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Home My WebLink AboutFCS-17-195 - REEP Grant Report` REPORT TO: Finance & Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: December 4, 2017 SUBMITTED BY: Environmental Advisory Committee PREPARED BY: Jeff Bunn,Manager, Council & Committee Services/Deputy Clerk, 519-741-2200 ext. 7278 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: November 15, 2017 REPORT NO.: FCS-17-195 SUBJECT: Environmental Advisory Committee Recommendation Waterloo Region Green Solutions (REEP) Annual Request for Financial Support ___________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: That subject to the 2018 budget deliberations, $30,450 be allocated to Waterloo Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), as part of the Legislated Services 2018 Operating Budget. BACKGROUND: Founded in 1998, the Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) provides residents with tools for sustainable resource use, energy conservation and efficiency, and renewable energy applications through the facilitation of environmental programs and services, public education, research and community partnerships. In early 2006, REEP became incorporated as a project of Waterloo Region Green Solutions (WRGS), a community-based environmental charity which helps citizen live sustainably. It is funded by a combination of local partners, provincial contracts, municipal grants and client fees. REPORT: At the September 21, 2017 Environmental Advisory Committee meeting, the Committee considered a request from REEP for a grant of $30,450. which would represent the City of core 2018 operating budget. Ms. Mary Jane Patterson, Executive Director, and Mr. Dave Blake, Associate Director, REEP, achievements in 2016/2017 andgoals for 2018. Ms. Patterson advised the work undertaken by safe and thriving neighbourhoods, and help establish a more sustainable environment and infrastructure. Mr. Blake p-2017 financial report. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 3 - 1 The Environmental Advisory Committee expressed support for the request for the additional funding, noting that core funders are essential to ensure the continued operation of REEP and acknowledged the important work they offer the community. A following LINK has been attached for reference. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: through the delivery of core service. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Starting in 2000, the City allocated a $5,000 grant to REEP.Over the past 15 years the grant amount has increased to its current level of $30,000. As of 2017, financial contribution to REEP has been $355,000. Currently $30,000 has been allocated in the 2018 Operating Budget. Any increase over and above this amount would need to be funded through the tax base as there is insufficient capacity within the Legislated Services budget to accommodate an increased grant allocation. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM - The September 21, 2017 Environmental Advisory Committee agenda, the Waterloo Regional Green Solutions (REEP) grant funding request and annual report are available for CONSULT - At the September 21, 2017 Environmental Advisory Committee meeting, the Chair informed all those in attendance that any recommendation arising from the Committee would be considered at a standing Committee meeting. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: M. Goldrup, Acting DCAO, Finance and Corporate Services Appendix A - request Appendix B - 2017 Annual Report 3 - 2 Appendix A IĻƌƦźƓŭ ƦĻƚƦƌĻ ƌźǝĻ ƭǒƭƷğźƓğĬƌǤ Jessica Reesor-Rempel, participant, RAIN Smart Neighbourhoods. September 1, 2017 RE: 2017 Report to the Community and Funding Request Dear Kitchener Environmental Committee members, Greetings from Reep Green Solutions. This letter serves two purposes. First, we are happy to present our 2017 Report to the Community, which shares stories of some of the people that have participated in our programs (such as the Kitchener resident quoted above), the problems they were trying to solve, and the We share this report with deep thanks to you and to the City of Kitchener for helping our community live more sustainably through your strong support of work. The infographic on page 3 captures the environmental and economic impacts of actions in our community, while the stories help to show the social benefits for Region residents as well, such as sharing experiences and learning with each other while contributing to a greater cause. Your consistent support is what makes these results possible. Second, this letter is also our request to the City of Kitchener to renew its funding in the amount of $30,450 to Reep Green Solutions in 2018, a 1.5% cost of living increase over the $30,000 received last year. Your contribution,representing approximately 5% of our revenue, goes directly towards our operating costs. Core funders help to sustain our work while we raise the rest of the funding for our programs. An example is the 3-year RAIN Smart Neighbourhoods project in the City of Kitchener that is funded largely through the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Focused in Lakeside and Mount Hope, the project helps residents transform their neighbourhood to be more beautiful, flood-resistant and sustainable. We provide support in landscaping and flood proofing yards that captures and stores rainwater, reduces run- off into our stormwater system, and improves water quality in our streams and the Grand River. Some of the activities are open to all residents, such as the back yard design workshops, in which participants bring