Pearson Eco-Business Zone 2009 Annual Report

Transcription

1 Pearson Eco-Business Zone 2009 Annual Report

2 Thank you to our partners without your support and dedication, the ongoing transformation of the Pearson Eco-Business Zone would not be possible.

3 Letter from the Chair & TRCA Dear Partners in Project Green, It is with pleasure that we present the 2009 Annual Report of Partners in Project Green: A Pearson Eco-Business Zone. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Greater Toronto Airports Authority launched Partners in Project Green with the goal of creating a sustainable green economy in the Greater Toronto Area. In this formative first year, we are beginning to see the start of the region s transformation towards this goal. The overwhelming support and engagement of businesses in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone and beyond has demonstrated the successful model of leveraging partnerships to promote action on the environment while promoting green economic development. In 2009, this partnership approach resulted in the engagement of hundreds of companies from around Toronto Pearson, assisting them with identifying cost and resource reductions, and training and networking with their neighbours. If this past year is any indication, we look forward to working with our business partners in 2010 as we drive towards even greater improvements on our road to realizing a stronger and greener regional economy. Sincerely, At the beginning of 2009, Partners in Project Green set several ambitious goals and with the dedication of our municipal and business community partners, we are well on our way to achieving those goals. The region has seen reductions in energy and water use, and companies have improved their bottom line while improving their environmental sustainability. More and more businesses are walking the talk of sustainability and realizing the savings. The dedication and commitment to results of our partners is evident in the spirited contributions at project team meetings, the overwhelming response to training sessions, and the innovative and impressive projects undertaken in the region. Partners in Project Green owes its success to the engagement of the business community, and we thank you. Moving forward, Partners in Project Green will continue to enhance its programs, with the aim of continued environmental and economic performance. The hope is to reach an ever growing number of businesses, helping them to achieve the successes that many of you have already realized. We invite you to join us on this journey again in Sincerely, Brian Denney Chief Administrative Officer Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Toby Lennox Chair Partners in Project Green Steering Committee 1

4 Executive Summary The Pearson Eco-Business Zone represents opportunity in the Greater Toronto Area. The area is Canada s largest employment area, with over 12,500 businesses employing over 350,000 people. It is home to a diverse and resilient mix of companies, ranging from industry leaders in the logistics, food processing, automotive, plastics and pharmaceutical sectors, to clean-tech innovators and hospitality sector trendsetters. If you are looking for a company to meet your needs, there is a great likelihood of finding that supplier in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. There is no questioning the wealth and opportunity that is generated in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone, but there are many opportunities that are overlooked. These are the areas where Partners in Project Green focuses with its partners. On an annual basis, the Pearson Eco-Business Zone uses over 1/26 th of the entire Province of Ontario s electricity a full 5.8 million megawatt hours. Given that 15 to 20 per cent in energy savings is easy to realize with little to no capital outlay, this represents an enormous cost reduction opportunity. And, local businesses have been realizing this opportunity with over 2,525 local companies implementing energy reduction opportunities in 2009 to save a combined 5.4 MW of electricity and 3,626,455 m3 of natural gas. In order to take advantage of opportunity first people have to know that the opportunity exists. This is where Partners in Project Green excels. Through 2009, 738 employees from the Pearson Eco-Business Zone were engaged in networking and training events that aided them in reducing their costs and identifying new business opportunities. Whether it was through energy management training or through tours of local businesses to see their sustainability initiatives, Partners in Project Green was able to highlight that turning sustainability into a business opportunity made economic sense. Even more important, Partners in Project Green was able to highlight the axiom of how a story trumps data and experience trumps a story. The data shows the economic opportunity from sustainability exists; but by bringing businesses together to network, Partners in Project Green was able to leverage the knowledge and experience of the group to help drive new sustainability initiatives with local businesses. These opportunities would not have been realized without the sharing of firsthand knowledge and the experiences of peers in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. Moving forward in 2010, Partners in Project Green will continue to leverage the successes and experiences of companies around the Pearson Eco-Business Zone to transform Canada s largest employment area into the centre for green economic development in North America PARTNERS IN PROJECT GREEN HIGHLIGHTS: > The GTAA was honoured by the Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA) with an award for its work in developing and implementing Partners in Project Green. Toronto Pearson was the first airport to win in the new Special/Innovation Projects category of the ACI-NA Environmental Achievement Awards. > The Pearson Eco-Business Zone was showcased at 12 conference sessions and in seven national media articles. > Partners in Project Green engaged 212 businesses and 738 employees in programs and networking activities in > Throughout 2009, over 2,525 businesses in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone engaged in energy efficiency projects, conserving 5.4 MW of electricity and 3,626,445 m3 of natural gas. > Throughout 2009, 51 businesses in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone engaged in water reduction measures conserving 1,103 m3 per day. 2

