We are committed to keeping the community informed about our environmental progress. A State of the Environment report will monitor and respond to environmental progress, and celebrate success and key milestones along the way.
Are you a partner yet?
The Vision
Recycle. Carpool. Conserve Water. Take Transit. Everyone can help implement the EMP.
Red Deer actively enhances its rich natural environment and minimizes its ecological footprint through City leadership, community collaboration and active stewardship. Red Deer is a leading example of a resilient and sustainable community in which urban and natural systems are effectively integrated to the benefit of both.
The development of an Environmental Master Plan (EMP) is a strong step forward by The City of Red Deer to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to improved environmental performance. With support from The City’s many existing and emerging partners, the EMP can act as a catalyst to engage, involve and support others in improving Red Deer’s environment. The EMP will be most effectively implemented as a collaborative effort. Businesses, industries, seniors, environmental groups, community associations, schools, families, professional organizations, students and all parts of the community have a role to play in helping to achieve Red Deer’s environmental goals. Are you a partner yet? Visit www.reddeer.ca/ environmentalmasterplan to find out how.
For more information visit www.reddeer.ca/ environmentalmasterplan
Environmental Master Plan Our Environment, Our Future
Why an Environmental Master Plan?
Seven Focus Areas
As part of The City of Red Deer’s
The Plan is organized around seven focus areas. Each area includes recommendations for priority actions that impact The City’s own operations and actions focused on the community. Below is a summary of the priority actions to get Red Deer started on improving its environmental performance.
ongoing commitment to understanding, protecting and improving its environmental performance and public services, The City has developed an Environmental Master Plan (EMP). The EMP presents goals, benchmarks and actions to achieve a 25-year vision for Red Deer’s environmental future. It is a living document that will grow and change with The City as its environmental profile and goals evolve in the future.
Ecology
Built Environment
Energy
Increase the amount of land used for green
Promote more compact development patterns
Increase energy conservation of buildings
space
City: Develop city-wide infill guidelines and
City: Enhance the existing set-back policy to include
standards that emphasize minimum densities,
water body and ecological protection related
compact form and environmental design standards.
to Environmental Reserve setbacks under the
City: Undertake studies of both residential and
Municipal Government Act.
commercial/industrial density in Red Deer to
Community: Explore opportunities and
establish informed baselines and goals for future
develop tools to preserve green space such
density targets.
as land conservation trust, land purchase, land
Community: Partner with a developer to identify
swaps, tax incentives and reserve dedications.
an infill pilot project on City land to demonstrate
City: Replace electrical meters with Advanced Metered Infrastructure (AMI) technology. City: Expand energy efficient street light program and work towards reducing the effects of light pollution. Community: Explore District Energy potential in high-density neighbourhoods. Increase and promote use of renewable energy sources
Increase the urban tree canopy
environmental design standards.
City & Community: Prepare and implement
Increase opportunities for local food production
an Urban Forest Management Plan.
Community: Work with the community and
provide information about private renewable
developers to create a community garden
energy options.
Community: Partner with renewable energy providers and community stakeholders to
stewardship initiative.
Transportation Water Advance Storm Water Management Strategies City: Prepare an Integrated Storm Water Management Plan. Community: Review water and wastewater rate structures, which will draw attention to the value of water. Encourage Water Conservation City: Develop environmental standards for City buildings including water conservation measures. Community: Replace water meters with Advanced Metered Infrastructure (AMI) technology.
Prioritize active and public transportation
Air
City: Incorporate strategies for active
Waste
Create a strategy to reduce green house
Increase waste diversion from the City landfill
gas emissions
City: Update the Waste Management Master
City: Conduct a GHG inventory analysis, and
Plan.
transportation, increased modal split, and complete streets into the Integrated Transportation/ Movement Study. Community: Establish regional commuting resources such as transit services, carpooling, shuttle and emergency ride programs. Increase the walkability of neighbourhoods City: Engage the community to participate in walkability audits in their neighbourhoods. Community: Partner with school boards to implement a walking school bus program.
develop a corporate GHG emissions reduction plan. Community: Develop a Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan.
City: Review tipping fee structure to identify opportunities to encourage diversion. Community: Create an education campaign,
Reduce air pollution
toolkits and pilot projects around household and
City: Identify large emitters of air pollution within
community composting.
The City’s corporate operations. Identify strategies
Community: Partner with developers and
to mitigate the effects.
builders to advance recycling and diversion of
Community: Work with industries that have the most opportunity to reduce air pollution.
construction waste on development sites.