Environmental information is coming right to your door this summer as part of the Town’s conservation educator program.
A team of five environment and communication studies students will be going door-to-door for the next few months informing residents of the Town’s conservation efforts including recycling initiatives, residential water conservation rebate program, and reminding them of the watering schedule.
Tori Grant is one of the educators who will be out this summer, and she said the great thing about Okotoks is that the community is generally very supportive of their initiatives.
“Okotoks is really focused on sustainability. The water thing is so important because it’s so difficult to maintain that there’s not a lot of water available, but the town is also small enough that you can control it,” she said. “It’s cool to see the fact that you implement programs and they work in the area.”
Educator Charlotte Stalgitis is also eager to inform people about the rebate program, which allows households to receive up to $200 back on approved water conservation purchases since Jan. 1, 2014, including rain barrels, low flow plumbing, and certified washing machines.
“It’s a really good program,” she said. “It’s saving people money, it’s brought down bills and there’s less water usage which is really important.”
On her very first home visit, Stalgitis was able to help Westridge resident Joe Long put a bit of cash back in his pocket.
“She might have saved me $200. We just bought a new dishwasher two months ago and its energy efficient so I was pleased she came by,” he said.
Long said he thinks the educator program is worthwhile, as conservation is important to the community.
“It bring the awareness and that’s important. I wasn’t aware of the water rebate program and with our water problem we’ve got in this town it’s essential to conserve energy and water,” he said.
The Town has also been combating water use with bylaws requiring low flow plumbing fixtures in new or renovated homes, which were implemented as part of the 2011 Water Management Plan.
A report presented to council on May 12 stated that the Town has seen continual reduction in water consumption over the last four years. Homes that participated in the new measures saw an 18 per cent reduction in annual water consumption, and the town surpassed its gross water consumption target of 295 litres per person per day, instead reaching an average of 273 litres per capita.
While Okotoks is on the right path, the educators have an entire week of conservation events lined up for Environment Week, which is taking place June 1-7.
Kicking things off on Sunday June 1 will be a paint and clothing exchange at the curling rink. Although the recycling centre now accepts paint cans, conservation educator Grant said they’re hoping people come out and possibly swap what they don’t need for something they do.
“People are pretty good about recycling, but we’re hoping to encourage people to reuse things before they recycle them,” she said.
Wrapping up the week of activities will be a free barbecue at the recycling centre on Saturday, June 7 in appreciation of Okotoks residents’ conservation efforts.
Stalgitis hopes that being a conservation educator in her hometown will help preserve Okotoks for generations to come.
“Being a resident it’s so important because I want to bring my kids back here when I’m older and I want this place to be thriving,” she said. “So keeping it as a sustainable community is so important.”
For more information on the Town’s conservation programs or the events planned for environment week, visit the Town’s website at www.okotoks.ca.