5 Energy Conservation The Pearson Eco-Business Zone uses over 5.8 million MWh of electricity on annual basis representing over 1/26th of all of the Province of Ontario s energy consumption. This energy consumption represents a large opportunity for local companies to not only reduce their costs, but improve the local environment. Throughout 2009, Enersource Hydro Mississauga, Hydro One Brampton, Toronto Hydro, Enbridge, Natural Resources Canada, the Guelph Food Technology Centre, the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement and Partners in Project Green, worked with companies in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone to realize energy reduction opportunities. TARGETS Reduce energy consumption for building related activities by 20 per cent by Reduce GHG emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2014 and 15 per cent below 1990 levels by RESULTS 99 companies utilized Partners in Project Green energy management programming. 81 medium and large sized industrial customers completed energy retrofit projects in ,345 small commercial/ industrial companies engaged in energy retrofit projects in In total, companies in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone saved 5.4 MW of electricity and over 3.6 million m3 of natural gas in

6 Local businesses learn how to complete their GHG baselines and reduction strategies at a Partners in Project Green Carbon 101 workshop. Project Highlights Turning lessons into savings Throughout 2009 Partners in Project Green held four Energy Management training workshops that utilized realtime data from participant s facilities to help them realize cost reduction opportunities. Seventy-seven companies spanning the logistics, food-processing and manufacturing sectors utilized these training programs to help reduce their energy consumption. Simplifying carbon footprints and reduction strategies Over 92 per cent of companies in the Pearson Eco- Business Zone have fewer than 100 employees. While many companies both large and small are interested in reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, many do not have the technical know-how or financial resources to account for, manage and reduce their emissions. To address this gap, Partners in Project Green developed the Carbon 101 Program that provides tools and training to help small businesses complete their GHG baselines and reduction strategies with little-to-no financial outlay. The first workshop offered by the program attracted 40 companies from the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. Driving cost reductions on green products Through partnerships with green product and service providers, Partners in Project Green is working to reduce the costs of green technologies for companies in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. Company Highlights Pratt & Whitney realizes cost reductions through Sustainable Energy Plan Pratt & Whitney Canada understands that energy efficiency makes good business sense. That s why they established a dedicated team to analyze and reduce energy and water consumption in Since its inception the team has reduced water consumption by 80 per cent and energy consumption by 40 per cent, saving the company $150,000 and $400,000 a year respectively. These reductions were realized by implementing a number of initiatives, including closed loop processes and enhanced monitoring systems for reduced water consumption, and improved compressor, HVAC and light management for reduced electricity consumption. However, in order to dig deeper, Pratt & Whitney Canada decided to look at their operational practices and utilize the Partners in Project Green Sustainable Energy Plan Program provided in partnership with 360 Energy, which focuses on day-to-day operational changes, not capital based projects. Through the process, it became clear to Pratt & Whitney Canada that it was vital to engage a variety of people throughout the company, and that energy efficiency is a business solution, not a technological solution. No matter how much you ve done or how old your business is, there is always room for improvement. Mr. Robertson stated, Energy must never be treated as a fixed cost. It is truly variable, and we need everyone s help to understand how low we can go. This is what the Partners in Project Green Sustainable Energy Plan Program allows a company to understand. Attendees to a Partners in Project Green Energy Management Workshop learn how to reduce their costs. One partnership works with the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) to reduce the cost of energy retrofits for companies in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone by providing access to the CCI Purchasing Alliance (PA). The PA works to accelerate the adoption of leading edge energy efficient products by negotiating discounts ranging from five to 35 per cent. These cost reductions are available to companies in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone looking to implement energy saving technologies. 4

7 Renewable Energy With the amount of energy that is consumed in the Pearson Eco- Business Zone on annual basis, moving to renewable energy sources provides an opportunity to not only reduce the environmental impact of this consumption, but produce clean, locally sourced power that can help create new economic opportunities and long-term energy security for Canada s largest employment area. Throughout 2009, Partners in Project Green worked with its partners to develop opportunities for the adoption of locally-sourced renewable energy. TARGETS Ten per cent of all energy generating capacity to come from renewable energy by RESULTS Through partnerships with the business community, Partners in Project Green has initiated number of programs to promote renewable energy use in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. 5

