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Home My WebLink AboutFCS-12-163 - Environment Committee Recommendation - Waterloo ReREPORT TO: Finance & Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: October 15, 2012 SUBMITTED BY: Environmental Committee PREPARED BY: Daphne Livingstone, Committee Administrator, 519-741-2277 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: September 21, 2012 REPORT NO.: FCS-12-163 SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: WATERLOO REGION GREEN SOLUTIONS (REEP) - ANNUAL REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT RECOMMENDATION: That subject to the 2013 budget deliberations, $27,500. be allocated to the Waterloo Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), as part of the Environmental Committee’s 2013 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 non-profit environmental organization that is funded by a combination of local partners, provincial contracts, grants and client fees. REPORT: At the September 20, 2012 Environmental Committee meeting, the Committee considered a request from REEP, for a grant of $27,500.; which would represent the City of Kitchener’s contribution to the group’s 2013 core operating budget. Ms. M. Patterson, Executive Director of REEP gave a presentation reviewing the organization’s achievements in 2011/2012 and their goals for 2013. She outlined that REEP continues to work towards healthier homes and sustainable communities, with a mandate to go beyond home energy evaluations into a broader environmental programming based on community need. She stated that REEP is engaged in the following programs: REEP’s Kitchener Home Energy Grant Programs; RAIN – an ecological approach to stormwater management; the REEP House, ecoEnergy Retrofits – home energy evaluations; Electricity Saving Audits; Well Aware – source water protection; Greening Sacred Spaces – environmental stewardship and energy audits for faith groups; and, Solar Assessments. ç ó ï The Committee was advised that annually REEP’s funding comes from a combination of client fees, contracts, local support, and grants (outlined in the chart below): Client Fees Local Provincial Federal Foundations Other 201053%16% 13% 11% 2%5% 2011 51%24%19% 1% 4% 2% 2012 26%25%45% 2% 1% ½ % Ms. Patterson advised that with the City’s continued support, REEP has been able to provide home energy audits from 1999-2012, benefiting homeowners by: saving money on their energy bills; increasing home health and comfort; reducing their environmental impacts; and, increasing the value of their homes. The benefits to the community equals: 21,924 tonnes of CO 2 emissions; $5.4 million in energy savings; $13.7 million in grants received; and, $37.5 million in local spending. The following are the ecoENERGY results from 2010, 2011 and the projected results for 2012: City of Kitchener 2010 2011 2012 to date Initial evaluations 66152774 Follow-up evaluations 980740407 ecoENERGY grants $3,161,920$1,601,912$1,013,174 Energy savings $686,000$513,800$284,900 Local economic stimulus$5,880,000$4,404,000$2,422,900 CO reduced, tonnes 3,1622,4081,335 2 Assumptions as per Natural Resources Canada: savings per house (tonnes per annum) - 3.28 average CO 2 - $6,000 average homeowner spending per house (estimated) - $700 in energy savings per retrofitted home The Committee was advised that the Federal government has reinstated the ecoEnergy Home Energy Grants to March 2012. In addition to the ecoEnergy Home grants, REEP, with the assistance of a Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) grant from the City of Kitchener, has been able to offer additional incentives to Kitchener residents with homes built prior to 1970; who update their insulation and air sealing. These retro-fits have been identified as the most difficult to complete but offer the greatest energy savings to homeowners. In addition, the RAIN program provides an ecological approach to stormwater management designed to minimize stormwater impact while utilizing the new stormwater credits. Ms. Patterson pointed out that public interest in sustainable living continues to increase, as demonstrated by the REEP House for Sustainable living which has been visited over 1000 times within the first year. She added that Kitchener’s support is vital to their continued operation and serves to leverage funding from other municipalities, as well as the Provincial and Federal governments. Accordingly, the Environmental Committee is requesting Council’s endorsement of the recommendation outlined herein. A copy of REEP’s funding request, their 2011 Annual Report and their estimated 2013 budget have been attached as references. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: Endorsing the Environmental Committee’s recommendation to allocated funding to Waterloo Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) would align with the Strategic Plan by supporting the City’s commitment to conserve, protect and improve the environment, which has been identified as a Community Priority. ç ó î FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The allocation of a grant of $27,500. to Waterloo Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) would be funded through the Environmental Committee’s Operating Budget, representing the City of Kitchener contribution to REEP’s 2013 core operating budget. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Through the September 20, 2012 Environmental Committee agenda, the Waterloo Regional Green Solutions (REEP) grant funding request and annual report were made available for review on the City’s website as of September 10, 2012. At the September 20, 2012 Environmental Committee meeting, the Chair informed all those in attendance that any recommendation arising from the Committee would be considered at the October 15, 2012 Finance & Corporate Services Committee meeting. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Dan Chapman, Deputy CAO Finance and Corporate Services Department ç ó í ÆÉù?ªÂ£±k?Ã£ª 2431kÐ??ø? 2.®Â?®32 Æ`ªk úø£??`Ã30.Ë344 ù?ª?Ë£ª?Ã£ªË£??£??-+1Ë,21 Õ?Æ?Ãª£«¢?ª?Ë??ÃªÃªÐËÃª???¡2Ë/44 ¼£?±Æ`ªk+02Ë021 Z?ª Â±?Ãã«?.00Ë4.. 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