What is the City doing to promote green procurement?

The City has started to use the G.I.P.P.E.R.’s Guide to Environmental Purchasing (Governments Incorporating Procurement Policies to Eliminate Refuse).

• Re-lamping of City Hall, which will save almost $70,000 a year in energy costs and over 400 tonnes per year in greenhouse gas emissions.

• Re-lamping of Whitevale Community Centre with low wattage bulbs.

• Participating in the international Earth Hour event. View 2009 contest winner.

• Purchasing Energy Star rated replacement appliances for all facilities.

• Using computerized Energy Management System to control the temperatures and operating times in our facilities.

• Upgrading air conditioning chillers with non-ozone depleting refrigerants at Recreation and Civic Complexes.

• Participating in community initiatives such as Waste Reduction Week Canada, E-Waste disposal events, Materials Exchange and a Dog Waste Diversion Program.

• Using Environmental Choice Eco-Logo certified white duplicating paper.

• Ensuring that documents are printed double-sided where possible.

• Using letterhead, business cards and envelopes that are Environmental Choice Eco-Logo certified.

• Asking contractors and companies for a copy of their Waste Management Plan for evaluation, in accordance with the G.I.P.P.E.R.’s Guide (Governments Incorporating Procurement Policies to Eliminate Refuse), 3rd Edition.

• Participating in the Durham Purchasing Co-operative Group since 1977 which enables standardization of products, preserves resources and minimizes waste in administrative paper duplication.

• Printing promotional materials in the most sustainable manner, using recyclable paper, vegetable-based inks, newsprint that is FSC certified.