8 Lowe-Martin employees enjoy their sustainability achievements. Project Highlights A shiny new revenue stream With the launch of the Ontario feed-in-tariff and longterm prices for renewable energy in 2009, the 3,000 hectares of roof space in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone became a potential new frontier in the province s energy generation future. Businesses anxious to take advantage of rooftop solar opportunities still have a lot of questions about how to move forward. In order to assist, Partners in Project Green completed a background study that identified the hurdles to implementing rooftop solar, with a focus on finance, policy and law, technical considerations, and institutional capacity. This work will lead to developing new tools to help local businesses realize this new economic opportunity that can transform the Pearson Eco-Business Zone into ground-zero for renewable energy generation in the province of Ontario. Developing district energy Building on the foundation of four existing local electricity generating stations, Partners in Project Green has begun a process to investigate the business case for utilizing the excess steam from these facilities to heat and cool buildings around Toronto Pearson through a district energy system. The study will be completed in 2010 and provide a roadmap for the development of a district energy system in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. Challenging local businesses to green their electricity As part of Partners in Project Green s goal to increase the use of renewable energy within the Pearson Eco- Business Zone, Partners in Project Green has developed a Green Power Challenge in partnership with Bullfrog Power, Canada s 100 per cent green electricity provider. This program provides an opportunity for local businesses to purchase renewable energy through a green energy retailer, while providing a reduced cost and illustrating environmental leadership. Company Highlights Lowe-Martin Group greens their energy Lowe-Martin Group, a leading Canadian print and communications solutions company, with a full service production and sales operation in Mississauga, is the largest purchaser of renewable energy from Bullfrog Power in the commercial print industry. With the help of Bullfrog Power, Lowe-Martin Group now offers their clients printed materials produced with clean, renewable, emissions-free power that actively reduces traditional power usage and greenhouse gas emissions. This benefits not only their customer, but the community at large. Rooftop solar takes root at LoyaltyOne LoyaltyOne s call centre in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone features the largest roof-top mounted solar installation in Canada. Their 50,000sq.ft. facility at 6696 Financial Dr. is home to about 800 solar panels producing a total of 165 kw. The majority of the renewable energy generated at the building is fed into the provincial power grid and takes advantage of the province s Green Energy Act. Essentially the company has entered into a 20-year agreement to sell its power to the Ontario Power Authority for just over 70 cents per kilowatt hour. Aside from the main building rooftop panels, there is a solar installation in the outside parking area that generates electricity and heats water for low-flow showers, energyefficient dishwashers and regular tap usage. Overall the energy generation breaks out this way: 147 kw from the roof and an additional 18 kw from the carport. The annual output is estimated at approximately 159,500 kwh. LoyaltyOne s rooftop solar installation in Mississauga. 6

9 Water Conservation Water not only represents a cost for businesses, it also means electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions for municipalities who manage the system. Thanks to the work of the Region of Peel and City of Toronto, companies in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone are working to realize cost reductions and lower greenhouse gas emissions through water conservation. TARGETS Region of Peel Official Plan Reduce per capita water consumption by 10 to 15 per cent by Implement City of Toronto Water Efficiency Plan Target Reductions by RESULTS In 2009 the Region of Peel and City of Toronto engaged 51 businesses in water conservation efforts, reducing water consumption by 1,103 m3 per day, and realizing a 263 MWh reduction in energy use due to less pumping requirements. Company Highlights Reduced irrigation results in reduced costs In early 2008, the Bentall LP property management team at 6880 Financial Drive looked to reduce their outdoor water use. Having metered three irrigation connections, it was established that irrigation water use was approximately 14,000 m3 per year. With water rates increasing nine per cent per year, reducing this potable water usage represented a significant opportunity to save money and reduce the building water footprint. In March 2008, SMART Watering Systems (SWS) partnered with Bentall LP to reduce water use and, after a site evaluation, implemented an Irrigation Management System (IMS) that is centrally monitored by SWS. The IMS uses local weather information to make daily schedule adjustments that eliminates overwatering and promotes healthy landscape growth. Property management also installed high efficiency nozzles in problem areas which significantly reduced water waste occurring from overpressurization and wind. Mid-season monitoring and inspections of the irrigation systems ensure that property damage and water waste is eliminated. After two years of monitoring and measurement, the landscape water use was reduced by 20,000 m3 while maintaining a beautiful campus enjoyed by the building tenants. Doug Silk, General Manager commented, Weather based irrigation management has helped us achieve significant annual potable water use reductions. It just makes sense to adjust our irrigation schedule as the weather changes. Clearly, responsible water use is good for our landscapes, the environment and our bottom line. 7

