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CICUM4011 Report
Planning Services
Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee
Date: September 22, 2014 Resolution: GP - C)-1- By-law:
Report: PSD-053-14 File: PLN 39.5
Subject: Priority Green Clarington — Update No. 2
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
a) That Report PSD-053-14 be received for information.
Submitted by: ---4/ 6� Reviewed by:
Davi Crome, MCIP, RPP Franklin Wu,
Director of Planning Services Chief Administrative Officer
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-053-14 Page 2
Report Overview
Priority Green Clarington has reached two important milestones. Firstly, an initial phase of
communication and engagement has been completed. Feedback received will inform the
establishment of a Green Development Framework for Clarington. Secondly, working in
partnership with Brookfield Residential, Halminen Homes and Jeffery Homes, the green home
building demonstration component of Priority Green Clarington has completed construction of
six 'beyond code' homes and the installation of monitoring equipment. Monitoring of these
homes under "real-life" conditions and assessment of their performance will begin in October.
Background
1. Priority Green Clarington aims to set a new standard for residential development that
prioritizes sustainability, promotes innovation and continues to improve the community's
quality of life. To achieve this vision, the Municipality, in collaboration with the Region of
Durham, the private sector, and the community, is establishing a Green Development
Framework. "Green development" refers to using practices that will reduce the
environmental impacts of residential development and create healthier places to live. It
considers the ways in which both homes and neighbourhoods are designed and built.
2. Priority Green Clarington is an initiative driven by Council's Strategic Plan 2011-2014 and
Clarington's Green Community Strategy(2010). It is being carried out in collaboration
with the Region of Durham and with funding support from the Government of Ontario
through the Showcasing Water Innovation program, and the Green Municipal Fund, a
fund financed by the Government of Canada and administered by the Federation of
Canadian Municipalities, in addition to municipal funding.
Work Program Status
Communication & Engagement Strategy— Phase 1
3. Broad community support is fundamental to the successful design, implementation and
adoption of a practical and effective approach to green development in Clarington. A
Communication & Engagement Strategy was prepared at the outset of the initiative, and
is being implemented in two phases, as follows:
• Phase I: Start up and early outreach; and
• Phase 11: Proposed framework review, consultation and knowledge transfer.
4. Phase I aimed to introduce Priority Green Clarington to the community, initiate a dialogue
about planning and establishing a Green Development Framework for Clarington, and
facilitate participation in the process. The scope of Phase I is outlined in Attachment 1.
5. Key findings emerging from the community, staff and agencies, the building industry and
Council included the following:
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-053-14 Page 3
• The majority of participants engaged support Priority Green Clarington's vision. A
community vision of liveable neighbourhoods in Clarington prioritizes widely
available, easily accessible and safe green spaces and streets, convenient access
to amenities and increased support for non-vehicular modes of transportation.
• Saving valuable farm land and rural space is the top ranking benefit that the
community feels can be gained from advancing green development practices. As
revealed in the following figure, other top ranking benefits that should be supported
by the standards that will form part of the Green Development Framework include
supporting a more active lifestyle (e.g. walking, cycling) and better conservation of
wildlife habitat.
Saved valuable farm land and rural spaces 22%
Supporting a more active lifestyle of walking and
bicycling 19%
Better conservation of wildlife habitat 18%
Better air and water quality 13%
Reduced demand on energy and water systems 8%
Reduced pressure on stormwater systems 8%
Nicer looking public spaces from perserved natural
features and plantings 7%
Less impact to global warming and better prepared for
climate related events 6%
Figure 1: Community Ranking of Benefits of Green Development
(Total respondents = 430)
• Establishing a Green Development Framework will require careful consideration of
local issues (e.g. disconnected communities and neighbourhoods) and priorities
(e.g. improved access to transit and support of active transportation). Other key
considerations include allowing for innovation through flexibility, supporting
alignment with other municipal and third party programs, on-going consultation with
industry and the community, and being cautious of process duplication, added time
and/or costs for application review, and conflicting approvals standards.
• Incentives are important to industry adoption of green development practices and
should be designed to enhance the competitive advantage of developers, without
imposing significant pressure on municipal or taxpayer resources. A combination of
economic, policy-based and/or administrative incentives should be considered.
Confirming other industry research, general support exists for a fast-tracked
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-053-14 Page 4
approvals incentive approach provided supporting tools and resources (e.g. training,
education, dedicated staff resources) are made available.
