HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS-16-153 - Environmental Committee Recommendation - REEP Grant Request
REPORT TO: Finance & Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 7, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Environmental Committee
PREPARED BY: Dianna Saunderson, Committee Administrator, 519-741-2200 ext.
7277
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: October 3, 2016
REPORT NO.: FCS-16-153
SUBJECT: Environmental Committee Recommendation – Waterloo Region
Green Solutions (REEP) Annual Request for Financial Support
___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
That subject to the 2017 budget deliberations, $30,000. be allocated to the Waterloo
Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), as part of the
Environmental Committee’s 2017 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 that
helps people to live sustainable that is funded by a combination of local partners, provincial
contracts, grants and client fees.
REPORT:
At the September 15, 2016 Environmental Committee meeting, the Committee considered a
request from REEP for a grant of $30,000. which would represent the City of Kitchener’s
contribution to the group’s 2016 core operating budget. Ms. Mary Jane Patterson, Executive
Director and Mr. Dave Blake, Business Development Manager, REEP, reviewed the
organization’s achievements in 2015/2016 and their goals for 2017. Ms. Patterson addressed
the Committee, noting their organization is an environmental charity that helps people to live
sustainably. She indicated REEP has a new Strategic Plan for 2016-2018, where their work can
be summarized under three words: Show; Do; and, Connect. She noted Showing, Doing and
Connecting has allowed REEP to continue to build support for their organization and assists
with implementing sustainable solutions to help clients overcome barriers to environmental
action. She further advised the work undertaken by REEP aligns well with the City’s Strategic
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
3 - 1
Plan to build a strong and resilient economy, create safe and thriving neighbourhoods, and help
establish a more sustainable environment and infrastructure. Mr. Blake provided a summary of
REEP’s 2015-2016 financial report, noting 55% of their revenue is derived from fee-for-service
programs with the balance from grant funding/donations.
The Environmental 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 copy of REEP’s funding request and REEP’s annual report, which can also be found at the
LINK
following has been attached for reference.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the city’s strategic vision
through the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Starting in 2000, the City allocated a $5,000. grant to REEP through the Environmental
Committee’s Operating Budget. Over the past 15 years the grant amount has increased to its
current level of $30,000.; and, as of the end of 2016 REEP has received a total of $325,000.
from the Environmental Committee. In 2015 REEP received a grant increase from $27,500. to
the current value of $30,000. and the draft budget currently being prepared by City staff includes
$30,000 grant allocation. The requested funding would represent the City of Kitchener’s
contribution to REEP’s 2017 core budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM - As of September 1, 2016, the September 15, 2016 Environmental Committee
agenda, the Waterloo Regional Green Solutions (REEP) grant funding request and annual
report were available for review on the City’s website
CONSULT - At the September 15, 2016 Environmental Committee meeting, the Chair informed
all those in attendance that any recommendation arising from the Committee would be
considered at a standing Committee meeting November 7, 2016.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Appendix A - REEP’s funding request
Appendix B – REEP’s annual report
3 - 2
Iś▄♫╜■┼ ♫ś◘♫▄ś ▄╜ōś ℓĵℓĊĂ╜■ĂĽ▄ŦỀ
September 1, 2016
Dear Kitchener Environmental Committee Members,
We are proud to present our Annual Report for 2015-2016, with many thanks to you and the City of Kitchener for your
strong support of our
are living more sustainably as a result.
This letter is also our request to the City to renew its funding of $30,000 to REEP Green Solutions in 2017. Your
contribution goes directly towards our operating costs, representing approximately 6% of our revenue.
, recognizing Kitchener as a valued Core Funder.
Your consistent support is what makes these results possible. Core funders help to sustain REEP Green Solution
work while we raise the rest of the funding for our programs. This year we have a new 3-year initiative in the City
of Kitchener funded largely through the Ontario Trillium Foundation that we are thrilled to tell you about.
Rain Smart Neighbourhoods
The Rain Smart Neighbourhoods project provides the opportunity and means for people to transform their
neighbourhood to be more beautiful, flood-resistant and sustainable. Over the next 3 years, the residents of Lakeside
and Mount Hope in Kitchener will receive support in landscaping and flood proofing their yards, while simultaneously
capturing and soaking up rain water.
