Conservation/Green Initiatives Flashcards
What are the goals of the 2007 green plan to be achieved by 2027?
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% below 1990 levels
Reduce water consumption by 40% 1990 levels
Divert more than 70% of waste generated each year from landfill
Achieved in 2010
New target: zero waste by 2030
Ensure recycling of 100% of all plastic used by 2027
Eliminating single use plastic and virgin plastics at retail outlets by 2025
What are some sustainability and purchasing initiatives?
Responsbile sourcing practices
Consider “cradle to grave” impact of products/services
Preference given to environmentallysuperior products
Sustainable Palm Oil facility by 2025
What are some waste management initiatives?
TerraCycle Waste Stream - recycle and upcycles waste instead of incinerating or landfilling it, including typically “non-recyclable” waste (through local municipal recycling programs). E.g. cereal plastic packages, brita filters, inkjet cartridges
Divert waste to Durham York Energy Centre which produces energy from waste for the Ontario Electrical Supply
PhoneApes - increase awareness of environmental impacts of manufacturing and consumable products on wildlife and biodiversity
Composting on site for garden beds
Goal is zero waste by 2030
Ensure recycling of 100% of all plastic used by 2027
Eliminating single use plastic and virgin plastics at retail outlets by 2025
What are some energy management initiatives?
Upgrading existing energy services to be more efficient
12, 673ft2 of green roofing
50 solar thermal panels supply hot water to Admin Complex
Geothermal base in clouded leopard exhibit
Cooling Caribou cafe with IceBears
12% of transit fleet are electric vehicles
Cooling tower on Zootique/Education building
Storage tank hot water heaters replaced with on-demand hot water heater
Multiple Variable Frequency Drives added to motors and pumps in the IndoMalaya and Afr. Pav reduced energy consumption for that building by 50% and 30%
Ongoing effort to upgrade lighting systems to LEDs
Participated in Earth Hour
What are some water management initiatives?
Surpassed 2027 goal of reducing consumption by 40% of 1990 levels as result of staff/volunteer changes in the way they do their jobs.
Misters put on timers so keepers can choose when they turn off even if not present
=approx, 3600L/day of water saved in summer months
Rain harvesting system installed for Horticulture
Water filtration system in the greater one-horned rhino habitat saves over 8 million litres of potable water annually
What are some chemical management initiatives?
Pesticide use restricted:
- Ecological control methods for landscaping used instead
- Bio controls to help keep pests under control in pavilions and greenhouses
- Ecologo certified or plant based products sourced where possible
- Ozone water sanitization systems use reduces water and chemicals needed for cleaning some of the buildings
What are 13 green infrastructure initiatives used to build the new WHC?
Leading-edge sustainable construction techniques, materials and tech
Constructed using the footprint of the old facility where possible
Bird friendly glaze on all transparent windows
5113 foot square of green roof
Cooling roofing features to decrease urban heat island effect
LED lighting
Heat recovery system
Insulated foundation walls
Low flow fixtures
Removal of suspended solids in storm water
Low impact development with permeable pavers and water efficient planting
What plastic reducing actions are in place for Compass?
Lids for coca-cola counter service cups are recyclable
Conducting pilot for offering wooden cutlery
Plastic cutlery used are biodegradable
Bulk service for milk, creamers, condiments. Individuall packages will not be available
Use of refillable travel mugs for hot beverages in the restaurants
Coca Cola syrup drums repurposed for enrichment and planters
What plastic reducing actions are in place for the gift shop?
Sale of plushes with environmentally sourced materials, tags made from recycled materials
Boxed toys with environmentally-friendly minimized packaging with recycled content
Bulk merch delivery to reduce packaging
Sale of t-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles
Eco-bags. Promotions over earth day/easter weekend (Free TZ bag with $30+ purchase)
Increase options of reusable bottles/travel mugs
4Ocean bracelets
Reusable straws, beeswax wraps, utencils
What is the Green Eco Zoo Team?
A non-technical advisory committee to the CEO who address the environmental impacts of zoo operations, policies and procedures, and makes recommendations that will lessen our ecological footprint in the Rouge Valley and on earth
Incorporates all divisions and units
Meets quarterly
Provides annual report to CEO for presentation to the Board on
environmental projects, programs and initiatives in progress or completed over the past year
Explain the PhoneApes program
Cellphones are recycled
Coltan (metallic ore) used to produce the element Tantalum
Tantalum (in light weight, metal powder form) able to hold very high electrical charge
= Vital element in creating the capacitors that control electric flow in miniature circuit boards
Tantalum capacitors used in almost all cellphones, laptops and other devices
Coltan most concentrated in the rainforests of the former Republic of Congo
= most easily mined
Also home to endangered Lowland Gorilla
Recycling cell phones = tantalum reused = less demand to mine pure Coltan
Money raised goes towards field conservation of great apes
What can you do to promote conservation?
Carpool, bike, public transit, walk
Recycle/compost
Pick up litter
Dispose of chemicals/batteries etc properly
Eliminate single use plastic
-bottles, bags, takeout containers
Conserve water - opt for cold not hot
Conserve energy - turn off lights, close doors
Maintain/use tools/equipment to lengthen life
-fix don’t replace
Don’t let vehicles idle
Regular cleaning reduces needs for harsher chemicals
Define conservation and preservation
Conservation
= all activities needed to maintain a population of animals in their own habitat
Preservation
= all activities needed to present a particular species from becoming extinct
