Sustainable Development
OrganisACTION Project: Community Organizations in action for the environment
In 2010, the YWCA benefited from the services of two environmental counsellors that measured the organization’s environmental footprint and developed an action plan to reduce it. Having benefited from the process, the YWCA wanted to share its experience with other non-profit community organizations (NPOs) in Montreal through the OrganisACTION project.
The goal of the OrganisACTION project is to assist Montreal NPOs in reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and operational costs in order to participate in the collective movement against climate change, all the while continuing to offer essential quality services to the community.
The OrganisACTION project has resulted in the development of several tools aimed at supporting NPOs through this process. These tools are available by clicking on the following links:
Tool for Measuring the Environmental Impact and GHGs of NPOs (Available in French only)
Resources and References Guide: Actions to reduce NPO’s GHGs and operational costs
(Available in French only)
The OrganisACTION project has been made possible thanks to a contribution from the Fonds d’action québécois pour le développement durable (FAQDD) and their financial partner, the government of Québec through the Action-Climat program.
To read the press release click here
For more information on the OrganisACTION project, please contact:
Rachel Horwat
Responsible for environmental projects
rhorwat@ydesfemmesmtl.org
514-866-9941, ext. 207
Sustainable Development at the YWCA
Preserving the environment is important for the YWCA’s employees and community. That’s why we are committed to reducing the ecological footprint of our building and operations, and integrating a responsibility towards the environment in our daily lives and philosophy.
Environmental Portrait
After completing an environmental evaluation, we were able to determine that, each year, the YWCA:
- consumes the equivalent in energy of 113 average Canadian households, which produces more than 500 tons of CO2 equivalent (greenhouse gases);
- generates approximately 35 tons of garbage that is land filled, and 14 tons of materials that are recycled;
- uses more than 10 million liters of water, which would nearly fill 5 Olympic swimming pools!
Green Achievements
Since 2005, the YWCA has:
- created the green committee;
- undertaken renovations to improve the building’s structure and envelope;
- replaced lighting with more energy efficient models;
- conceived and launched its own Charter of eco-responsibility;
- consolidated its materials recycling system;
- acquired biodegradable cleaning products;
- established a pick-up point for the Good Food Box program (Moisson Montréal) at the YWCA to improve community access to fresh fruits and vegetables;
- participated in the Défi-Climat awareness campaign for three consecutive years, etc.