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.
The project launched in June with a contest for 10 prizes in each of the two neighbourhoods, including a grand prize of
$10,000 towards a front yard makeover. We recently announced the names of the delighted prize winners, and then
took a walking tour with s to talk about the rainwater
challenges and opportunities.
In the second year of the project REEP will pilot an incentive program,
Stormwater Master Plan. The end result will be citizen action that reduces flooding, beautifies the neighbourhood, and
improves water quality in nearby streams and waterways.
We thank Kitchener Environmental Committee members, City Councillors, and staff for your strong support of
7.
Yours truly,
Mary Jane Patterson
Executive Director
Phone: 519-744-9799 | Email: info@reepgreen.ca | Website: www.reepgreen.ca
3 - 3
222 Frederick Street, Kitchener, ON N2H 2M8 Charity registration #: 81585 2348 RR0001
REEP Green Solutions
An environmental charity that helps people live sustainably
REEPis to remain nimble as an organization, 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: an ecological approach to stormwater management
b)fee-for-service and contract work, in keeping with our strategic goals.
Our core funders represent approximately ¼ of our revenue, and the rest we seek through contracts with
municipalities and utilities, and through grants that we bring to the community. For a number of years we have been
able to maintain the REEP House for Sustainable Living as a public demonstration and teaching centre with no direct
funding, through fee-for-service revenue. Our Core Funders give us the starting capacity to seek these opportunities.
Core Funding Requested for 2017
Region of Waterloo $55,000
City of Kitchener $30,000
City of Cambridge $20,000
Waterloo North Hydro $35,000
Total $140,000
Why support REEP?
REEP Green Solutions -2018.
strong and resilient economythrough the purchase of local labour
and materials for energy, water and stormwater upgrades: a value of approximately $25 Million in the last 13 years in
Kitchener alone. This keeps energy dollars in our community and helps develop and nurture a high quality of life
and a powerful identityattract investment and a talented creative workforce
Improving our older housing safe and thriving neighbourhoods draw more people to
manage growthcurb urban sprawl
develop measures to manage storm water and improve water quality in
2009 before Kitchener created its stormwater utility and credit program. We have worked closely with city staff ever
value to the city. 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.
For several years there has been a Home Reno Rebate program from Union Gas that was not available for non-Union
Gas customers. REEP has consistently advocated at the federal and provincial levels of government for home energy
efficiency incentives that are accessible to all. When the province announced its $100 Million investment earlier this
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.
3 - 4
Kitchener has committed to:
program;
o
our collective ClimateActionWR plan to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions in the
o
Region of Waterloo to 6% below 2010 levels by 2020.
REEP is one of very few organizations that work with the residential sector to promote and empower home energy
efficiency 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: over
26,000 tonnes reduced to date through home energy retrofits recommended by REEP energy advisors.
The REEP House for Sustainable Living helps implement
The REEP House, one of the few home renovations that is LEED Platinum certified, is where homeowners and students
go to see sustainable living in action. With water conservation, stormwater management and energy efficiency
ainable living the norm.
Focus Area 2, Water Resources
Focus Area 3, Air Quality
Focus Area 5, Energy
achieve continual reductions in per capita energy consumption and to promote a sustainable energy use
a energy consumption and to promote a sustainable energy use
Focus Area 7, Environmental Education and Public Awareness
ly healthy lifestyle through the development of strategies to increase
environmental literacy, the implementation of effective monitoring programs and the introduction of
Conclusion
Our Mission at REEP 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 and adaptation, through Rain Smart Neighbourhoods, ClimateAction WR, and all
our programs. Thank you for supporting this good work!
**********************************
3 - 5
3 - 6
3 - 7
3 - 8
HOME ENERGY COACH
3 - 9
RAIN
3 - 10
HOME ENERGY EVALUATIONS
Cubic litres per month
3 - 11
WATER USE AUDITS
3 - 12
CLIMATEACTIONWR
3 - 13