For the second consecutive year, the City of Kelowna has received Level 3 recognition from The Provincial Union of B.C. Municipalities Green Communities Committee for their commitment to climate action.
Sustainability Coordinator, Tracy Guidi detailed a few of many initiatives underway to reduce Kelowna's emissions.
“Implementing the energy step code, which is helping to make new buildings more energy efficient; we’ve changed all our streets lights to LED, which has resulted in a 62 per cent reduction in energy use for those street lights. We do things like the Clean Air and Safe Routes 4 Schools program to coordinate kids to get out of vehicles and actually walk to school or bike to school.”
Additionally, the City is preparing for climate change by mitigating floods and forest fuels.
A Level 3 designation is awarded to local governments for accelerating progress on B.C climate Action Charter commitments.
The goal is to obtain Level 4 recognition for achieving a carbon neutral community.
Guidi said the community can contribute to the City’s climate action by driving less and decreasing their natural gas consumption.
“Simple things like adopting fuel efficient driving techniques. So making sure your tire pressure is properly inflated and that you're doing regular maintenance. Things like reducing your home electricity and your natural gas consumption,” said Guidi.
The City is hosting two public engagements this week to gain input on future initiatives.
“It's a great opportunity for people to come out and give input on how we should be doing our transportation networks and where we should put our bike lanes. As well as how our city is growing because that really does have a huge impact on our greenhouse gas emissions.”
Engagements are happening this Wednesday at the Capital News Centre starting at 3:30p.m and on Saturday at 9:30a.m at Orchard Park Mall.