GTA Construction Report staff writer
Niagara Sustainability Initiative (NSI) recently celebrated the successful environmental sustainability-oriented initiatives of Carbon Project partners in reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the group’s second annual Evening of Recognition.. The NSI says the Carbon Project is a voluntary reporting initiative in which organizations manage and report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions efforts to reduce their impact on the environment.
“We could not be more pleased with the turnout,” said NSI program manager Katrina Kroeze. “Our Carbon Project partners were in attendance as well as a number of notable business organizations and community members from the Niagara Region.”
Carbon Project participants include: Brock University, The Quartek Group, Synchro Engineering Ltd., Walker Industries and City of Welland, among others.
“With 10 Carbon Project partners reporting on their operational greenhouse gas emissions, a total of 53,751.49 tonnes of GHG emissions – an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of 11,200 cars — were managed this year,” Kroeze said.
Kroeze awarded three organizations, including Niagara College which received the “greatest progress” award. The college has made strides “in incorporating sustainability throughout operations, policies, procedures, with a special focus on their wine visitor and educational centre, being the first carbon neutral building of its kind in Canada,” the NSI blog reported. She said the Niagara College is the first in the area “to launch a carbon-neutral building that integrates environmental responsibility and learning opportunities for young professionals and tourists.” Other businesses recognized during the evening include Advanced Office Solutions (AOS) and Niagara Ina Grafton Gage Village.
“NSI looks forward to continuing the Carbon Project and developing partnerships with Niagara region businesses to assist management and reduction of the carbon footprint, and ultimately creating a leading environmentally and economically viable business community,” Kroeze said.
She said NSI is “taking the next few months to develop another great season of events as well as connecting with them on a number of carbon reduction opportunities that were identified with the release of our second annual report.”
For more information and to access a copy of the annual report see www.niagarasustainability.org.
