For the City of Colwood B次元官网网址榞oing greenB次元官网网址� isnB次元官网网址檛 just about helping the environment, itB次元官网网址檚 also about saving money.

From efforts to replace halogen light bulbs with high-efficiency LED lighting on the streets and at city buildings B次元官网网址� a change that reduced the fire hallB次元官网网址檚 energy costs by $1,500 per year B次元官网网址� to replacing vehicles that are aging out with electric vehicles to reduce fuel costs, the City has taken on a number of environmentally-friendly initiatives over the past decade.

Coun. Rob Martin, who chairs the Emergency Planning Committee, notes that while the reasons for some projects may not have been apparent to all initially, theyB次元官网网址檝e certainly shown to be an effective use of resources as time has gone on.

Martin uses the example of electric car charging stations, implemented by the City several years ago when the market for that kind of infrastructure was minimal, as an example of forward-thinking.

B次元官网网址淧eople were saying we were wasting money. It was a matter of being able to look into the future and to be able to see where we were going,B次元官网网址� he said.

Martin also feels the City has a responsibility to set an example for its citizens - B次元官网网址渨hoB次元官网网址檚 leading who?B次元官网网址� he questioned B次元官网网址� and the community has made it clear that environmental concerns are very important as the municipality works to update its Official Community Plan.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e thinking about how Colwood is going to look down the road. Do we want to be an environmentally sound community and is that something we value? WeB次元官网网址檙e hearing [yes] loud and clear.B次元官网网址�

Colwood has also engaged in a collaboration with Royal Roads University and its environmental science program to create a B次元官网网址楥limate Score ToolB次元官网网址� that will lead to a better assessment of the climate impact of all development proposals. Categories from transportation to landscape changes and energy use would be rated and scored.

Martin sees the collaboration as a unique opportunity.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e fortunate because Royal Roads has made a genuine and concerted effort to working with us,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e getting all these great minds that are working towards their [masters] but theyB次元官网网址檙e adding value to the city too.B次元官网网址�

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com