Alberta Travel – Okotoks, Near Calgary Alberta
Town Goals Include Sustainable Business, Water Management
Nov 16, 2009
Nestled in the Sheep River Valley only 18 kms south of Calgary, Okotoks is flanked by the front range of the Rocky Mountains to the west. Its location gives it the beauty of riparian, prairie, and foothills environments. It's not the usual prairie town, though.
"Not far from my hometown of Calgary, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, there is a beautiful little town called Okotoks. About 10 years ago, the folks there decided they were going to live within their local environmental means. Today Okotoks can fairly call itself the greenest community in Canada".....Prime Minister Stephen Harper (quoted at The Sustainable Okotoks Story).
Sustainability and Municipal Growth
In 1998, the town was faced with a decision. The Sheep River with its limited seasonal flow provides the town with potable water and carries away its treated effluent. Uncontrolled municipal growth would soon exceed the capacity for both. An expensive regional pipeline to bring in water was one choice. A new approach to growth was another.
After extensive public consultation, the town made the radical decision to preserve their "small town atmosphere value system" and restrict future development and growth to what the environment could handle. Goals were set for maximum or desirable
- Municipal land area
- Overall population growth
- Population density
- Water use
- Waste generation
- Renewable energy sources
- Green (low impact, low energy) housing
- Industrial base
- Open space
The plan extends to 2030 and as of 2008, the town had met some of its goals (water usage reduced from 512 L to 333 L per capita per day; 21% open space; improved effluent treatment; 80% renewable energy) while missing others (waste generation has increased by 30%).
A Renewable Energy Leader in Solar Energy Projects
Okotoks also stresses renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy conservation. Since 2001, Okotoks has implemented five main solar projects, including solar heating for a swimming pool, recycling center, operations building and recreation center, and a solar ice resurfacing system for its arenas.
Among its achievements in this area according to Corporate Leadership, Town of Okotoks web site:
- 80% of the town's energy requirements for municipal infrastructure comes from from renewable sources.
- In 2004, the town "reduced conventional electrical generation by 3.8 million KWh (a CO2 emissions reduction of 1.6 million kg, equivalent to 290 cars being removed from the road)"
- "Energy consumption reductions ranging between 15% to 80%, directly attributed to the use of solar energy, have been observed" as a result of solar installations on town buildings.
The Town's sustainability leadership in part also led to the siting of the Drake Landing Solar Community, Canada's most advanced solar housing, and among North America's most energy efficiency housing.
Leadership in controlled growth, energy efficiency, and water management – definitely not the usual sleepy prairie town!
Related Articles
- Sheep River Campground at Okotoks
- Big Rock Roadside Attraction Near Okotoks
- Drakes Landing Solar Community in Okotoks
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