Green Infrastructure

“A key theme in A Guide to Green Choices is the notion of integration. It stems from a belief that the solid efforts already being made could be even stronger if they work together in the right direction — not at cross-purposes,” stated Laura Tate. This Guide is expected to work in tandem with many other programs and projects already underway, including Living Water Smart and the BC Climate Action Plan. Many of the ideas proposed in this Guide are eligible for funding through various provincial government programs

In the third and final event in the 2008 Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation Series, Councillor Vic Derman of the District of Saanich will elaborate on his vision for The Natural City. He will pose the question: “What do we want this place to look like in 50 years, and how will we get from here to there?”

A community of more than 25,000 people, the University of Victoria is a case study for green buildings and compact growth. Over the past five years, UVic has been able to transition from an incremental approach in planning and resource management to a water-centric approach that is much more holistic and integrated –– the new business as usual.

“We featured the east Courtenay area in the first seminar because this part of the city has evolved from fields and forest over the past two decades, and so has our approach to rainwater and stormwater management. We incorporated a walkabout at the front-end of the seminar program so that participants would have a visual frame of reference for concepts that will be covered in the curriculum for the second and third seminars,” stated Kevin Lagan. A key objective is consistency at local front counters so that developers and development consultants hear a consistent message as to what is expected of them.

Westhills is British Columbia's largest LEED-Neighbourhood Development pilot project, with design elements and community initiatives that create and nuture a strong sense of community; and a plan that incorporates leading-edge environmental technologies.

The LEED-ND (Neighbourhood Development) designation is a catalyst for creating socially supportive, healthy neighbourhoods and promoting urban design excellence throughout the public realm in the Westhills Green Community.

An investigative report by Ecojustice (formerly Sierra Legal Defence Fund) highlights innovative green solutions that could stop billions of litres of raw sewage from fouling the Great Lakes each year. The report also provides practical examples of green infrastructure techniques used in various cities.

The Town of View Royal has a vision for a regional fibre optic network owned by local government. In an age of senior government downloading, combined with higher community expectations for more and more services, the Town sees a fibre optic network creating opportunities for local government to generate new revenue streams.

The Town of View Royal has developed a Green Infrastructure Grant Template that establishes a provincial benchmark for other municipalities to measure themselves against when applying for senior government funding. As part of the program for the 2008 Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation Series, the Town is sharing its template with other municipalities.

The report titled Green Building in British Columbia: A Special Report for Architects, Engineers and Contractors was created by the Light House Sustainable Building Centre to facilitate and accelerate market transformation and economic development activities for the sustainable building cluster in British Columbia.