Whistler announces carbon neutrality two years ahead of goal
By Contributor
Two years ahead of its goal, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has achieved carbon neutrality.
Offsetters, leading carbon management solutions provider, has partnered with RMOW to offset their 2010 corporate footprint.
As one of the first British Columbia municipalities to adopt a Carbon Neutral Operations plan (September 2009), the RMOW has measured emissions associated with municipal operations, reduced emissions wherever possible, and offset what the municipality has been unable to reduce.
Offsetters had invested in high quality and verified projects for the municipality: a local energy efficiency and renewable energy project at SunSelect Produce in Aldergrove, as well as a Gold Standard wind turbine project in Turkey.
The RMOW was one of 179 BC Municipalities that signed the Climate Action Charter, pledging to be operationally carbon neutral by 2012.
Although this is the first time that the municipality has purchased offsets associated with their annual municipal operations, the RMOW and Offsetters previously worked together during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, when Whistler voluntarily offset their Games-time emissions.
As well as offsetting carbon emissions, RMOW also implemented reduction initiatives including:
- A $900,000 upgrade to the Meadow Park Sports Centre that included the installation of a ground source heat pump and a solar hot system designed to significantly reduce the energy load on the building
- Worked with the designers of the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood, the Lost Lake PassivHaus, Village Stroll lighting upgrades, and the Whistler Public Library to reduce emissions
- Actively engaged on-the-ground staff to identify carbon emissions reduction opportunities
- Developed a vehicle allowance/staff vehicle mileage framework designed to reduce single occupancy vehicle use and actively reduce overall fuel use for staff travel
- Ensured that emission reduction requirements are phased into all new contracted service agreements
For more information about RMOW’s Carbon Neutral Operations Plan, visit www.whistler.ca.
For more information about Offsetters projects visit www.offsetters.ca.
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