Community Mitigation

The Source Separate Organics program is a city-wide organic composting collection program launched in 2023. Weekly organic waste collection directs compostable material away from the landfill and sending it to a centralized composting facility. Composting organic waste such as food scraps is estimated to lower GHG emissions by 4,864 metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030. 

n 2017, six electric vehicle charging stations were installed throughout the city to support electric vehicle drivers charging while commuting. Since then, Tesla Superchargers have been added to Lansdowne Mall to complement the existing electric refuelling stations. In 2022, addition public charging stations were installed.

The public charging stations can be found at the following locations:

• King Street Parking Garage (202 King St.)
• Lansdowne Place Mall (645 Lansdowne St. W.)
• Memorial Centre Arena (151 Lansdowne St. W.)
• Riverview Park & Zoo (1300 Water St.)
• Simcoe Street Parking Garage (190 Simcoe St.)
• Del Crary parking lot (100 George St. N.)

Transitioning to electric vehicles helps reduce GHG emissions and other toxic pollutants emitted from combustion engines from impacting the climate. However, electric vehicles do have GHG emissions associated with charging because of the carbon content of electricity power generation within the Ontario electricity grid. The best time to refuel vehicles is overnight (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) to avoid peak electricity demand in Ontario that produces the most emissions. Overnight charging is also the least expensive time to refuel. 

Residential buildings are a significant source of GHG emissions in Peterborough because of the emissions created from heating and electricity use. Lowering the energy consumption of one's home is the recommended way to decrease household GHG emissions. Examples of renovations that can lessen home energy use include the following:

• sealing cracks in a building's foundation and around windows and doors
• replacing single pane windows with energy efficient double or triple pane windows
• adding insulation to a building's envelope (attic, exterior walls, basement) to limit heat loss 
• incorporating insulation around electrical sockets or pipes and any other exterior-interior connections
• fuel switching a hot water heater with an electrical unit
• removing electric resistance heaters for an electric heat pump
• replacing a propane or oil furnace to an electric heat pump
• upgrading a natural gas furnace to dual electric, full electric, or ground source heat pump
• adding an electric solar hot water heater
• installing electric solar panels

The City has developed a made-in-Peterborough residential retrofit program called the Home Energy Efficiency Program (HEEP) that will support homeowners finance energy renovations. In 2024, the City received funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to establish the HEEP to serve Peterborough residents. The HEEP is anticipated to launch community-wide in Spring 2025. To receive program updates about the HEEP, please register on Connect Peterborough.

In 2021, Green Economy Peterborough (GEP) was launched to support local businesses and organizations transition to become low-carbon enterprises. Green Economy Peterborough is a membership-based hub that coaches members to identify, set, and achieve low-carbon and sustainability goals. New members of GEP are supported in creating a baseline of their businesses' current energy consumption and then members are guided by GEP staff to develop a plan to achieve targeted reduction goals. Curbing commercial energy consumption through GEP is anticipated to lower community GHG emissions by 1,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030. 

The City of Peterborough is increasing awareness of the vehicle idling by-law by installing 75 anti-idling signs around high priority areas to limit pollution impacting vulnerable community members. Targeted areas include schools, daycares, playgrounds, parks, and health care facilities. Vehicle exhaust is toxic and can harm individuals with underlining health conditions such as asthma. Idling also adds CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. 

What is vehicle idling?

Idling is the operation of a combustion vehicle's engine when parked or stopped in an active lane longer than two minutes. Traffic congestion is not included.

What kind of pollution is produced during vehicle idling?

A combustion vehicle's engine creates carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that is the primary driver of climate change. Idling a vehicle adds CO2 into the atmosphere regardless of the idling time allowed. Idling also generates volatile organic compounds (VOC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other pollutants that can negatively impact local air quality and produce smog.  

How much greenhouse gas emissions are produced after 5 minutes of idling?

According to Clean Air Partnership, an average gasoline engine car idling for 5 minutes will emit approximately 0.115 kgCO2.

