The project was informed by Goal 4 of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, seeking to make walking, bicycling, and public transit preferred transportation options. Specific to the research performed was the following question: “How does Metro Vancouver’s transit expansion compare with that of other cities around the world?”

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green transportation, transportation

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2013
Zachary Bennett

Urban wildlife animates our green spaces and birds bring our city to life with their songs and flight, creating excellent opportunities to experience biodiversity in the city. Birds also provide ecosystem services in the form of pest control, pollination and seed-dispersal The “Bird-Friendly Landscape Design Guidelines” will support the development of bird habitat throughout the City of Vancouver. The document is intended for policy makers, developers, planners, landscape architects, operations staff and residential gardeners. When used in conjunction with the “Bird-Friendly Building Guidelines,” urban design throughout our city can become more bird-friendly.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, biodiversity, ecological systems

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2013
Michele Campbell

This report serves as a preparatory study into the scope of the reuse sector and the current perceptions, challenges and prospects of Reuse organisations. It is written as an exploratory study which contributes to the Green Economy (Goal 1), Climate Leadership (Goal 2), Zero Waste (Goal 5), as well as the Lighter Footprint Goals (Goal 7) of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. This report serves as a preparatory study into the scope of the reuse sector and the current perceptions, challenges and prospects of Reuse organisations. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: lighter footprint, waste management & recycling

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2013
Lorenzo Lane

This report explores how daylighting be integrated into the City's plans for the restoration of Trout Lake waterway between Trout Lake and False Creek Flats. It includes a context map and background, key policy linkages, design principles, and a concept plan.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, water

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2013
Niall McGarvey

The primary purpose of this report is to explore the potential means of addressing the contamination of recycling and food scraps at city-serviced events. The secondary purpose of this report is to explore the means by which the City of Vancouver might encourage the adoption of contamination- and waste-reduction strategies by event organizers. Finally, the report provides recommendations regarding potential ways that the City’s Sanitation Operations could enable the minimization of waste through the logistical and advisory supports that are provided to event organizers.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: zero waste, waste management & recycling

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2013
Annie Merritt

This report identifies the challenges and opportunities of returning the 800-block of Robson Street to its pedestrian roots on a permanent basis. Using case studies from around the world, this report provides examples of how streets can contribute to, rather than detract from the pedestrian experience on Robson Square. This study provides a variety of options and inspirations that can be used to create a truly vibrant public space in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: healthy city, social sustainability

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2013
Ryan O'Connor

This report outlines the goals and actions to be undertaken as part of the Idle Management Program. By using change management best practices, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) can successfully implement the new idle management technology (IdleRIght2), along with new driving practices to achieve high compliance. Consultation with VPD patrol officers has been an important part of planning the Idle Management Program. Recommendations in this report were made on the basis of feedback from the patrol officers who will be most impacted by this practice change.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: lighter footprint, transportation

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2013
Erin Rennie

The purpose of this literature review is to create an understanding of water use feedback strategies and their effectiveness in reducing water consumption. Due to the lack of academic literature, particularly for Institutional, Commercial and Industrial (ICI) water users, information was integrated from the energy sector and energy conservation literature. The summary identifies key points of reference from various fields spanning behavioral economics, conservation psychology, business operations and human-computer interactions from computer science.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: lighter footprint, water

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2013
Hana Sherin Galal

This paper examines the role Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) and their members could play in reaching the City's Greenest City Action Plan targets. In particular, this work draws on existing literature and interviews with BIA executives throughout the City to evaluate potential impacts of a Green Small Business Awards initiative.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green economy, sustainable development & green economy

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2012
Hamish Stewart

This project provides a description of research methods for studying the health impacts of active transportation projects. It details study types, challenges, measures of health and measurement tools. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green transportation, social sustainability

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2012
Anastasia Frank

This project attempts to answer the question “What is the highest and best use of organic solid waste: production of compost or production of energy?” As the City of Vancouver is determined to divert solid waste from going to the landfill or incinerator by 50% from 2008 levels, organic waste diversion is an important strategy in achieving that goal. This report outlines the results of an organic waste audit and environmental assessment of 1) demolition waste, 2) yard waste from CIty operated programs, and 3) food waste to understand the relative suitability of composting versus anaerobic digestion as a solution. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: zero waste, waste management & recycling

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2012
Siduo Zhang

The diversion of organics from multi-family homes in the City of Vancouver is a critical component of meeting the Greenest City Action Plan target of reducing the amount of landfilled or incinerated solid waste by 50% compared to 2008 levels. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the environmental impacts of a centralized composting program versus the use of garburators (herein referred to as food waste disposers, FWDs) as organic waste management strategies for multi-family residences in the City of Vancouver.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: zero waste, food systems, waste management & recycling

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2012
Alison McKenzie

This report is intended to inform the development of a local community-based program aimed at encouraging increased residential tree planting throughout Vancouver. While a number of non-profit organisations have developed programming that mobilises community participation on issues of environmental stewardship and urban forestry, there has been no sustained and systematic campaign that engages residents to enhance the city’s urban forest through planting on private property. This report identifies pertinent best practices that have emerged from efforts happening within North America.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, ecological systems, green buildings

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2012
Jason Hsieh

Chinese residents in Vancouver have a high awareness of and interest in sustainability, but have a lower level of participation in the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. This project aims to understand this gap in participation by addressing how the City of Vancouver can better engage the broader Chinese community in taking action towards meeting the Greenest City goals and supporting a one-planet ecological footprint. Recommendations for planning a multicultural engagement strategy include: building connections, employing eco-champions, parallel Greenest City multi-cultural branding, and developing a targetted program.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: social sustainability, sustainability in education

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2012
Krystie Babalos

This report provides an evaluation of the applicability of a road rating system to the road construction practices of the City of Vancouver public works. A road rating system is a collection of best practices that can be utilized to achieve sustainable road construction. The primary objective of using a road rating system is to identify the level of sustainable measures within specific projects and gauge success factors against other projects. This report focuses on five road rating systems, including Greenroads, GreenLITES, INVEST, I-LAST, STEED.

Partner: 2012-07
Keywords: green buildings, transportation

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2012
Kamal Abdul

This research project focuses on an urban water body in Vancouver that has the potential to optimize ecological, recreational and cultural uses while decreasing the use of potable water. The question posed is: Can Trout Lake be a natural swimming lake, reducing the amount of potable water used and improving water quality through approaches such as a constructed wetland? And, are there comparable examples world wide that can be used as a precedent for future works at Trout Lake?

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: clean water, ecological systems, water

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2012
Christine Cooper

The main objective of this research was to observe the circumstances in which patrol officers in the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) idle their vehicles and for how long. During the research, officer comments and suggestions were recorded to gain a better understanding of their attitude towards idling and sustainability. The information from this report will inform the VPD about drivers’ idling behaviour and guide decisions about vehicle improvements. In addition, this report will address alternative ways to reduce idling that can serve as a complement to anti-idle technology.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green transportation, transportation

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2012
Katie O'Callaghan

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