10 Transportation The Pearson Eco-Business Zone is one of Canada s gateways to the world - whether it be people travelling through Toronto Pearson or goods making their way via road, rail and air, the Pearson Eco-Business Zone is a hub of commercial and personal traffic. Through partnerships with the business community, its municipal partners and the province, Partners in Project Green is working to identify ways to expand transportation options for companies and their employees in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. TARGETS Increase by 50 per cent the number of employers participating in Smart Commute initiatives by 2015 Initiate a research organization to develop and share better information on goods movement. Reduce GHG emissions from freight by six per cent by 1990 levels by 2014 and fifteen per cent below 1990 levels by RESULTS There are 17 organizations in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone utilizing Smart Commute. In 2009 Partners in Project Green began discussions on the development of a Sustainable Logistics Consortium to help drive innovation in the goods movement sector. Project Highlights Providing smarter options for employees Working in partnership with Smart Commute Mississauga, Smart Commute Brampton-Caledon, Metrolinx, the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Partners in Project Green assisted in the development of an expanded employee commuting program for the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. The program will help local companies and their employees find commuting alternatives, ranging from car-pooling and preferential parking for green commuting options, to reduced costs on transit passes and encouraging tele-working. Driving sustainability quicker, deeper and cheaper through collaboration Partners in Project Green began discussions with logistics operations in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone on the development of a Sustainable Logistics Consortium. The focus of the consortium is for member companies to leverage each other s strengths through sharing, learning and improving to achieve accelerated results in their sustainability programs. The initiative will look to officially launch in At Maple Leaf Food s Head Office in Mississauga, employees who car-share or drive hybrid vehicles receive parking options at the front of the company parking lot. 8

11 Natural Heritage One of the goals of TRCA and Partners in Project Green is to expand and enhance the natural and aquatic systems in the industrial areas surrounding Toronto Pearson. The Pearson Eco-Business Zone is unique in many ways, one of which is that over 180,000 employees are within walking distance (400 metres) of natural space. This natural space not only helps provide clean water and air for the region, but can also be leveraged as recreational space for local employees. By the Numbers TARGETS Implement all TRCA restoration sites by 2015 (19 sites total). Increase the number of private-sector partnerships for natural heritage and open space stewardship to 25 companies per year over the next three years, increasing by 10 per cent a year after. Increase riparian vegetation to a minimum of 75 per cent through the Pearson Eco-Business Zone by per cent of the impervious parking area to be converted to feature onsite stormwater controls by RESULTS Six restoration sites undertaken in Seventeen companies engaged in community restoration activities in Three hectares of restoration activity including 4,245 shrubs, 2,845 trees and 1,000 aquatic plants. One company engaged in the Green Parking Lot Program. Upper Mimico Creek - Intermodal Drive (Mimico Creek - Brampton) Wetland creation 300 shrubs and 1,000 aquatics (0.5 hectares) Live staking of Phase III Seeding of Phase III Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility - Torbram Road (Mimico Creek - Brampton) Riparian planting 720 shrubs and 1,800 trees (0.6 hectares) Alfred Kuehne Channel - Hwy. 407 and Bramalea Road (Etobicoke Creek - Brampton) Riparian planting 1,295 shrubs and 725 trees (0.8 hectares) North Mimico Park - Disco Road (Mimico Creek - Toronto) Riparian planting 600 shrubs and 150 trees (0.18 hectares) West Etobicoke Creek - Dixie and Derry Roads (Etobicoke Creek Mississauga) Riparian planting 1,000 shrubs (0.12 hectares) Wetland creation (0.8 hectares) Pratt & Whitney - Courtney Park (Etobicoke Creek Mississauga) Riparian planting 330 shrubs and 170 trees (0.12 hectares) 9

12 Project Highlights Mimico Headwaters gets a facelift To enhance the natural space in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone and improve local water quality, TRCA has been working with the Region of Peel, the City of Brampton, Sithe Global and Canadian Tire, to restore a portion of the Mimico Creek that runs parallel to Goreway Road north of Intermodal Drive and south of Queen Street in Brampton. In this portion of the Mimico Creek natural processes were absent, as the entire creek bed and portions of the floodplain were lined with concrete that channelized a once meandering stream into a straight line. Company Highlight Pratt & Whitney looks to green their parking lot Utilizing the Green Parking Lot Program open to businesses in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone, Pratt & Whitney Canada partnered with Partners in Project Green and the University of Toronto to explore ways to green their site in Mississauga. Proposed site green site transformation for Pratt & Whitney Canada. Upper Mimico before and after. To remedy this, the concrete channel was removed and a natural corridor design implemented that allows the creek to once again meander and bend its way downstream. The project involved developing riffles and pools to mimic a natural river system, the planting of native trees and shrubs, as well as the creation of new wetlands to treat stormwater run-off from adjacent properties. Work was completed in 2009 and TRCA is now planning to work with Sithe Global to restore the northerly portion of the creek. Once completed, these restoration efforts will improve the overall headwaters of Mimico Creek, providing new fish habitat and enhancing the integrity of the entire aquatic system. The Green Parking Lot Program helps businesses re-design their parking areas to incorporate green elements that can reduce costs, enhance safety and improve local water quality. Through consultation with the business, the University of Toronto s Centre for Landscape Research helps companies assess opportunities on their site and develop realistic plans for improving their parking and landscaping. At the end of the process, businesses have a concrete path forward and construction reading drawings that can be implemented wholesale, or over time as parking lot maintenance is required. At Pratt & Whitney Canada they ve been investigating solutions that include: Reducing irrigation costs by using rainwater collected through the introduction of permeable surfaces and vegetated swales; Naturalization of manicured grass areas; and, Introduction of trees in parking areas to reduce ambient air temperature and provide a more pleasurable walking experience for employees. 10