• A combination of tools, resources and strategies is recommended to facilitate the
successful implementation of enhanced policies and new standards and guidelines
for green development, including:
o Clear submission requirements
o Consistency and coordination between proposed green development
standards and guidelines and other Municipal standards and guidelines;
o Ongoing education and outreach to generate awareness and support;
o Ongoing dialogue and feedback between the Municipality and stakeholders;
o Flexibility to support overcoming market barriers, and;
o Ensuring recommended green development standards are practical and cost-
effective, particularly in Clarington.
• A key component of creating compact, complete and sustainable neighbourhoods in
Clarington is building at higher densities than has traditionally been seen in the
community. However, earlier community survey results and feedback received
during the Phase I engagement activities both highlight that the community is
concerned about what higher density forms of development may mean. A focused
community discussion may be needed to raise awareness of how increased density
has the potential to contribute to an attractive, vibrant and diverse environment for
people to live, work and play (i.e. "liveable density"), and to define community
expectations. The objectives of this community workshop should include the
following:
• To raise awareness of the Municipality's vision to develop compact, complete
and sustainable neighbourhoods in Clarington, and the role of increased
density.
• To define community expectations of compact, complete and sustainable
neighbourhoods.
• To examine the areas identified for increased density in Clarington and their
characteristics, and better understand community perceptions.
• On-going community and Council engagement will be necessary to achieve Priority
Green Clarington objectives.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-053-14 Page 5
Green Demonstration Project
6. In February 2012, the Municipality announced (PSD-014-14) that three builders,
Brookfield Residential, Halminen Homes and Jeffery Homes have committed to
participate in the Priority Green Clarington Green Demonstration Project. The Green
Demonstration Project will result in the construction of six study homes (two per builder).
These homes will incorporate practices that aim to reduce their environmental impact
beyond that of a home constructed to meet Ontario's Building Code. Practices are listed
in Attachment 2.
7. Each of the study homes has been sold to interested home buyers. A four-month
performance monitoring program will be carried out on each home under actual operating
conditions. Performance monitoring will include tracking of total water, electricity and
natural gas usage, water and electricity sub-metering of specific fixtures/appliances within
the study homes, and energy performance testing and rating.
8. As of September 1, 2014, three of the study homes were occupied and performance
monitoring initiated. The remaining three homes are anticipated to be online by the
beginning of October.
9. Through performance monitoring, conservation and efficiency improvements will be
quantified, greenhouse gas reductions will be calculated, performance comparisons will
be made to similar homes build to the minimum standard established by the Ontario
Building Code, and return on investment and payback period evaluated. The results of
the assessment will be used to inform residents and the building industry about the
potential environmental, economic and social benefits of the green practices used.
10. The Municipality has received overwhelming support for the Green Demonstration Project
from our partner builders (Brookfield Residential, Halminen Homes and Jeffery Homes)
and their respective electrical and plumbing contractors, industry associations (Durham
Region Home Builders Association, Sustainable Housing Foundation), and product
manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, promotional support has been received from
local media (Clarington This Week) and industry publications including Better Builder
Magazine and Toronto Focus Magazine, a publication of the Canada Green Building
Council.
11. Glen Pleasance, the Region of Durham Water Efficiency Co-ordinator, has had a major
role in the development and implementation of the Green Demonstration Project.
Next Steps
12. The following next steps are underway for Priority Green Clarington:
• Conduct monitoring and assess performance of the six participating green
demonstration project homes;
• Focused workshop and community discussion on the benefits of higher density on
the concept of liveable density, scheduled for November this year;
• Draft proposed green standards and guidelines;
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-053-14 Page 6
• Examine potential incentive mechanisms to encourage adoption of green
development practices beyond minimum standards and assess feasibility; and
• The second phase of the communication and engagement strategy.
Concurrence
13. Not Applicable
Conclusion
14. The implementation of the first phase of communication and engagement for Priority
Green Clarington started a discussion with stakeholders and the community about the
role of green development practices in achieving sustainable growth. An additional
workshop will be carried out this Fall focused on the benefits of higher density.
15. The Green Demonstration Project component of Priority Green Clarington has reached
an important milestone with the construction of six 'beyond code' homes and the
installation of monitoring equipment. The performance assessment is now underway.
16. With Priority Green Clarington funding agreements concluding in spring 2015, staff will be
reviewing options to sustain the long term vision for this initiative.
Strategic Plan Application
17. The recommendations contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan.
Staff Contact: Amy Burke, Priority Green Clarington Coordinator, 905-623-3379 ext 2423 or
aburke(a�clarington.net
Attachments:
Attachment 1 — Phase 1 Scope and Community Outreach
Attachment 2 — Demonstration Project Green Practices
List of the interested parties to be notified of Council's decision: None
Attachment 1 to
Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-053-14
Community Engagement
A. The following methods for project communications were established:
• Project website (www.prioritygreenclarington.wordpress.com);
• Social media interaction via the Municipality's Twitter and Facebook accounts;
• QR Code providing a direct link to the project website;
• Articles in the Planning Services Department's E-Update Newsletter,
• Media releases and advertising of community events and project
announcements;
• Presentations and information booths to share project progress and lessons
learned; and
• Memorandums and reports to Council.
