Sign Up to Act

Learn how to take concrete action on climate change in your own community.

Join us for this three-session digital workshop series from the EFCL Green Leagues program.  Discussions will include neighbourhood-level sustainability planning, climate resilience, solar PV, net-zero building, and funding opportunities and rebates. 

Participants will gain three action steps that they can take by joining this series, from the easiest steps we can take immediately to those requiring longer-term work and then those that need a future strategy to drastically reduce the emissions of your homes and your neighbourhood.

We’ll learn from industry experts about the steps and technologies needed to achieve our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

It’s time to act as a community to make the necessary changes we need for a more sustainable future. We look forward to seeing you.

SESSION 1, ACT ON CLIMATE:
Neighbourhood Sustainability

Oct. 21, 6:30-8:30pm

TAKEAWAY: Three concrete ways your can make your neighbourhood more sustainable

  1. Community-led sustainability
  2. Community League sustainability programming
  3. Neighbourhood climate resilience

Speakers:

  • Michael Barnard, Energy Transition Advisor, EFCL
  • Jonathan Lawrence, Community Planning Advisor, EFCL

In this session, participants will learn strategies for how to leverage their Community League to create long-term sustainability programs and engage with their community on issues around sustainability and energy transition. They will hear about the myriad of ways in which other Community Leagues in Edmonton are acting on community-led climate initiatives and moving their communities toward a more sustainable future. Funding opportunities and City of Edmonton programs will also be highlighted.

The workshop will involve collaborative brainstorming in breakout rooms, where participants can learn from one another and brainstorm different ways to act on climate change and cultivate sustainability at their Community League and in their neighbourhood.

 

 

 

 

SESSION 2, ACT ON CLIMATE:
Go Solar

Oct. 26, 6:30-8:30pm

TAKEAWAY: Three ways to decarbonize your community

  1. Install solar at your community hall
  2. Install an EV charging station at your community hall
  3. Encourage your neighbours to install solar

Speakers:

  • Warren Sarauer, Owner/Manager, Evergreen & Gold Renewable Energy
  • Justin Smalley, Past Technology Director, Inglewood Community League
  • Lydia Fialka, Energy Transition Community Programs Coordinator, Environment & Climate Resilience, City of Edmonton
  • Michael Barnard, Energy Transition Advisor, EFCL

In this session, participants will learn from industry leaders on the basics of Solar Photovoltaics, how to select a solar contractor, and the process behind managing a solar project at their Community League. Topics will also include engaging with your community around the benefits of solar and how to get solar for their own homes. We will also dispel myths and misconceptions around solar.

Participants will hear from the City of Edmonton around EV charging stations at Community Leagues, as well as their residential solar rebate program.

SESSION 3, ACT ON CLIMATE:
Getting to Net-Zero

Oct. 28, 6:30-8:30pm

TAKEAWAY: Three ways to ACT BIG on climate change

  1. Electrify your building and lower your energy consumption
  2. Plan to move your community hall to net zero
  3. Encourage your neighbours to plan for net zero in their homes

Speakers:

  • Godo Stoyke, President/Lead Designer, Carbon Busters Inc.
  • Lauren Hall, Residential Community Program Coordinator, Environment & Climate Resilience, City of Edmonton
  • Michael Barnard, Energy Transition Advisor, EFCL

In this session, participants will learn about the necessity of moving our buildings to net zero emissions by 2050. Industry experts will present strategies for how to move your community hall and residential homes to net zero.

Participants will hear from the City of Edmonton on available rebates and funding opportunities for their Community League and residential homes.

Speakers

Michael Barnard

Energy Transition Advisor, EFCL

Sessions 1, 2, and 3

A graduate of NAIT’s Alternative Energy Technology program, Michael carries a BA in Philosophy and an Energy Manager in Training certification from the Association of Energy Engineers. Having enjoyed the benefits of Edmonton’s community leagues since he was a kid, Michael is passionate about grassroots organization and sustainable living. As the Energy Transition Advisor for the EFCL, Michael is responsible for managing the Green Leagues program and supporting Edmonton Community Leagues in their efforts to promote sustainability and energy transition in their communities.

Jonathan Lawrence

Community Planning Advisor, EFCL

Session 1

Jonathan Lawrence has over a decade of experience as a city builder and advocate in neighbourhoods. Jonathan holds a degree in Urban Planning and has worked in both public and private sectors focusing on engagement, housing, transportation and the environment. Jonathan brings to the EFCL a unique experience and expertise in Asset Based Community Development and is passionate about conveigning neighbours and empowering neighbourhoods to participate in and lead processes of urban planning and design.

