Finding a greener way of living is in everyone's best interests. The less we pollute the air, water, and soil with sewage treatment chemicals and non biodegradable garbage, the more livable our communities become. The less energy we use, the less harmful greenhouse gases there are to give our children asthma and heat up the planet to the point where food production is affected. The better we look after our environment, the better it is able to look after us. Check out some of the things the city of Kitchener is doing to promote greener living.
Recycling
Recycling is a common practice throughout the developed world, with many children growing up knowing that old dental newsletters go in the blue bin. But did you know that the blue bin concept was developed and pioneered in Kitchener? This city has been using blue boxes for curbside recycling since 1981, two full years before the practice caught on worldwide. Today Kitchener continues to be a recycling leader by repurposing bottles, cans, paper, and organic waste.
Energy Saving
Cutting down on greenhouse gases doesn't just mean not burning your framed prints or driving your car as much, it also means using less electricity, especially when that electricity comes from a coal or oil fired generator. In Kitchener, municipal energy saving measures in public buildings have not only cut back on emissions, they have also saved the city about $1.2 million annually in energy costs. That's tax dollars that can be invested back into the community.
Getting the Word Out
It's not enough for the municipal services to switch to cloth diapers in their day cares. If we really want to change the world, change needs to start at home. To that end, the city of Kitchener has been educating its citizens in environmental practices through workshops, advertisements, consultations and surveys. The government has also gone out of its way to promote and encourage these green practices by offering incentives and grants to people and businesses who make the effort to go green.
Growth Management
One of the things that has a detrimental effect on the environment is people's desire to spread out and own property. By striking a balance between growth and environmental preservation, the city of Kitchener hopes to limit urban sprawl. This will reduce the amount of Canadian ETFs that are being spent on gasoline for commuting to and from suburbs and preserve important farm and wild land.
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