project neutral funding amount to Nov 23 2012

Project Neutral: Carbon Zero Toronto

• Relevant
• Inspirational
• Authentic

Project Neutral launched in Riverdale and the Junction in 2011 with the goal of encouraging Toronto neighbourhoods to become carbon neutral. We are doing this by harnessing the collective power of neighbours. We came together through a common passion for thriving, healthy neighbourhoods, a desire to act (in response to climate change) and a belief that grassroots, neighbourhood-based efforts have tremendous potential.

Our strategy:

• Step 1: Engage neighbourhoods, work with households.
• Step 2: Develop a GHG baseline and track progress. An annual Household Carbon Footprint Survey tracks energy and water use, waste, transportation and consumer habits to determine a household’s greenhouse gas emissions.
• Step 3: Create an Action Plan. Participating households receive a Carbon Footprint Report which allows them to compare their footprint to their neighbours, set an emissions reduction target and identify priority actions.
• Step 4: Build Neighbourhood Capacity. Project Neutral is testing out various strategies to raise awareness and enable change at the individual, household and neighbourhood level, including the Household Carbon Footprint Survey and Report, hosting energy efficiency workshops and a Neighbourhood Summit, launching Neighbourhood Change Campaigns, and developing a “Getting to Zero” manual.
• Step 5: Act as a Catalyst. Champion Ideas, leverage partnerships and innovative practices. Project Neutral creates spaces for neighbourhood leaders, experts, innovators and solutions providers to brainstorm, challenge paradigms and test new ideas.

We recently launched our 2nd Household Carbon Footprint Survey, a first step in helping a household determine it’s carbon footprint baseline. To encourage as many households as possible to complete the survey, we have an extensive outreach campaign underway in Riverdale and Ward 30, and The Junction and Ward 13. We are hosting events, offering incentives and prizes, working with local schools, and bringing neighbours together.

To support our efforts, and expand into other neighbourhoods, we need to gather funds. Your donation will help make this project happen. What will your money go towards?

• Hiring amazing Neighbourhood Managers to lead community outreach activities
• Lawn signs (the perfect accessory for your front yard – do the survey and you can have one too!) and other communication materials.

If we go over our goal, funds will go towards the installation of a neighbourhood electric vehicle station (note: We are working to make this happen by bringing various partners together).  Green Power Action, Options for Cars, Blue Green Consulting Groupand AUTOSHARE have generously provided rewards that you can claim in return for donations.

What is unique about Project Neutral?
By supporting Project Neutral you are supporting grassroots innovation; residents working with their neighbours to identify ideas and solutions for change. Project Neutral creates the tools and the space to make this happen – and then acts as a catalyst for creative partnerships or funding mechanisms to turn ideas into action.

Our survey takes time. And, yes, there are lots of carbon calculators out there that take less time. But the results you get with our survey are more valuable. We do not use citywide averages. We use your data for your household to give you the tools to track real impact and progress.

Our survey is comprehensive. We don’t just look at energy; we include water, waste, transportation and food, as well as energy. This is about transitioning to lower carbon lifestyles. It’s about building a groundswell of support to bring about real and sustained change. It’s about neighbourhoods making a difference.