For example, if 12 cars idled for 5 minutes waiting to pick up students at a school would collectively generate 1.4 kg of CO2. Extending the 12-car idling scenario to include all 31 schools in Peterborough, 43.4 kgCO2 per school day and 217 kgCO2 per week would be emitted. Forecasting an entire school year under this scenario would create 8,463 kgCO2 or 8.4 metric tons of CO2. These emissions are equivalent to driving one car 40,500 km per year. 

1 L of gasoline = 2.3 kgCO2    1 minute = 0.023 kgCO2            5 minutes = 0.115 kgCO2

What are common health impacts caused by idling?

Vehicle emissions and idling can increase the health risk of vulnerable individuals like children or the elderly to respiratory illnesses, increased rates of heart conditions, and lower resistance to infections. Limiting idling near schools, daycares, playgrounds, retirement homes, and health facilities can avoid undue harm to our most vulnerable community members.   

What does the Anti-idling By-law allow and prohibit?

In 2008, City Council passed By-Law 08-077 to Control the Idling of Vehicles in the City of Peterborough. The By-law prohibits the following:

• Idling a vehicle for longer than two minutes
• Idling a municipal vehicle longer than one minute

The By-law is exempted for the following situations:  

• Emergency vehicles
• Crossing guard vehicles
• A vehicle being repaired or serviced
• Vehicles in a drive-through
• Transit vehicles

Additionally, a vehicle is not considered to be idling if the vehicle is powering or operating auxiliary equipment essential to the vehicle's function.

Why are some corporate vehicles exempt?

Emergency and transit vehicles are not included within the By-law because those vehicles require the use of an engine to power auxiliary equipment or to maintain appropriate internal temperatures for heating or cooling for passengers or vehicle operators' wellbeing.

What can a driver do to avoid idling?

Avoiding situations that would encourage idling is an easy first step. By parking in the shade during the summer to limit the need to cool their vehicle or wearing winter clothing to limit the need to heat their vehicle, drivers will be more comfortable turning off their vehicle while they are stopped. If purchasing a vehicle, select one with Stop-Start technology that automatically turns off the engine, buy a hybrid electric, or fully electric car to eliminate idling altogether. Lastly, simply recognizing your idling habits and actively changing your behaviour by turning the key off.

An interactive solar panel map that identifies the solar potential of buildings in Peterborough was developed in partnership with Fleming College. Installing solar technologies like solar photovoltaic (PV) to generate electricity or solar thermal to heat water are excellent solutions to help lower your carbon footprint and actively tackle climate change. Solar PV can also support property owners with decreased monthly electricity bills during peak time-of-use periods. 

Check out the map and learn if your building is ready for solar technologies today.

How to use the solar panel eligibility map:

1. Select and click your building from the map
2. A pop-up window will appear that lists:
   • Suitable rooftop area in square meters for installing solar technologies on your building
   • Usable annual solar radiation in Megawatt-hour (MWh) for the rooftop
   • Estimated solar electricity produced (MWh) and avoided greenhouse gases associated with grid electricity in kilograms
   • Potential range of annual electricity cost savings from not purchasing grid electricity 
3. Next steps: 
   • After reviewing the preliminary capacity for solar for your building, contact a local solar installer for a refined building assessment 

The Traffic Signal Upgrade and Optimization Program is underway and is piloting a smart signal system to allow the synchronization of traffic signals to optimize traffic flows that will result in reduced vehicle GHG emissions.

The Climate Action at Home video series was completed in 2021 to support and improve homeowners’ understanding of what should be considered when pursuing a home energy efficiency retrofit. Local expert Chris Magwood of the Endeavour Centre describes entry-level DIY renovations that a homeowner could undertake which includes helpful instructions on how to tackle insulation, water heaters, and draft proofing projects. The Climate Action at Home series also details what should be considered in advance to achieve a net zero energy home renovation.

How to improve your home's insulation

How to insulate your water heater

How to draft-proof your home

Things to consider for a net-zero home renovation