My response to Round Table Questions

So this weeks questions for the London Round table were on continuing the MicroFIT program in London and how to improve it and how to make transportation more energy efficient.
These are my ideas:
MicroFIT

The MicroFit Program is great, and should be continued.    The problems with it are the initial start up or installation costs.   I worked for a non-profit group, during the last provincial election, to promote Onatrio’s Green Energy Act and the FIT and MicroFit Programs.   What was surprising was how many people did not know about these programs.   I know not everyone can have a wind turbine, but if you live in a single detached home, you could have a solar panel.   I think that there should be some sort of program that would promote solar power, or help finance it.   A lot of new development in and around London are being built with solar panels on the roof this is so great.  What about existing developments and homes?  

I think that an incentive program for landlords, residential building developer/owners.  I think that apartment buildings and multi-residential homes should be targeted.   If there was an incentive for buying multiple solar panels to go on the rooftops of apartment buildings, owners would be likely to be on board, because instead of paying for power, they would actually be making money off of their solar panels.  This money could then be used for other things in the buildings for the tenants.  If the city provided a grant to these owners then they could be able to install panels and be able to pay it back with their earnings from selling back onto the grid. 
 

 Green Transportation

 

I worked at a job where I was solely reliable on my own vehicle.  Now I am starting a new position downtown, and I will be taking public transportation.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if buses became more green?   What about electric or hybrid buses?  What if the city could get funding to make buses more green?   If the LTC could get a grant from the City of London or the Ministry of Transportation, or even the Ministry of Environment since it is an environmental choice.    What about awarding people for taking the bus to work, instead of validating parking passes, what if a bus pass could be validated, for vouchers to local green businesses.  A lot of taxis are now hybrids.   What about also providing charge stations in indoor pay lot parking, for those with electric vehicles so workers could charge their vehicles while at work.  People could pay for a green parking pass and be able to charge their green vehicles.