Capital Regional District
CRD Projects
The CRD Climate Action Program (CAP) was established in 2009, and acts as a hub, resource and facilitator for regional climate action. The CRD Climate Action Program has been involved in a number of projects that aim to take action of climate change. Along with producing monthly Climate Action e-newsletters, hosting inter-municipal climate action working groups, and sponsoring a number of regional climate action related events, some of the more recent projects include:
- In the fall of 2011 with support from BC Hydro, the CRD and BEYOND Campus Climate Network ran an an applied research contest called Ready, Set, Solve. The initiative was focused on getting post-secondary students in the region to help solve small, but real, energy efficiency and climate-related challenges of local municipalities and non-profits.
- Throughout 2011, the CRD led the development of the Resilient Region Breakfast Series. This is a monthly breakfast rotates around the region and is designed to connect individuals from government, business, the public sector, non-profits and academia who are working on climate change and sustainability issues.
- The CRD, City of Victoria, Township of Esquimalt and Town of View Royal partnered with BC Hydro, the Victoria Real Estate Board and the Province to launch a Time of Sale Home Energy Labelling pilot project. The pilot provided participating homes with a free, third party home energy assessment with an accompanying EnerGuide for Houses Rating and linked it to their MLS listing.
- The CRD sponsored the Tap by Tap Pilot Project with City Green Solutions, Fortis BC and the District of Saanich. This program focused on reducing household greenhouse gas emissions through water conservation technologies in 600 single family homes and 600 multi-unit residential buildings. The project resulted in an estimated greenhouse gas reduction of 104 tonnes per year.
- The CRD completed the Saanich Peninsula Waste Water Treatment Heat Recovery Project in in 2010. Operational in early 2011, the system replaces natural gas use for heating the pool at the Panorama Recreation Centre, reducing over 550 tonnes of Co2e- annually.
- Partnered with the WestShore Chamber of Commerce and City Green Solutions to deliver the LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program throughout the region. This program provides eligible organizations with an energy assessment focused on lighting and mechanical systems and provides access to available grants and additional incentives from utility providers.
- Successfully completed the GreenStart Pilot Program with City Green Solutions in June 2011. This program focused on providing 20 participants with customized information, ideas and resources to take immediate and effective action to reduce the environmental impact and emissions associated with their operations.
- In summer 2010, the CRD worked with BC Hydro and Windsor Plywood on a public education campaign called Sustainable Laundry 101. This campaign reached more than 2,500 citizens through social media and public events and provided 1,000 households a free multi-use laundry line to reduce household energy consumption.
- Educated and engaged more than 7,400 students on climate change issues at elementary, high school and post-secondary institutions across the region between January and November 2010 during the 2010 Youth Climate Education Partnership.
- The CRD, in partnership with Royal Roads University, completed the Sustainable Cities Research Project -- a comprehensive analysis of leading practices, policies and projects from six international cities on issues such as climate change, housing and homelessness, resource management, public engagement, ecological health and more.
- Between November 2010 and March 2011, the CRD trained more than 900 community leaders through The Transportation Tune Up project. This initiative is a partnership with Natural Resources Canada and ICBC and is focused on encouraging citizens to re-think their habits on the road to create a safer, greener and healthier region. Find out more by visiting Sustainable U.
- Since November 2010, the CRD has been enaged in a Corporate Adaptation Project focusing on identifying climate related risks and reducing vulnerability in regional buildings, infrastructure and public lands. This two year project is a part of a national pilot program with ICLEI Canada and follows a five milestone framework. Through a unique "train the trainer" approach, this project will provide our 13 municipal partners with the research, information and tools they need to build internal capacity and address climate adaptation issues on a corporate scale.
Your can read a short summary of a more comprehensive list of our efforts in 2010 here:
)If you would like any further information contact us at 
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CRD Carbon Neutral by 2012!
As a signatory of the BC Climate Action Charter, the CRD is responsible for achieving carbon neutral operations by 2012. The CRD Board has approved an action plan with objectives that provide an overall framework to reduce GHG emissions from CRD operations and to identify areas of action within which the CRD can launch initiatives to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2012.
This plan is intended to be a living document, portions will be updated as required as initiatives and policies that support GHG reductions are developed and evolve over time. This means buying smart, upgrading to cleaner fleets, building social capacity, enacting bylaws that support sustainable best practices, and protecting the environment.
The CRD is also supporting local governments to help them meet their carbon neutral commitments, reduce their emissions and educating community members throughout the region on the benefits of taking climate action.