B. Between April and August 2014, early involvement in Priority Green Clarington was
facilitated through four distinct engagement activities, each designed to obtain feedback
from specific interest groups. These included:
• Community Engagement— attendance at two community events (Clarington
Home & Garden Show and Maple Festival);
• Industry Engagement— a collaboration workshop with representatives of the land
development and building sector;
• Staff& Agency Engagement— a collaboration workshop with Municipal, Regional
and Agency representatives and partners involved in land development review
and approval; and
• Council Engagement — Individual interviews with Clarington's Mayor and
members of Council.
These engagement activities were designed to build on the results of the community
survey conducted through Priority Green Clarington in August 2013 (PSD-061-13).
C. The following tables summarize the reach of Phase I activities:
Mechanism /Activity # of Contacts
Community Survey 1000
Project Website 2500
QR Codes not available
E-Update Newsletter 309
Priority Green Clarington Symposium 64
Community Engagement 1 140
(Clarington Spring Home & Garden Show, April 11 — 13)
Community Engagement 2 110
(Historic Downtown Bowmanville's Maple Festival, May 3)
Community Engagement 3 - Online 12
Workshop 1 - Industry Engagement (May 28) 11
Workshop 2 - Staff& Agency Engagement (May 28) 14
Interviews - Council Engagement (August 2014) 6
Total 4166
Table 1: Summary of Phase 1 CES Contacts (to September 1, 2014)
Communication Mechanism # of Publications
Website Blog Posts 10
Social Media (Twitter, Facebook) 14
QR Codes not available
E-Update Newsletter 14
Municipal News Releases 4
Presentations (e.g. Building and Land Development Industry 9
— Durham Chapter, Durham Region Home Builders
Association)
Information Booths 3
Council Memorandums and Reports (including PSD-053-14) 9
Total 63
Table 2: Summary of Phase 1 CES Publications (to September 1, 2014)
Attachment 2 to
Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-053-14
Clariagton
/.eedlie8lle N'al
Green Demonstration Project
List of Green Practices'
Quality Assurance
• Third party performance based energy rating (HERS Index)
• Inspected and verified to guarantee program compliance
High Performance Building Envelope
• Air leakage under 3.0 ACH @ 50 Pa
• Insulation installation meeting RESNET's Grade II quality rating (minimum)
• Upgraded "better basement" (R20 insulation value)
• Exterior air barrier with all penetrations sealed
• Insulated sheathing
High Performance Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Web-based programmable thermostat
• High efficiency furnace (95% AFUE minimum)with minimum 2 stage modulation
and electronically commutated motor (ECM) in air handler
• Sealing of all furnace supply ducts
• Commissioning of the heating system
• Drain water heat recovery on two drains
• High efficiency air conditioner (efficiency rating of 14 SEER or higher)2
Energy Efficient Lighting & Appliances
• Minimum 75% CFL lighting (high use rooms)
• ENERGY STAR°certified appliances2
• ENERGY STAR° Most Efficient certified clothes washer'
Reduce Water Usage & Runoff
Indoor
• 3.8 Lpf(or less) toilets
• 7.6 Lpm showerheads
• 5.7 Lpm bathroom faucets
• 8.3 Lpm kitchen faucets
• Greywater recycling system
• Hot water recirculation system
Outdoor
• Provide 4' to 6" of topsoil (all non-
hardscaped lot areas)
• Permeable hardscaping (e.g.
walkways, patios)
• Rain barrels
1 This listing is cumulative for all six study homes. Some variability between homes exists.
z Where supplied by builder.
Indoor Air Quality
• Bathroom fans verified at Ontario Building Code capacities
• Energy Recovery Ventilator (minimum efficiency rating of 65% SRE)
• Air system balanced
• MERV 8 filter (or better) installed
• Contaminant control during construction
• Pre occupancy flush (48 hours before)
Efficient Material Management
• Advanced wall framing
• Attic insulation containing 40% post-consumer recycled content (minimum)
• Wall insulation containing 40% post-consumer recycled content (minimum)
• Thermal insulated sheathing containing 15% post-consumer recycled content (minimum)
Future Ready
• Greywater ready
• Solar (photovoltaic) ready
• LED lighting ready (exterior soffit fixtures)
• Natural gas ready (oven and clothes dryer)