(via Smog hits ‘high risk’ levels in Edmonton)
“The City of Edmonton is experiencing heightened levels of smog Wednesday, a problem expected to continue at least into Thursday. Air quality is at a 7 or “high risk” on the provincial Air Quality Health Index, which operates on a scale of 1 to 10.”
Source: edmontonjournal.com
As of Jan. 1, vehicles can’t idle for more than five minutes per half-hour when the temperature is above zero. School buses, ambulances, taxis and other vehicles licensed for transporting people are exempt.
Many years ago, the City used to dump snow removed from roads directly into the river but this raised environmental concerns due to the amount of salt and sediments entering the North Saskatchewan River. For that reason, snow storage facilities were built around Edmonton during the 1980s.
Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel and Chief Financial Officer Lorna Rosen announced that the City will internationally market the waste management expertise of the City and its partners, through a corporation wholly owned by the City. Waste RE-Solutions Edmonton is the name of the corporation for conducting this marketing effort.
The amount of fecal coliform entering the North Saskatchewan River from Edmonton has now dropped to levels last seen in 1910, according to monitoring and data modelling from the city’s drainage department.
(via Water levels rising along river valley)
“Areas along Edmonton’s river valley may see as much as a 1.5-metre increase in water levels by Friday afternoon. Alberta Environment and Water has issued a high streamflow advisory for the North Saskatchewan River and its tributaries, both upstream and downstream of Rocky Mountain House. The watch level is rising and water levels are expected to peak in Edmonton on Friday.”
Source: edmontonjournal.com
Mayor Stephen Mandel will lead a mission to China starting on April 3, 2012 along with senior administration, economic development and education officials and Edmonton business leaders. The primary focus of the Asian mission is to promote industrial business opportunities and advantages. The tour will include stops in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore and Harbin, Edmonton’s sister city.
According to Epcor, the city used 1082 megawatts of power between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday night, a 3.4 per cent drop from the same day and time the week before. In 2011, power usage actually jumped by 1.01 per cent during Earth Hour in Edmonton, likely due to cold temperatures.
(via U of A students’ EcoCar vies for fuel-efficiency honours in Houston)
“A team of University of Alberta students unveiled their EcoCar on Monday at the Engineering Teaching and Research Complex before heading to Houston to enter the 300-pound wonder in a competition.”
Source: edmontonjournal.com
Edmonton’s waste management system is known as one of the most innovative in the world and that reputation earned Edmonton a spot on a special episode of the Nature of Things called The Suzuki Diaries: Future City.
Green Building Strategy
The Green Building Plan will be going to Executive Committee of City Council early in 2012.
We should be more like Edmonton
Glad to see our city getting some love from the east!
But it’s also about perspective: Instead of looking at trash as something useless, the people of Edmonton began realizing a while ago that it can be something profitable - there’s value, after all, in those empty glass bottles, broken computers and even an unfinished doughnut. Furthermore, a lot of money is saved when there are fewer trucks having to collect and transport waste to a landfill.
The City has taken another step towards reducing its carbon footprint by adding its first all-electric vehicle to its fleet.
In 2011, there will be 4500 light fixtures installed in 12 neighbourhoods. The LEDs will replace deteriorated, inefficient street light systems, reduce and minimize light pollution and overflow, and ensure proper lighting to improve pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety.
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