In a report to its City Council, Kingston, Ontario has found it is well on track to meet its 2020 emissions reduction target, but that it will need additional measures to meet its 2030 target of a 30 per cent reduction, including biogas generated from wastewater processing.
Since the implementation of its Kingston Climate Action Plan (KCAP), the city has reduced emissions by 12 per cent, putting it well on the way to a 15 per cent reduction in 2020.
“We are proud to report on the progress and successes we have seen in Kingston since the introduction of the Kingston Climate Action Plan in 2014,’ saud Paul McLatchy, the city’s environment director. “Ontario’s move away from coal-fired electricity plants has put us on track to achieve our 2020 goal.
Recommended water efficiency programs to be implemented were outlined in the report to council. Programs include a solar hot water heating to reduce building emissions and energy generation from wastewater biosolids. Utilities Kingston is currently evaluating the potential of a wastewater biogas project. Combined with a solid waste program, the city expects a renewable natural gas program would generate substantial decreases in GHG emissions.
The city has already seen success with its water conservation and demand management incentives, which reduced energy consumption through water use retrofits. To date the city expect to achieve “191,300 m3 of cumulative water conservation expected from measures implemented 2014–2017.” The city estimates that the savings are equivalent to the reduction of 4.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
“We look forward to continuing the community conversation around the roles that public transportation, electric vehicles, urban intensification and the generation of renewable natural gas can play,” said McLatchy.
KCAP is a community-developed set of strategies that guide efforts throughout the region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The report to council can be found online along with the KCAP.
