TORONTO, May 27 /CNW/ – On the cusp of another week celebrating our connection to the environment (Canadian Environment Week, June 1st through 7th), a number of cities and towns across Canada have partnered with Earth Day Canada’s EcoAction Teams program to implement a year-round program of conservation actions any citizen can take.
Cities such as Ontario’s Waterloo and Town of Blue Mountains, New Brunswick’s Moncton and Alberta’s Grand Prairie and Sylvan Lake have all signed agreements with Earth Day Canada to use EcoAction Teams to engage their citizens in simple lifestyle changes that add up to a big impact. And more cities are in the process of signing on. It is expected that more than 25 cities and towns across Canada will implement the program by the end of the year.
“We’re proud to be the first Canadian city to adopt and actively promote this conservation program to our residents,” says Mayor Brenda Halloran. “The City of Waterloo is an “environment first” community. This means we make a concerted effort to ensure that environmental matters are assessed at the forefront of all of our business activities. This partnership fits well with a number of other environmental strategies that form the core of the City’s Environmental Strategic Plan.”
What makes Earth Day Canada’s EcoAction Teams program unique from others is its ability to guide and measure beneficial behaviour change while others simply gauge your current environmental footprint.
“Most conservation programs tell you the size of your current carbon footprint but don’t give you practical information to guide you on the journey to reduce that footprint,” states Jed Goldberg, President of Earth Day Canada.
“They’re the equivalent of a bathroom scale. You step on and they tell you how much you weigh but don’t give you the support to lose the weight. Our program does.”
Earth Day Canada’s EcoAction Teams program is a sophisticated and comprehensive conservation program. The Program is anchored by an online conservation calculator that is loaded with simple, easy to understand tips which walk you through the steps you can take to reduce your energy and water use, waste, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. With a click of a button, personalized reports on your greenhouse gas emission reductions and cost savings are sent directly to you. You can also compare your savings with other people in your province and across Canada.
“Moncton residents are already taking steps in their daily lives to reduce their environmental footprint,” says Moncton Mayor Lorne Mitton. “With the EcoAction Teams tools, residents can see just how much of a difference they really make, and participants can also find simple tips on how to do even more.”
“I am pleased to announce the Town’s partnership with Earth Day Canada and the EcoAction Teams program”, states Ellen Anderson, Mayor of Town of The Blue Mountains. “This environmental impact calculator will help our community obtain a better understanding and awareness of the impacts our daily activities and lifestyle choices have on air quality, global climate stability, natural resource use and energy consumption. As a result of improved understanding, better environmental and financial choices will be made which will result in another step towards creating a sustainable community here in Town of The Blue Mountains.”
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About Earth Day Canada
Earth Day Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990,
provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to help the environment. It was recently recognized as the top environmental education organization in North America, for its innovative programs and educational resources, by the Washington-based North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), the world’s largest association of environmental educators. EDC regularly partners with thousands of organizations in all parts of Canada. EcoAction teams and the rest of EDC programs can found at www.earthday.ca
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/For further information: Keith Treffry, Communications Director, Earth
Day Canada, (416) 599-1991 x 107, keith@earthday.ca/
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