(Waterloo Region, ON) May 17, 2012 – Wilfrid Laurier University, AET Group Inc., Quarry Integrated Communications Inc., and Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan Inc. (FMRP) are helping Waterloo Region transition towards an environmentally sustainable economy through their greenhouse gas reduction commitments, made as the newest Pledging Partners in Sustainable Waterloo Region’s flagship program, the Regional Carbon Initiative (RCI).
As former Observing Organizations of the RCI, these four organizations are the first to convert their membership to Pledging Partners, taking the next step to commit to a public greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target. This newly acquired status as a Pledging Partner will see these organizations work within a community-developed framework to reduce between 20 and 40 percent of GHG emissions over the next 10 years.
AET Group Inc. has committed to reduce their GHG emissions by 40 percent over the next 10 years with plans to introduce fuel-efficient vehicles to their fleet, reduce employee commuting with the introduction of a work-from-home program, and building efficiencies. “We’ve seen first-hand the value in learning and collaborating with other RCI members to determine the best way to set and achieve an ambitious GHG reduction target, and we’re now ready to take the next step,” says Scott Freiburger, President and CEO of AET.
Wilfrid Laurier University has committed to reduce GHG emissions at its Waterloo campus and Kitchener location by 25 percent over the next 10 years. Projects include lighting retrofits and controls, building re-commissioning, water harvesting, outreach and awareness projects, recycling and organics programs, and real-time energy metering and management systems. “Laurier takes pride in playing a leadership role in the local community,” says Laurier President and Vice-Chancellor Max Blouw. “We believe that our commitment to reduce the environmental impact of our operations is the right thing to do, and we are confident that it will have a positive effect on the university and the larger community.”
Quarry Integrated Communications Inc. has committed to reduce their GHG emissions by 20 percent over the next 10 years and will work to achieve their reduction commitment by re-commissioning their HVAC system, and decreasing their air filtration rate.
FMRP has also committed to reduce their GHG emissions by 20 percent over the next 10 years. These reductions will come from their LEED Gold facility in Cambridge and plans to minimize the energy consumed by computers, monitors, and other electronics.
“Today’s announcement gets at the heart of what the Regional Carbon Initiative is all about: Supporting organizations from all sectors in our community to make ambitious and realistic GHG reduction commitments, and in so doing, positioning them to be more profitable and successful in the low carbon economy,” says Mike Morrice, Executive Director at Sustainable Waterloo Region. “I’m thrilled that these four organizations have put in the time and effort required to make these commitments, and our team is excited to help them achieve their goals over the next 10 years.”
About Sustainable Waterloo Region
Sustainable Waterloo Region advances the environmental sustainability of organizations across Waterloo Region through collaboration. Sustainable Waterloo Region’s flagship program is the Regional Carbon Initiative, which facilitates voluntary target-setting and reductions of carbon emissions by organizations across Waterloo Region.
About the Regional Carbon Initiative
Sustainable Waterloo Region’s Regional Carbon Initiative (RCI) facilitates voluntary target-setting and reductions of carbon emissions in organizations across Waterloo Region. Members of the Regional Carbon Initiative plug-in to a community of support, linking like-minded organizations focused on implementing successful and cost-effective projects that result in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions.