate Change team is currently transitioning from planning to implementation. For more information on the implementation process visit: https://sustainablepeterborough.ca/projects/climate-change-action-plan/implementation/ |
| Conservation in Action - ORCA |
| Otonabee Conservation has produced an information sheet "Conservation in Action: Township of Selwyn" which highlights conservation activity - from the number of permits issued last year, to the types of stewardship and education programs offered - in our municipality. |
| "Greening our Municipality" Links |
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