Urban Growth & Sustainability:Implementation challenges & opportunities

The Story in Guelph

Overview of presentation

1. Growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe

2. Key policy directions

3. Challenges to going further

Growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe

Growing mid-sized city 100 km west of Toronto

124,000 today; 175,000 in 2031

Sustainability is a key principle of our local growth strategy

• Fastest growing urban area in Canada

• Third fastest growing urban area in North America

• Grow by over 4 million people by 2031

• 1.7 million new households

• 45% longer commuting times

• 42% increase in auto emissions

• More than 1,000 square kilometres of farmland consumed

By 2031 in Guelph

• 54,000 new residents • 31,000 new jobs

Key policy direction

40% of new growth in the built boundary i.e. not green field

City boundary

Urban Growth Centre

Greenfield Areas

Built Boundary

City boundary

Urban Growth Centre

Greenfield Areas

Built Boundary

Substantial change in the form of growth

From the fringes to the urban growth centre, nodes & corridors

Goals of “Places to Grow” are addressing many global challenges

• Revitalize downtowns • Create complete communities • Provide housing options• Curb sprawl• Protect farmland & green spaces• Reduce traffic gridlock – greater range of

transportation options

Policy Directions in Water, Wastewater, Waste,

Energy, & Biodiversity

• Water Management Master Plan approved

Key policy direction:

Sustainable use of local resources

i.e. no pipeline to Lake Erie

Protection of local resources

Guelph’s “Oak Ridges” Moraine

Special MOE policy review of Paris-Galt Moraine

Expansion of Greenbelt

Guelph

Paris–Galt Moraine

Greenbelt (approx.)

Paris/Galt Moraine

Guelph

• Water Conservation & Efficiency Strategy (being updated)

• Toilet rebate• Clothes washer rebate • Industrial, commercial and institutional

buy backs• Landscape assessment program • Outdoor water use by-law

Water Conservation Program Cost ($/m3)Single family 344 -1095

Multi-residential 71 - 882

Industrial/Commercial/Industry 57 - 300

New local supply 795 - 3000

Note: Pipeline >$3700

Historical Average Day Water Demand

50,000

55,000

60,000

65,000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Cubi

cM

etre

s (m

3) p

er d

ay

90,00095,000100,000105,000110,000115,000120,000125,000

Popu

latio

n

Supply Capacity Average Day Population

• Residential Grey Water Reuse Pilot

• Water conservation co-benefits study – energy and GHG co-benefits

• Industrial Benchmarking Exercise – UG/Province– Guelph is a participating municipality

First LEED Platinum Home in Canada Reid’s Heritage Homes

Rainwater harvesting system

Rainwater collected, filtered and stored in a cistern

Supply 3 toilets, washing machine, dishwasher and outdoor irrigation

50% of water consumption in a typical home

• Wastewater Management Master Plan underway

Key policy direction:

Sustainable use of local resources i.e. the river

i.e. no pipeline

Re-use (re-branding)

• Effluent reuse

• Use of biosolids

• Heat recovery

• Optimizationpeople & facility focused

Wastewater Treatment Plant Bypasses

PostPre enhancementsTypical Industry PerformanceActual Guelph data

2003 2008Number of events

Solid

mgs

/litr

e

Mandated by MOE

Improvements in Secondary Effluent Ammonia

0.001.002.003.004.005.006.007.008.009.00

Jan2

3

Feb2

2

Mar

23

Apr

22

May

22

Jun2

1

Jul2

1

mg/

l

May 22nd

More effective process

control established

After May 22nd

Ammonia concentrations are

llower and significantly less

variable

Before May 22nd

Ammonia concentrations were

higher and variable

Capital savings in Wastewater

Global challenge – water quality vs cost ($)

• Reduced need for another anaerobic digester – $5 million

• Elimination of the need for a UV system – $ 8 million

• Deferral of Stage 2 expansion for 10 years– $20 million

• Lystek technology• High quality product

• Land application (fertilizer)

• $1.2 million in avoided annual landfill costs

• Reduced carbon footprint

• Increased green power production

• Energy conservation

Advanced Biosolids Treatment

• Waste Management Master Plan approved

Key policy direction: Zero Waste Philosophy

• Waste minimization (corporate leadership)• Waste diversion from landfill

– recycling, reuse, organics – 55% by 2011 65% by 2016 70% by 2021

• Community Energy Plan approved

Key policy direction:Energy use per capita & resulting GHG emissions will be less than the current global average

Country Energy Index per capita

Total World 1.0Canada 6.4USA 5.1EU 25 2.6Sweden 3.5Germany 2.6China 0.5India 0.2

Benchmarked Guelph against Sweden

Sector 2005 GWhe/year

2031GWhe/year

2005MWhe/capita

2031MWhe/capita

Residential 1,610 1,473 14.00 8.18Commercial 1,046 1,076 9.10 5.98Industrial 1,631 1,848 14.18 10.27Transport 1,743 1,126 15.16 6.26Total* (Net) 6030 5,523 52.44 30.69

Decouple energy demand from growthDecouple energy demand from growth

Increase in population of 54,000

Net reduction in energy consumption (50% less)

Reduction in GHG from 16 to 7.0 tonnes (60% less)

Setting priority to the CEP recommendations

1. Energy efficiency If you don’t need it, don’t use it

2. Heat Recovery If it’s already there, use it

3. Renewable energy If it makes sense, go carbon free

4. Regional & local Invest where it makes utilities sense to avoid duplication

70% of total energy

DistributionConversionFuel

30% of energy

ServiceBuildings

Efficiency

Pay for 100 get less than 20Pay for 100 get less than 20

DistributionConversionFuel

Electricity

Gas

Copyright Garforth International

• Natural Heritage Strategy

• Pollinator Park• First of its kind• Over 100 acres• Will support the

complete pollinator cycle

Biodiversity – integrating the natural environment into the urban landscape

Moving beyond current thinking

• Sustaining momentum

• Short-term vested interests

• Seductive power of the status quo

Thank you for your attention