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Home My WebLink AboutDSD-18-145 - REEP Grant ReportREPORT TO:Finance & Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING:November 5, 2018 SUBMITTED BY:Environmental Advisory Committee PREPARED BY:Cody Boomer, Executive Assistant,Development Services, 519-741- 2200 ext. 7407 WARD (S) INVOLVED:All DATE OF REPORT:October 18, 2018 REPORT NO.:DSD-18-145 SUBJECT:Environmental Advisory Committee Recommendation Waterloo Region Green Solutions (REEP) Annual Request for Financial Support __________________________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: That,subject to the 2019budget deliberations, $30,907 be allocated to Waterloo Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), as part of the Utilities 2019CapitalBudget. 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 environmentalcharity which helps citizen live sustainably. Itis funded by a combination of local partners, provincial contracts, municipal grants and client fees. REPORT: At the September 20, 2018Environmental Advisory Committee meeting, the Committee considered a request from REEP for a grant of $30,907 core2019 operating budget. Ms. Mary Jane Patterson, Executive Director,and Mr. Dave Blake, Associate Director7/2018 andgoals for 2019. Ms. Pattersonadvised that to build a strong and resilient economy, create safe and thriving neighbourhoods, and helpsestablish a more sustainable environment and infrastructure. Mr. Blake p-2018 financial report. 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 REEPand acknowledged the important work they offer the community. LINKhas been attached for reference. ***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance. 1 - 1 ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: delivery of core service. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Starting in 2000, the City allocated a $5,000grant to REEP.Over the past 15 years the grant amount has increased to its current level of $30,000. As of 2018, to REEPhas been$385,000. Currently $30,907has been allocated in the Utilities2018 Capital Budget.Any increaseover and above this amount would need to be funded through the tax base as there is insufficient capacity within the Utilities budget to accommodate an increased grant allocation. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM -The September 20, 2018Environmental Advisory Committee agenda, the Waterloo Regional Green Solutions (REEP) grant funding request and annual report areavailable f website. CONSULT -At the September 20, 2018EnvironmentalAdvisoryCommittee 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: Justin Readman, General Manager,DevelopmentServices Appendix A -funding request Appendix B -Annual Report 1 - 2 IĻƌƦźƓŭ ƦĻƚƦƌĻ ƌźǝĻ ƭǒƭƷğźƓğĬƌǤ wĻĻƦ źƭ ķƚźƓŭ ŷğƓķƭΏƚƓͲ ƦƩğĭƷźĭğƌ ǞƚƩƉ źƓ ǞŷğƷ źƭ ĬĻĭƚƒźƓŭ ƚƓĻ ƚŅ ƷŷĻ ĻƒĻƩŭźƓŭ ƭƚĭźğƌ źƭƭǒĻƭ ƚŅ ƚǒƩ ƷźƒĻ͵ Mike Strathdee, workshop participant, Reep donor - Kitchener. September 13, 2018 Dear Kitchener Environmental Committee members, Greetings from Reep Green Solutions. We are very happy to share with you .ǒźƌķźƓŭ ğ .ĻğǒƷźŅǒƌ CǒƷǒƩĻ ƚŭĻƷŷĻƩ, our 2018 Report to the Community. stories from each of our programs, of participants who solved problems with our help and made a positive environmental impact while doing it. We share this report with deep thanks to you, Committee members, as well as to Kitchener Utilities and to the City of Kitchener, for helping our community live more sustainably through your strong support of he infographic on page 3 that our programs contribute to a strong green economy as well as to our local environmental targets. Over $3 Million was spent by our home energy participants in upgrading their homes, and their actions will reduce an estimated 600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. This letter is also our request to the City of Kitchener to renew its funding in the amount of $30,907 to Reep Green Solutions in 2019, a 1.5% cost of living increase over the $30,450 received last year. Your contribution goes directly towards our operating costs, and makes all of these results possible. Core funders help to sustain our work while we raise the rest of the funding for our programs. e way Reep and the city are working together. Reep Green Solutions applied to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding to work closely with two Kitchener neighbourhoods to help them become RAIN Smart. The City is kicking in a smaller amount of matching funds and receiving a 6 to 1 return year, helping homeowners landscape and flood-proof yards, capture and store rainwater, and reduce run- off into our stormwater system watch and learn from their neighbours. Home by home, Lakeside and Mount Hope are becoming more flood resilient, and beautiful, neighbourhoods. We thank Kitchener Environmental Committee members, City Councillors, and staff for your strong support of Reep G work in Kitchener, and look forward to working together in 2019. Yours truly, Mary Jane Patterson Executive Director Phone: 519-744-6583 Email: info@reepgreen.ca Website: reepgreen.ca 1 - 3 222 Frederick St., Kitchener, ON N2H 2M8 Charity registration #: 81585 2348 RR0001 Reep Green Solutions An environmental charity that helps people live sustainably is to remain nimble, operating with a minimal overhead, 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, most of our workshops, and the Reep House 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 2019 Region of Waterloo $55,825 City of Kitchener $30,907 City of Cambridge $20,909 Waterloo North Hydro $35,525 Total $143,166 Why support Reep Green Solutions? Focus Area 2, Water Resources RAIN Smart Neighbourhoods, W.E.T. water audits and on-site measures, and the Reep House for Sustainable Living - 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 followed home energy advice over the past 19 years have reduced an estimated 15,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions through their retrofits, contributing reductions in per capita energy consumption and ; Focus Area 6, Resource Consumption and Waste Management annual Zero Waste Campaign helps residents become more conscious of their choices. holding it again landfill; 1 - 4 Focus Area 7, Environmental Education and Public Awareness Our 3 streams of workshops and tours at the Reep House for Sustainable Living exist an environmentalto increase environmental literacy, the implementation of effective . lan for 2015-2018 strong and resilient economy materials for energy, water and stormwater upgrades; a value of approximately $27 Million in the last 15 years in Kitchener alone. develop and nurture a high quality of life and a powerful identityattract investment and a talented creative workforce Improving our older housing stock also contr safe and thriving neighbourhoods draw more people to manage growthcurb urban sprawl develop measures to manage storm water Neighbourhoods project support homeowners in managing rain where it falls, and support the City in implementing its Stormwater Master Plan. We help 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; our new long-term target of reducing our emissions to 80% below 201 levels by 2050. Reep is one of very few organizations that work with the residential sector to promote and empower home energy efficiency, waste reduction and stormwater management in Waterloo Region. online tool called Project Neutral (https://app.projectneutral.org/reep) to the Region that helps each of us calculate our own carbon footprint, and take action to reduce it. Please log on and try it out we would love to hear your feedback! Reep Green Solutions advocates for Kitchener residents The Home Reno Rebate program from Union Gas will close to Kitchener resident participation on October 31, 2018. That leaves Kitchener residents at a disadvantage compared to Waterloo and Cambridge residents, with no access to support to upgrade their homes for energy efficiency. Reep Green Solutions has joined with our umbrella organization Green Communities Canada to advocate directly to the federal government for a federal residential energy efficiency incentive program, to start January 1, 2019. Conclusion Our Mission at Reep Green Solutions is together to make sustainable living 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 through ClimateActionWR, the Zero Waste Challenge and home energy evaluations, and on climate adaptation through Rain Smart Neighbourhoods and the Reep House for Sustainable Living. 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