Barriers & Opportunities with Rooftop Solar in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone

To support the adoption of rooftop solar in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone as part of the Ontario Government's Green Energy Act, Chris project managed a study on the barriers to rooftop solar and potential solutions for the Pearson Eco-Business Zone.

Based on research and consultation with market participants, the study identified challenges that fell into four broad categories: 1) Economic Hurdles; 2) Legal and Policy Hurdles; 3) Institutional Knowledge / Capacity Hurdles; and, 4) Technical Hurdles.  

With these identified, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority developed a range of tools and resources to help organizations overcome these hurdles and implement rooftop solar installations in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone.

To view the study visit here.

Partners in Project Green - Eco-Efficiency Program

Working with his team at TRCA, Chris developed the Partners in Project Green Eco-Efficiency Program - a program aimed at identifying resource and cost reduction opportunities for business around Toronto Pearson.

Supported by the local distribution companies servicing the airport area (Toronto Hydro, Enersource Hydro and Brampton Hydro One), along with Enbridge Gas, the Eco-Efficiency Program provided companies with a no-cost high-level audit of their facilities to identify energy, waste and water reduction opportunities.

Chris oversaw the management of consultants and staff hired to provide the high-level audits and their implementation, while also marketing the program to perspective companies.  The program continues to operate around Toronto Pearson and can be found here - http://www.partnersinprojectgreen.com/programs/energy-performance/eco-efficiency-program.

Partners in Project Green: A Pearson Eco-Business Zone Strategy

Chris spearheaded the development of Partners in Project Green: A Pearson Eco-Business Zone - an ambitious strategy to transform the business community around Toronto Pearson International Airport into an internationally recognized community known for its competitive, high performance and eco-friendly business climate.

The Partners in Project Green Strategy was developed in 2008 over eight months with the input of businesses in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone and municipal, provincial and federal governments. 

The Strategy provided background on the Pearson Eco-Business Zone, a baseline of resource use, as well as programming initiatives identified by the business community that should be developed and delivered to assist in reducing resource consumption and promoting green economic development.

As a result of the Strategy, Partners in Project Green was launched thanks to a seven year funding agreement with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

To read the Strategy visit: www.partnersinprojectgreen.com/about-us?id=4:our-strategy&catid=1.

To learn more about Partners in Project Green visit: www.partnersinprojectgreen.com.

Greater Toronto Airports Authority Living City Project

As a Watershed Planner with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Chris project managed the completion of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) Living City Project - a series of three strategies aimed at improving the environment around Toronto Pearson International Airport (Toronto Pearson).

The GTAA Living City Project utilized an interdisciplinary approach to watershed management within the Etobicoke Creek around Toronto Pearson. Working in collaboration with the GTAA, the project involved four main components:

1. The Terrestrial System - an inventory of the terrestrial system around Toronto Pearson to identify potential natural cover and priority restoration and enhancement sites to meet TRCA's targets for the Etobicoke watershed.
2. The Aquatic Ecosystem - the completion of a fish management plan to identify restoration opportunities for priority aquatic habitat in the areas around Toronto Pearson.
3. Stormwater Management - an assessment of storm water management around Toronto Pearson and the identification of priority improvements to improve water quality.
4. Integration and Priority Implementation Priorities - the integration of the recommendations from the above strategies in a spatial form to identify priorities for implementation.

Ultimately, the GTAA Living City Project provided the groundwork for developing Partners in Project Green: A Pearson Eco-Business Zone and engaging the business community around Toronto Pearson in watershed restoration initiatives.

To view a copy of the above reports please find them below:

1. The Terrestrial System
2. The Aquatic Ecosystem
3. Stormwater Management
4. Integration and Priority Implementation Priorities

Greater Toronto Area Spills Assessment

The Greater Toronto Area Spills Assessment was study project managed by Chris to develop a spatial interpretation of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's spills database.  The purpose of the study was to identify areas of frequent spill activity and to develop a predictive model that could be utilized to determine risk, target outreach efforts and develop spill response strategies.

The development of the study led to a number of recommendations for improving the management of spill data, as well as the development of Region of Peel Spill Decision Support System - a web-based tool for responding to spills.