In this issue…

1. Celebrate Community

2. PowerPledge:
   pledge now, pledge often!

3. Barriers and Initiatives for Conservation - ECO consultation

4. Introducing the Great Green Directory

5. Welcome New Members and Board

132 - 215 Spadina Ave. Toronto, Ontario  M5T 2C7

416.533.1635 info(at)weconserve.ca  

Editor: Chris Winter, Executive Director
The Conservation Council of Ontario

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It seems like everyone wants us to pitch-in, turn-off, or turn-up these days.  We’ve just celebrated the fourth annual Earth Hour event, and over the next month you can join in a 20 Minute Makeover, participate in Earth Day celebrations, or take in a Jane’s Walk on the May 1^st weekend.

There are two good reasons to get involved in some or all of these events.  The first is to show you care.  Get out there, wave your flag, and lend your support to some terrific organizations that are working to make the world a better place.   An even more important reason is to build up the spirit of green in your community.  Some of the best green activities are the ones you do with friends and neighbours.  And some of the best green events are local cultural events that have incorporated a commitment to celebrating community and living green.

Community spirit is a strong foundation for a culture of conservation.  It’s one of the essential building blocks for effective voluntary change.   Fortunately, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get involved these days.  My suggestion for community groups is to pick the issues your members are most concerned about and the activities that best build community spirit. 

Get out there, and have fun conserving!

Pledge to save energy, then book your flight!

That's right.  The latest social marketing campaign to come out of the Ontario Power Authority is offering 20 Air Miles as an incentive to make a pledge to use a power bar or wash clothes in cold water.

Now, most people I know have made a similar pledge at least three times already -- last years Count Me In campaign from the OPA, CBC's A Million Acts of Green, the David Suzuki Nature Challenge, or the WWF's Living Planet challenge (formerly The Good Life).  I've done them all.  "Pledge now, pledge often", I always say.  But this is one pledge I'm going to pass on.

Air Miles as a reward for conserving?  What are they thinking?  Granted, you don't have to use your 20 Air Mile points towards a 1,000 point trip from Toronto to Thunder Bay.  You can use them towards an item from their green products line ( a point not mentioned on the Power Pledge site).  Or you can donate your Air Miles to one of three charities: World Wildlife Fund Canada, Special Olympics Canada, or Kids Help Phone.   (Unfortunately, OSEA, Green Communities Canada, LIEN, CCO, or any of the many community-based conservation groups across Ontario are not included in this offer).

But it's the overall marketing approach that is the real issue for me on this one.  It's time we let the OPA know that centralized, corporate social marketing campaigns are not the way to build a culture of conservation.  The OPA should stick to delivering targeted incentives and support programs, and completely redesign it's public engagement strategy to foster a decentralized, voluntary sector approach to building conserver communities and a culture of conservation.

Fortunately, there is a way to make raise these concerns.   Read on...

When the Green Energy Act was passed last year, it shifted responsibility for reporting on energy conservation from Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer (working out of the Ontario Power Authority) to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO), Gord Miller.

The ECO has now launched a website where you can record your conservation initiatives and list the barriers to effective conservation.   The suggested categories for barriers include: informational, financial, regulatory, technical, and other.

Barriers can result from both errors of omission and commission, and they can become embedded in the way we use and think about energy. The first step in addressing these barriers is gathering information from people like you.

If you are frustrated by something in particular and you think it should be removed, the ECO wants to know.

We have a fantastic new resource to introduce you to this month:  the Great Green Directory.

Imagine having all the products, services, support programs, incentives, project funding, and resources all on one website, complete with the ability to create your own factsheet for your own use, or to hand out at a community group meeting.

That's the challenge we gave to Addison Cameron Huff of Summerhill Design, one of the country's sharpest young web designers (he has the Yahoo! Hacker awards to prove it)..

The site is up and running.  It's just the engine at the moment, so don't expect glitz and glamour.  The polish will come later after we've made sure the foundation is solid.

The Conservation Council will build and manage the important information around provincial programs and incentives, the rest is up to you.  If you wish to add in your group, business, or municipality, all you need to do is create a personal account (Sign Up) and then enter the details on your organization and the services you provide.  We'll send you a reminder every six months or so to make your information is current.

We welcome Ben Marans as the new President of the Conservation Council.  Ben is the Manager of Grants and Special Programs with the Toronto Atmospheric Fund.  Prior to joining TAF, he managed the Smart Living St Lawrence program for EnerACT in Toronto, a great example of a community-based conservation program.

Make a difference.  Become a Friend of Conservation