Wishing to reduce its ecological footprint, the City of Côte Saint-Luc has put in place measures to improve its natural environment, tackle climate change, and divert waste away from landfills. Find out how you can take advantage of these initiatives and do your part.
Use sustainable transport
Electric vehicle charging stations
The City offers three electric vehicle charging stations on its 6.96 km2 territory: two are at the Bernard Lang Civic Centre (5801 Cavendish Boulevard) and one is at the Aquatics and Community Centre (5794 Parkhaven Avenue).
Those interested in purchasing a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) have access to government incentive programs. Find out more on the CAA website.
Car sharing
Two Communauto vehicles are also available in Côte Saint-Luc. They have dedicated spots in the parking lots of the Bernard Lang Civic Centre (5801 Cavendish Boulevard) and the Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre (7155 Côte-Saint-Luc Road). To find out more about the advantages of this service, see Car sharing.
Cycling
In addition, Côte Saint-Luc created a bicycle route along a 14-kilometre stretch as part of an initiative to encourage residents to stay active. See the map (PDF) or Bicycle routes for more information.
Public transit
Six STM bus routes and one STM shuttle also serve the City. To find out more about your public transit options, see Getting around Côte Saint-Luc.
Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost
Reduce
Canadians generate a lot of waste. According to Waste reduction week Canada, on average, every Canadian will generate 720 kg (1,587 lbs.) of waste that goes to landfill, which is equal weight to a full-grown female giraffe. To do your part, try these 30 ways to reduce your waste. And why not participate in Waste reduction week? It starts on the third Monday of October every year.
Reuse
The goal of reuse is to keep using items as long as they have a function or value. See Donatable items, to find organizations that will collect your items to make them available to groups and individuals who will reuse them.
Recycle, compost and properly dispose of electronics
Thanks to our recycling and composting programs, and to the management of electronic waste and polystyrene (plastic #6), we divert residual material away from landfills. Find out what you can place in your recycling and brown bins, how to dispose of electronic waste, and how to line your kitchen collector with newspapers and keep your brown bin clean.
The City also supports residents who want to get started with home composting by making composters available at a reduced price.
In October of every year, to encourage residents to put leaf and yard waste at the curb, the City of Côte Saint-Luc offers five free compostable bags to every household. Residents can contact info@cotesaintluc.org or 514-485-6800 for information.
Join the Rénoclimat program
The Rénoclimat program is a government program that is available since 2007 to encourage owners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and control their energy consumption more effectively.
On average, the Rénoclimat program helped participants save 20% on their heating bills once the renovations were completed.The financial assistance offered under the Rénoclimat program and the recurrent energy savings will help you maximize your return on your energy efficient renovations within a few years.
Rénoclimat is the only energy efficiency program for individuals that features an energy performance measure of their homes that is conducted both before and after the work and is based on the EnerGuide rating system.
For more information, see Rénoclimat.
Reduce water wastage at home
Did you know that the use of toilets is the largest source of water consumption in your home (24%), followed by showers (20%), faucets (19%), washing machines (17%) and leaks (12%)? Water wastage at home can be avoided by repairing leaks, changing habits and choosing water-saving equipment models when replacing them.
Visit Mon empreinte bleue to calculate your water consumption and discover tips and tricks to reduce it. You’ll both save money and help the environment!
Join a community garden
In addition to bringing people together, community gardens are great for the environment. Why? Because food grown locally reduces green house gases produced by long-distance food transportation. Gardens also contribute to biodiversity and help to support populations of pollinators.
Join one of Côte Saint-Luc’s three community gardens: Seniors garden, Kirwan and Schwartz. For more information write to rnemeroff@cotesaintluc.org or call 514-485-6806 ext. 2022.
We also give away compost in May and in October, and tomato plants in the spring, to help residents get their private or community garden started.
Participate in the Maisons fleuries initiative
The annual garden beautification initiative not only makes our city more beautiful, it also benefits the environment. By planting and maintaining trees, flowers and other plants, you help reduce air pollution, increase oxygen production, and contribute to saving the bees.
Stay tuned for our compost giveaway in May and in October to prepare your flower bed for planting.
Green spaces and ban on pesticides
Côte Saint-Luc has 29 parks across the city and continues to consolidate and structure its green spaces. Well aware of the negative impact of pesticides on health and biodiversity, Côte Saint-Luc was also one of the first municipalities in Quebec to ban pesticides on its territory.