13 Economic Development The Pearson Eco-Business Zone has the potential to become a world-class region for eco-innovation. Turning this vision into reality and a true competitive advantage demands collaboration between local businesses, governments and communities, all of which Partners in Project Green aims to realize through its programs and projects. TARGETS Work with the following key sectors: automotive supply chain, transportation and logistics, food processing, plastics and airport related, to transform them into the greenest in their class globally. Increase employment density to align with the Provincial Growth Plan. RESULTS In 2009, Partners in Project Green led a number of programs to increase the competitiveness of the region, including green job programming, green land-use policy innovation and turning waste into revenue opportunities. 11

14 Project Highlights The Cool Rexdale Program helps promote the installation of eco-roofs in Rexdale, while providing apprenticeships to young people from the community. Creating job opportunities through sustainability The Green Jobs Team develops employment opportunities through Partners in Project Green initiatives in order to create direct socio-economic connections to the surrounding communities. The team has a specific emphasis on engaging post-secondary students in green economy opportunities and helping to develop green career paths for young people in neighbourhoods of Rexdale and Malton. In 2009, the Green Jobs Team developed four programs for launch in 2010, including: Toxic Reduction Student Placement Program a program to connect chemical engineering students with local companies. Cool Rexdale Program an initiative to help young people from Rexdale begin careers in eco-roofing. Energy Efficiency Co-op Program a training program to help build energy management knowledge for students and local companies. Sustainable Business Plan Internship Program an internship to help businesses develop corporate sustainability reports. Encouraging green land-use innovation The Policy Harmonization Team focuses on promoting green business opportunities in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone, with a specific focus on municipal policies that encourage innovation in green site design. Through consultation with partner municipalities and the development industry, a comprehensive list of policy tools was produced for use and implementation in partner municipalities. Turning waste into revenue Helping companies turn waste into revenue has been the focus of the Resource Reutilization Team with two studies completed in The Resource Reutilization Study identified the potential for a regional materials exchange to help facilitate turning waste into revenues. The study focused on the interest in the business community, potential business models and waste streams, finding that an exchange was feasible with the right support. In 2010, the Resource Reutilization Team will work towards implementation of the project. One of the streams of waste identified as a priority in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone was organic waste from food processors and hospitality operations. A feasibility study was completed on capturing this waste in order to generate bio-gas for electricity generation. It was identified that while there is a large amount of organic waste, current market conditions would not generate the necessary financial returns. One solution identified was working with partner municipalities to generate the necessary base feedstock of organics for a bio-gas facility. This option will be explored in Discarded electronic materials are sorted and recycled in Brampton by Sims Recycling. 12

15 Partners in Project Green Summarized Statement of Financial Activities Year ended December 31, Expenditures Business Development $ 136, Program Marketing $ 99, Eco-Efficiency Programming $ 118, Resource Reutilization Programming $ 56, Green Job Programming $ 29, Green Site and Restoration Programming $ 60, Policy Harmonization Programming $ 38, Green Purchasing Programming $ 3, Training and Events $ 42, District Energy Development $ 12, Building Performance Programming $ 39, Program Administration $ 34, *Deferred Expenditures for Multi-Year Projects $ 286, Total $ 957, Revenues Municipal $ 422, % Provincial $ 33, % Federal $ 133, % Business $ 362, % Self Generated $ 5, % Total $ 957, * Remaining 2009 funds are committed to multi-year projects, including Eco-Efficiency Programming, Green Job Programming, Policy Harmonization and District Energy Development. 14.0% - Federal 3.5% - Provincial 0.6% - Self Generated 44.1% - Municipal 37.9% - Business

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