Building a responsible community
Some tend to dislike the term ‘sustainability’ when applied to the environmental field. Generally, when that term is used, it isn’t actually applicable. So few human activities will ever be sustainable, either environmentally, economically, or socially. Something will almost always need to be consumed, and so some prefer to use the term ‘responsibility.’ It seems more fitting to call yourself environmentally ‘responsible’ than it does ‘sustainable.’
‘Responsibility’ fits better with the ebb and flow we see in the environmental sector. It also discourages the island-mentality that some organizations and people take on when examining their environmental impact – the assumption that your plant, house, or process is exclusive of those around you, and that you need to manage only your own impact. Looking to Guelph as a community, however, ‘sustainability’ may emerge as an applicable term.
Guelph has always been viewed as one of the more forward-thinking cities with regards to development. Our university grows steadily, attendance increases each year, buildings are slowly repaired and repurposed, and major renovations or additions only occur when absolutely necessary. Our faculties grow slowly in size but immensely in expertise and quality of learning – a responsible way to improve the university experience without growing out of control.
Our city also has a history of tackling change with a responsible and sensible attitude. The communities within our city benefit each year from new industries, new jobs, and new opportunities. New houses are built every day, but if you drive around Guelph, you sense a feeling of cohesion; every brick, stone, and sidewalk fits nicely in with the city as a whole.
This inclination towards responsible development is most pronounced and most noted in our local distribution company (LDC), Guelph Hydro. While many of us may view them as the faceless company that we send a cheque to every two months so that our lights stay on, Guelph Hydro is viewed, within the industry, as being one of the most progressive LDCs in the province. Many of us who haven’t extensively renovated our homes would be ignorant of the groundbreaking incentive programs that Guelph Hydro has sponsored over the years. Guelph Hydro was one of the first LDCs to adopt the SmartMeter program, and they subsequently turned it into a viable incentive program for their customers, allowing applicants to view their electricity usage and sign up for automatic load-sharing. This reduced overall energy consumption and peak loading – both large stressors on the electricity system and cost savings that can be passed on to the customers.
This isn’t the only example of a Guelph organization finding ways to make themselves more responsible. In 2013, the Sleeman Centre made upgrades to their gas thermal energy power plant, approaching local businesses to offer them an opportunity to become part of an energy sharing program, which eventually became the Galt District Energy System. The Sleeman Centre now runs waste process heating and cooling water through insulated pipes to it’s customers, providing them with more affordable space heating and cooling and making use of waste energy that would otherwise be vented to the atmosphere.
The City of Guelph is a shining example of what environmental responsibility can look like: a quiet solution to a problem that so few people admit exists. Looking at our global environmental picture can be a daunting and depressing endeavour, but finding small, inexpensive, and accessible means of making your environment better, like the City of Guelph, is within reach. Look at solar or geothermal water heating, think about signing up for Guelph Hydro’s SaveOnEnergy program, install a new furnace filter, or plant a garden and make one less trip to the grocery store. Any of these things can be done on your own with only a small investment of time and money – but they go miles towards shaping a better world for future generations.