Peel announces air quality initiatives

The Region of Peel and other GTA municipal and regional governments, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada announced their initiatives to improve air quality at the 2007 Smog Summit held at Toronto City Hall June 7. The annual Smog Summits focus on developing shortterm, concrete measures to improve air quality as well as encouraging intergovernmental and public-private initiatives to address smog over the long term.

The theme of the 2007 Smog Summit was Actions on Clean Air and Climate Change. There were four panels for the municipal sector to address - energy panel, transportation panel, clean air and climate change planning panel, natural and built environment panel.

The Region of Peel participated on the Energy panel.

A key outcome of the Summits was the Intergovernmental Declaration on Clean Air. This document outlines intergovernmental smogreduction activities.

"The Region of Peel is a municipal leader in energy management," said Mayor Fennell. "Reducing energy is a win-win situation for the taxpayers of Peel. By reducing our energy use, Peel saves the taxpayers' money, reduces air pollution and helps creates a healthier community. I am proud to announce a number of energy-related air quality initiatives for 2007."

In 2007, the Region of Peel is committed to:

- Energy efficiency programs, including development of Peel's Energy Management Plan to guide the Region of Peel toward sustainable energy use.

- Implementation of energy optimization control system to reduce the amount and cost of electricity consumed by the Region's water distribution system.

- An energy audit of the South Peel Water and Waste Water facilities.

- Purchasing five gasoline/hybrid vehicles.

- Continuing a biodiesel pilot project.

- Encouraging community water efficiency by encouraging Peel businesses to replace inefficient toilets with water-efficient models; developing a water wise demonstration garden at the Lakeview Water Treatment Plant; retrofitting approximately 1,000 Peel Living units by installing water-efficient toilets, bathroom and kitchen aerators and showerheads; introducing a Region-wide organics waste collection program that will reduce greenhouse gas emission related to landfill and reduce the number of truck trips to Michigan; reviewing the Region of Peel Official Plan - air quality will be an important element that will be addressed as part of the review.