Developed out of city council, the Climate Leadership Committee has been working on developing ways to reduce green house gas emissions in Grand Forks.
Organized by Carbon Neutral Kootenays, the City of Grand Forks has an action plan for reducing carbon gas emissions and becoming a greener city.
Coun. Gary Smith has been able to meet and discuss with other communities who are also aiming to reduce their carbon emissions.
“It was an opportunity to sit around and listen to what other people in other communities are doing to work towards their own goals,” he said. “We can share ideas and see how it could apply in our own communities, or how our ideas may apply to somebody else’s community.”
Smith has been to Castlegar, Rossland, Silverton and several other communities in the West Kootenays.
At the moment, he pointed out that many cities are focusing on water and waste management.
“There are similarities and people are talking about water metering and water treatment and just how to make those systems more effective and efficient,” Smith said.
Grand Forks is a solar city, he stated.
“I think working in that direction and enhancing our solar city status by working on projects that are geared towards reducing our dependence on other sources of energy by putting it on solar is a great way to go,” he explained.
The Grand Forks Recreation Centre currently has solar panels on the roof that heats the pool, while city staff are currently looking into solar heating for the city park washrooms.
“I think as opportunities arise, you’ll see more projects come out of it,” Smith concluded. “Certainly the city is trying to green itself up to set an example for the community. Think green!”