The Don River - subject of much discussion about natural regeneration along its lengthy valley system - takes a very unnatural right hand turn underneath the Gardiner Expressway on its way through the Keating Channel towards the Toronto Harbour. This turn is designed to force whatever silt the river is carrying to settle before it reaches the ever shrinking harbour. Each year the lower Don and Keating Channel have to be dredged to keep the harbour from silting in. For years various groups have pushed for a reengineering of this awkward condition. There are many more desirable options. Some are environmentally and even economically attractive. Yet, with every passing year many of us realize we may never see the Lower Don return to its natural condition.

The Star's Christopher Hume writes today about Mississauga's international design competition sponsored by Cityzen Development Group and Fernbrook Homes. It looks like that city is discovering that its urban future does not grow out of big box retail.

On the green front, HOK Architect's new Toronto office on King Street West just received a Gold LEED for Commercial Interiors certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. VP - Practice Leader Architecture/Sustainability, Richard Williams said, "Our space demonstrates that healthy and uplifting workplaces can be enhanced by principles of environmental sustainability. In fact, return on investment in terms of energy savings and reduction of employee absenteeism is significant in the long term."

The Green Toronto Awards are coming up .... and fast. If you have an inspiring story to share or know a neighbour, neighbourhood or business that deserves this honour then submit them as a nominee for the 2nd annual Green Toronto Awards - the City of Toronto's Environmental Awards of Excellence. Deadline for nominations + submissions: Friday February 24 at 5:00 p.m. The nine categories include:

Community Project Award

Energy Conservation Award

Environmental Awareness Award

Green Design Award

Health Award

Leadership Award

Market Transformation Award

Water Efficiency Award

Youth Award

If you have helped make toronto a crisp green and happy city hit the Green Toronto Awards information site. Lets help recognize those that help keep our city of Toronto healthy.

The Ontario Power Authority is once again dusting off its plan to open a gas-fired power plant next to the now mothballed Hearn Generating Station in the Port Lands. Councillor Paula Fletcher and local community groups are fighting this scheme arguing that there are more efficient ways to supply the same amount of energy to Toronto's core. A public meeting on the project will be held on February 7th. Here is their proposal:

When:             Tuesday, February 7th at 7:00 p.m.
 
Where:            SH Armstrong Recreation Centre
                      56 Woodfield Road, just north of Queen St.,
                      mid-way between Coxwell and Greenwood.

We propose the following 10 ideas to create more jobs, reduce energy bills, cut energy waste and reduce pollution.         
 

Cut energy use in existing government and non-government buildings in Toronto through energy efficiency programs delivered by governmental and non-governmental partnerships (170 MW).

Set much higher energy efficiency standards for new buildings to be built in Toronto and promote ground source heat pumps for new buildings (energy calculation unavailable). 

Invest in cutting household energy use through large scale low income housing energy retrofits. Develop a Toronto Hydro loan program for renewable and high efficiency residential investments (energy calculation unavailable).

   

Utilize the “Cool Cities” program developed in the United States that cuts summer heat in the city through tree plantings, green roofs and light coloured paving (energy calculation unavailable).

   

Invest in renewable energy projects, including community based projects,  to provide necessary power across the city including an appropriately-sited wind farm on Lake Ontario, solar hot water, solar heating and solar electricity (60 MW).

Expand use of the City’s current district energy system to provide cogeneration, trigeneration and more cooling from Deep Lake Water Cooling (300 MW).

Use gas burned at Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant for drying sludge to also make electricity. Use methane from the sewage sludge to power it (energy calculation unavailable).

   

Expand Toronto Hydro program to convert stand-by generators in large buildings across the city from diesel to natural gas to become suppliers of peak energy and start to develop cogeneration in those buildings (220 MW).

Set up a number of district energy grids in the city including the Port Lands to provide heat, cooling and power as efficiently as possible (energy calculation unavailable). The plant proposed by the Province of Ontario for the Port Lands must be restricted to a highly efficient, cogeneration plant no greater than 250 megawatts, half the size or less than the current proposal.

Provide substantial community investment in green energy and efficiency in the Beach and Riverdale to cut local emissions to balance out any impact from operation of the new plant (energy calculation unavailable). Provide other community benefits.