The environmental strategy of a city is one of the most important aspects to consider when looking at long term growth planning. No one wants to live in a city where pollution is high and the overall health levels are low. The good news is that there are many different ways in which a city can invest in itself to increase its environmental sustainability. Over the long term, this is one of the best ways for a city to grow. West Vancouver is a desirable area of Canada that many people want to live in. Here are several ways that West Vancouver has been able to implement its long term environmental strategy to help with these issues.

west vancouver sustainability

Renewable Energy

One of the biggest areas of opportunity in the world today is renewable energy. Traditional forms of energy, like oil and coal, have a reputation of hurting the local environment. Many people in this area do not want to live near an area that has a high level of pollution from fossil fuels. Over the long term, it renewable resources can be a great way to harvest energy. The issue is that there is a high upfront cost to develop and implement renewable energy plans. It is vital that local people in the city make investments into providing this form of energy in their homes. The city and its people must work together to make this happen.

The more demand for renewable energy sources, the lower the prices will go. One of the most common ways that renewable resources are used today is through solar panels. This can be a great way to provide energy to the home. Once the panels are installed, the overall cost of providing electricity to the home is much lower than traditional electricity. However, the upfront cost of the solar panels is quite high. The initial cost must be measured against the monthly savings that come out of the investment.

Trash Program

A growing city is going to produce a large amount of trash. Taking trash to the dump and then transporting it somewhere is costly and bad for the environment. The sweet spot for environmental change is having a low cost solution that also helps the environment. A city wide trash program in West Vancouver is a great way to accomplish this. Instead of sending around garbage trucks every week, the rotation is going to move to every two weeks. This is a great opportunity to save thousands of dollars on fuel a month in the garbage trucks. In addition, this will challenge residents of West Vancouver to get creative with their trash as it builds up. A solid recycling program can go a long way in reducing the total amount of trash that is used up.

Future Plans

Over the next couple of years, it is vital that West Vancouver continues to implement plans to enhance the local environment. Over the long term, this is one of the best investments that any city can make in itself. The use of alternative energy sources within the city will save money over the long term and also provide a way for residents to invest in their homes. This is a great for people to get excited about their local area. There are also many people who are preparing to move into the West Vancouver over the next few years. The investments made today will make the city much more desirable in the future.