Partners in Project Green Celebrates Another year of Sustainability Success

TORONTO, April 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Partners in Project Green, measure success more than just by the numbers – the dollars saved, the tonnes of waste diverted or the greenhouse gas prevented. For this remarkable organization, success comes only through collaboration.

That's why the 2014 Partners in Project Green Annual Report is a source of such pride. Presented last week at their annual Spring Networking Reception at Palais Royale on Toronto's waterfront, the report praised the collaboration between participating members of the Pearson Eco-Business Zone as the reason sustainability efforts reached new and greater heights this past year. The event was held thanks to the generosity of sponsors Bentall Kennedy, Calstone Inc and Molson Coors.

Every year Partners in Project Green focuses on four main areas; energy performance, engagement, waste management and water stewardship. Driving results was one of the top priorities this past year, with significant time and effort spent on large, collective undertakings such as stormwater infrastructure projects and the new open electric vehicle network.

This past year, Partners in Project Green engaged and interacted with 567 different businesses, municipalities and organizations in the Greater Toronto Area, with the aim to help them facilitate their sustainability goals and positively impact their communities.

Partners in Project Green 2014 Highlights:

Energy Performance – Partners in Project Green community members reduced their annual greenhouse gas emissions by 9,684 tonnes of equivalent CO₂ .

Engagement – Partners in Project Green hosted 20 community events, with 1,130 total attendees, and generated more than 1,000 sustainability projects through its People Power Challenge. 

Waste Management – Community members successfully diverted 709.7 tonnes of waste from landfill.

Water Stewardship – Organizations in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone achieved annual water footprint offsets totaling 183.7 million litres.

"This past year we saw not only growth, but a diversity of successful sustainability projects," Alex Dumesle, Senior Manager, Eco-Business Programs said. "The creativity, collaboration and sheer determination is evident in all our members were able to achieve."

Partners in Project Green aims to create opportunities for community members to engage with one another — whether sharing innovative ideas and best practices through the Energy Leaders Consortium, or taking advantage of networking events like the Sustainability Duke Out. These collaborations have resulted in some remarkable accomplishments in 2014, including:

• The Energy Leaders Consortium implemented 52 different energy conservation projects, with energy savings of 18,793 eMWh, resulting in $1.47 million in annual savings, as well as 2,590 tonnes of equivalent CO2 avoidances.
• 16 teams participated in the People Power Challenge, producing more than 2,700 suggestions and more than 34,000 pledges on sustainability improvements.
• Bentall Kennedy, Sawmill Sid and Weston Forest Products joined forces to convert infested ash trees into repurposed lumber products resulting in 2,462 kg of wood diverted from landfill.
• Calstone Inc. installed a retrofit roof rainwater harvesting and infiltration site resulting in an approximate annual water footprint offset of 1,900,000 litres.

The full Partners in Project Green 2014 Annual Report can be viewed at:
http://ar2014.partnersinprojectgreen.com/

Partners in Project Green's strategic focus for 2015 is to help identify opportunities for collaboration and cooperation and to continue building a community that works together, innovating, adopting new business models and discovering new opportunities to prosper – sustainably.

About Partners in Project Green
Initiated by Toronto Pearson International Airport and Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), Partners in Project Green is creating the largest eco-business zone in the world. A vast community comprised of over 650 businesses, governmental bodies, institutions, and utilities striving to strengthen and green Toronto Region's economy and beyond. By connecting members to their neighbours, and creating unique peer-to-peer learning and collaboration opportunities, Partners in Project Green aims to drive sustainability actions and innovation.
www.partnersinprojectgreen.com

SOURCE Partners in Project Green

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