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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-20 Minutes SUSTAINABLE CLARINGTON COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting of June 20, 2013, 7:00 P.M. MEZZANINE ROOM Present: Michael Patrick, Committee Chair Neil Allin Mike Dymarski Suzanne Elston Mayor Foster Allan Hewitt Councillor Hooper Lorraine Jones Kerry Meydam Also Present: Curry Clifford, Corporate Initiatives Officer 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Committee Chair Michael Patrick welcomed members. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 16, 2013 MEETING Moved by Moved by Allan Hewitt and seconded by Kerry Meydam that the minutes of the May 16, 2013 meeting be approved. 3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES The Committee had before them a memo from the Committee Chair regarding the June to September meetings including a schedule of the topics to be discussed at each meeting and the 10 questions to be addressed by invitees. Chair Michael Patrick briefly reviewed the memo with the Committee. 4. COMMITTEE TASK #2: DISUSSION WITH GUESTS ON PRIORITY ITEMS #2 (ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS) AND #5 (WATER SAVING IN NEW AS WELL AS EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS) The Committee met with and had before them responses to their 10 questions from: Rick Pigeon, Chief Building Official, Carlos Salazar, Manager, Community Planning and Design, Planning Services, Amy Burke, Sustainable Development Coordinator, Planning Services and Glen Pleasance, Water Efficiency Coordinator, Works Department, Region of Durham Mr. Pigeon reviewed recent changes to the 2006 Ontario Building Code that require new Sustainable Clarington -2- June 20, 2013 Community Advisory Committee construction to be 15% more energy efficient effective January 1, 2012 and a further 15% more efficient effective January 1, 2014. He explained that similar levels of efficiency improvements in toilets, urinals and shower heads are required in the aggregate, also effective January 1, 2014. The Committee raised with Mr. Pigeon the need for training of trades people about the new standards. Mr. Salazar and Ms. Burke discussed "Priority Green Clarington", a project authorized by Clarington Council, led by the Planning Services Department and significantly financed by the Ministry of Environment and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and assisted by Mr. Pleasance. They explained that the project includes examining incentives, best practices and guidelines for increasing the sustainability of new residential neighbourhoods via the land development approvals process including: water and energy efficiency that exceed the Ontario Building Code standards (as outlined by Mr. Pigeon), protection of the natural environment, low impact storm water management measures, complete communities and compact form/intensification. The project also involves locating a partner from the local land development/building community to install a selection of water and energy efficiency and (potentially) sustainable site development measures in a sample of new homes that can then be compared with homes built in accordance with the new Ontario Building Code standard (standard effective January 1, 2014). Lessons from other municipalities will be used to develop the guidelines The Committee raised with Mr. Salazar and Ms. Burke the importance of (a) establishing a baseline and then monitoring and measuring in order to evaluate results (b) educating homeowners about how to optimize the technology that assists with conservation as conservation results are highly dependent on operational know how (c) consulting with developers and builders as to what incentives matter to them, e.g., the value of time (d) considering emerging provincial discussions on district heating and its relevance to the project. Staff thanked the Committee for this input and indicated that they would appreciate feedback from the Committee on project reports and draft guidelines when they are released and would be pleased to return to the Committee in the future to provide an update on the project's progress. Staff advised that the project will proceed in accordance with the key dates and timeline required of the Municipality in accordance with its grant agreements with the Ministry of the Environment and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Mr. Pleasance discussed water efficiency in Durham, noting that Durham's program began in 1996 and that water efficiency can create significant benefits including delayed water and sewer plant expansions, reduced energy use and increased climate resiliency. He noted that five homes replacing old toilets creates enough water capacity for one new home. The Region's audit of water use at its own facilities lead to significant efficiency gains. Sustainable Clarington -3- June 20, 2013 Community Advisory Committee Mr. Pleasance explained that a project that preceded and is influencing "Priority Green Clarington" showed significant water and energy savings results: In 90 homes built by Tribute Communities in Ajax, fixtures, appliances and front yards were upgraded resulting in reductions of: 22.5% in indoor water use, 13% in electricity use and 10% in natural gas use. It was found that 95% of water use indoors is from three sources: toilets, showers/baths and clothes washers. Each have become vastly more efficient, e.g., 2014 toilets use 4.8 litres per flush as compared to 1997 and earlier toilets that use 20 litres per flush. Similar rates of water savings have been found with showerheads and clothes washers use 40% less water and 43% less electricity. Appliance and fixtures meeting "WaterSense" certification was recommended. Overall, the Tribute Communities project showed that minor changes meant that the average household used 150 litres of water per day as compared to the average Durham home that uses 230 litres per day. It was also found that outdoor water use increases by 50% in the summer with lawn watering and that water treatment plants are sized to deal with 10 days of peak demand. Increasing the ability to capture storm water through gardens, permeable walkways and driveways, ditches, cisterns and rain gardens have also been found to significantly reduce water use and treatment and reduce risks of flooding. 5. COMMITTEE TASK # 3: ANY ITEMS COMMITTEE MEMBERS WISH TO RAISE Committee members indicated that the longer term sustainability strategy should include attention to adapting to climate change as mentioned at the last meeting, as well as training on sustainability. 6. OTHER BUSINESS: Curry Clifford indicated that the Council will be considering on June 24th (and to be confirmed July 2nd) the appointment of a youth member to the Committee who is a secondary school student served by the public school board and that nominations for a student from the Catholic school board continue to be sought. He noted that this is consistent with the Committee's request and that the result may be a new member or members by the time of the Committee's next meeting. Mr. Clifford also noted that Googledocs has been set up to store voluminous documents for the Committee such as other communities' sustainability plans and that instructions on access will be provided to the Committee. He asked that Committee members send him documents that they would like stored at this site. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.