Warren Sarauer

Owner/Manager, Evergreen & Gold Renewable Energy
Founding Chair, Solar Power Investment Cooperative of Edmonton (SPICE)

Session 2

With 35 years of international experience in the energy sector, Warren has gained an in-depth knowledge of how renewable energy is helping address our impact on climate change around the world. In 2010, he established Evergreen & Gold Renewable Energy to retrofit his office to a net-zero energy standard and be part of the local industry helping to transition Albertans to a sustainable future. Warren has also helped the local industry by serving on the board of the Solar Energy Society of Alberta (SESA) for 6 years, sitting as Chair of the Board for 3 of them. He is a member of several coops, a lifelong environmentalist and is often invited to speak around Alberta about the province’s electrical system. Most importantly Warren is the founding Chair of the Board for Solar Power Investment Cooperative of Edmonton (SPICE).

Justin Smalley

Past Director of Technology, Inglewood Community League
Project Engineer, Honeywell Process Solutions

Session 2

Justin Smalley is a computer and electrical engineer who volunteers with Inglewood Community League. In that past, Justin has served as the Director of Technology with his League, where he led the installation of a solar system on the community hall’s roof. Using his background in software engineering, Justin created a custom energy monitoring software platform where he monitors the energy use at the hall and the electricity production from the solar system. Justin has written a series of articles for his Community League, covering topics ranging from how to read an electricity bill to the benefits of solar to the League.

Lydia Fialka

Community Programs Coordinator, Energy Transition Programs, Environment and Climate Resilience, City of Edmonton

Session 2
Since joining the City of Edmonton workforce in 2014, Lydia has navigated various client-facing roles. She is a trained chemist who traded in her lab coat for a blazer, having found a passion for public education. Lydia previously coordinated the Root for Trees program – the City’s volunteer tree planting initiative – to help expand and preserve Edmonton’s urban forest in a changing climate. Recently, she joined the Energy Transition Programs team as a Community Programs Coordinator, and will be supporting both the commercial programs and change mobility portfolios.

Godo Stoyke

President/Lead Designer, Carbon Busters Inc.
President/Founding Director, C Returns

Session 3

Godo Stoyke is a best-selling author, award-winning environmental researcher, and holds a Ph.D. in environmental design from the University of Calgary, as well as two science degrees from the University of Alberta. Godo is a lead designer for zero carbon buildings and community infrastructure, integrated eco-industrial design, zero carbon retrofit recommendations, and entity-based greenhouse gas management strategies. He is president of Carbon Busters, with its current focus on deep green sustainable integrated community planning, energy efficiency, zero carbon design/build, sustainability strategy for municipalities, and environmental education.

Lauren Hall

Residential Community Program Coordinator, Environment & Climate Resilience, City of Edmonton

Session 3
Edmonton. Her work focuses on the implementation of initiatives that mitigate energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in Edmonton’s residential sector. Programs Lauren works on include Edmonton’s Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator and the Residential Solar Rebate Program.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences from the University of Alberta and a Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University. She has over ten years experience implementing environmental, sustainability, and energy efficiency programming in institutional, public, and non-profit settings. Through her career and education, Lauren has developed a strong background in comparative development, co-creating solutions, climate action, greenhouse gas accounting, active transportation, green building, and energy reporting.

Prizes

PRIZE 1

The first three Community League volunteers* to sign up for all three workshop sessions will win a $350 gift certificate to Elk Island Retreat, where they can book two nights to stay in one of Elk Island National Park’s luxury yurts, tipis, cabins or geodomes (gift certificate value is enough to cover two to three nights in a yurt, cabin or tipi; an additional cost of ~$50 will be required for geodome rentals). Gift certificates can also be used to purchase RV site booking and events. Visit Elk Island Retreat bookings for more details. Once these are claimed, they’re gone. To win a volunteer must sign up for and attend all three sessions.

PRIZE 2

The next 5 Community League volunteers* to sign up and attend all three workshops will receive two tickets each to a musical event at the Winspear Centre (event to be determined, minimum value $100). Once these prizes are claimed, they’re gone. To win a volunteer must sign up for and attend all three sessions.

PRIZE 3

The EFCL supports local businesses that have been damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any Community League volunteer* who signs up for all three workshop sessions, attends all three and then fills out the post-event feedback form will receive $50 to be spent at a locally-owned business of their choice (participants will select three options and will be granted a gift certificate to one of their three choices). We encourage people to select businesses in their surrounding neighbourhood.**

*All offers are available to Community League volunteers only. Winners will have to sign up as a volunteer and list their Community League when they sign up. This event will be open to the public, but participants who do not volunteer with a Community League will not be eligible for sign-up prizes. 

**Participants will be eligible to receive both prizes – if they sign up early, attend all three sessions, and complete all three post-event feedback forms.