a Google map of their yard and work with our RAIN Coach to make their yard more functional and attractive. The Ontario Trillium Foundation is providing $439,500 for this project, and the City of Kitchener is contributing $25,000 per year for 3 years. $6 return in value for every $1 invested by Kitchener. Now in its second year, the project is piloting an incentive program and sharing the results with City staff to help inform the rollout We thank Kitchener Environmental Committee members, City Councillors, and staff for your strong support of Reep Green Solutions work in Kitchener, and look forward to working together in 2018. Yours truly, Mary Jane Patterson Executive Director Phone: 519-744-6583 Email: info@Reepgreen.ca Website: Reepgreen.ca 3 - 3 222 Frederick St., Kitchener, ON N2H 2M8 Charity registration #: 81585 2348 RR0001 Reep Green Solutions An environmental charity that helps people live sustainably Reep Green Solutions model as an organization is to remain nimble, operating with a minimal overhead and adapting our infrastructure as opportunities arise. We do this through a combination of: a)funded public education and action programs, such as RAIN Smart Neighbourhoods; b)fee-for-service and contract work, such as W.E.T. audits, in keeping with our strategic goals. Some of our work has no funding or revenue stream, such as the Zero Waste Challenge campaign and the ReepHouse for Sustainable Living. We sustain them through fee-for-service revenue from other projects. Our Core Funders give us the starting capacity to seek these opportunities. Core Funding Requested for 2018 Region of Waterloo $55,000 City of Kitchener $30,450 City of Cambridge $20,600 Waterloo North Hydro $35,000 Total $141,050 Why support Reep Green Solutions? Focus Area 2, Water Resources RAIN Smart Neighbourhoods, W.E.T. water conservation audits and installations, and the Reep House for Sustainable Living (check out our hands-on get-wet - Focus Area 3, Air Quality ClimateActionWR, co-led by Reep Green Solutions, focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors, including transportation, with additional benefits Focus Area 5, Energy The estimated 15,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that Kitchener households have reduced by following Reep Green Solutionstions in per capita energy consumption and to promote a Focus Area 6, Resource Consumption and Waste Management more conscious destined for landfill 3 - 4 Focus Area 7, Environmental Education and Public Awareness Our workshops and tours at the Reep House for Sustainable Living exist ly healthy lifestyle to increase environmental literacy, the implementation of effective monitoring programs and the introduction of cooperative public outreach initiatives. Reep s Strategic Plan for 2015-2018 strong and resilient economy materials for energy, water and stormwater upgrades; a value of approximately $26 Million in the last 14 years in Kitchener alone. develop and nurture a high quality of life and a powerful identityattract investment and a talented creative workforce. safe and thriving neighbourhoods draw more people to manage growthcurb urban sprawl. Reep Green Solutions has been working with Kitchener staff since 2009 develop measures to manage storm water and . Groundbreaking initiatives such as the RAIN Smart Neighbourhoods project support homeowners in managing rain where it falls, and support the City in implementing its Stormwater Master Plan. Reep Green Solutions helps Kitchener fulfill its greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments to: our collective ClimateActionWR plan to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions in the Region of Waterloo to 6% below 2010 levels by 2020. Reep is one of the few organizations that work with the residential sector to promote and empower home energy efficiency, waste reduction and stormwater management in Waterloo Region. Our energy and water conservation programs as well as rainwater harvesting initiatives have a direct impact on the ability of residential property owners to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Reep Green Solutions advocates for Kitchener residents to have access to provincial programs For several years there was a Home Reno Rebate program from Union Gas that was not available for Kitchener residents. Reep has consistently urged the federal and provincial levels of government to make home energy efficiency incentives accessible to all residents. When the province announced its $100 Million investment last year to increase and expand the Union Gas incentives, we asked how Kitchener residents could access these rebates. The result was a re-jig of the provincial program to include all homes heated by natural gas, regardless of provider, as well as oil, propane and wood heated homes. Electrically-heated homes now qualify as well. Conclusion Our Mission at Reep Green Solutions is together to make sustainable living the norm. We are proud to be part of a community that sees the importance of taking action on climate change, and to be working together with Kitchener city staff on climate change mitigation and adaptation, through Rain Smart Neighbourhoods, ClimateActionWR, home energy evaluations, the Reep House for Sustainable Living and the Zero Waste Challenge. Thank you for supporting this good work! ********************************** 3 - 5 Appendix B 3 - 6 3 - 7 3 - 8 3 - 9 3 - 10 ¤ 3 - 11 3 - 12 ¨ 3 - 13 ª 3 - 14 ¬ 3 - 15 3 - 16 3 - 17 3 - 18 ® 3 - 19 ¬¤ª¬¤ ¨¬¬¨¬ ¬¤¬ªª¤ ¨ ª¬ ¬ªª¤ª¨ ¨ª¤¤¤ ¨ª ª ¤¬ª¨ ¬ª¬¨ ¤ª¬ ª¬ ¤ª ¨ ª¨ª ª¬¤ª ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ 3 - 20 ¤ 3 - 21