Even though the winter season still reigns, Rexdale is about to become just a little bit cooler.
Cool Rexdale, a new economic, social and environmental program, was launched this month to save energy by installing green or cool roofs on buildings while engaging local youth in the project.The program, led by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) and Partners in Project Green - a community of businesses that work together to fight climate change, conserve energy and reduce its costs - will be training and hiring local youth to install the roofs and help give them a start in the roofing industry."We're trying to employ local youth to do the work because at the end of the day, it's a job opportunity for youth in one of the city's priority neighbourhoods," said Chris Rickett, senior project manager of Partners in Project Green and the TRCA. Rickett also said that the multi-year program will hire ten youth after all the training workshops are completed. He added that the starting wage would be about $24 an hour. Semple Gooder, a roofing company belonging to the Sheet Metal Workers' and Roofers' Local Union 30, will be providing the jobs for youth.The initiative is part of the City of Toronto's Eco-Roof Incentive Program which is designed "to promote the use of green and cool roofs on Toronto's commercial, industrial and institutional buildings."According to the Eco-Roof Incentive Program, green roof developments will receive $50/square metre up to a maximum of $100,000 if they are deemed eligible. Cool roof developments will get $2 to $5/square metre and up to $50,000 in funding.The incentive program correlates to a Green Roof city bylaw that encourages new developing businesses to construct green and cool roofs on new residential, commercial and institutional developments built after Jan. 31; the bylaw will begin to apply to industrial developments on Jan. 31, 2011.Local businesses will have the choice to install either a cool roof, which is a roof that reflects the sun's heat and radiation back into the atmosphere, or a green roof that is covered in vegetation and used to conserve not only energy but water as well.The eco-roofs are expected to help reduce urban heat and energy use while managing storm water run-offs, enhancing biodiversity, improving air quality and "beautifying the city.""It demonstrates the commitment to helping youth think about a green future and shows that we are committed to shrinking the environmental footprint," said Jane Holmes, VP of Corporate Affairs for the Woodbine Entertainment Group.Rickett said that the Woodbine Entertainment Group was responsible for funding $50,000 to the conservation project. The Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) has also provided key funding for the project, but could not disclose a specific amount.Applications to the program are available online starting on Monday March 1. Applicants will have a choice to submit it during the spring and fall seasons. The application deadline is scheduled for April 1.