How to help New Tecumseth be more environmentally sustainable.

First, New Tecunseth can target heating emissions by enacting stricter Green Building Standards for new developments and retrofitting existing structures. Also implementing a Clean Energy Improvement plan allows property owners to fund energy-efficiency upgrades such as high-efficiency heat pumps and solar panels through low-interest loans tied directly to their property tax bills.

Second, New Tecumseth should transition its corporate and transit fleets away from fossil fuels. Electrifying municipal vehicles, while installing a network of public EV charging stations.

Third, reducing landfill waste is critical to stopping methane emissions. Expanding green bin organic collection and upgrading local landfills with methane gas capture systems can turn harmful emissions into usable green energy.

Finally, New Tecumseth must protect and expand their natural infrastructure. By leveraging funding from sources like the FCM Green Municipal Fund, we can expand our urban tree canopies which we have successfully started to do after being successful in getting a FCM grant. We should pass zoning laws that permanently safeguard wetlands and forests.

By combining green building regulations, fleet electrification, waste diversion, and natural asset management, I believe New Tecumseth can successfully pave a realistic, self-sustaining path to net zero emissions.

Thank you for your question.