New Utilities Kingston branch to support sustainability, climate action
Utilities Kingston has announced the creation of a new branch, which will “position the company to deliver on its strategic goal to support the City of Kingston as a climate action leader,” according to the organization.
According to a release from Utilities Kingston, dated Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, the new Sustainability and Climate Action branch reflects the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action.
The branch is led by Remi Adedapo, Director of Utilities Engineering. Utilities Kingston appointed Stephanie Pettis as the new Manager of Sustainability and Climate Action.
According to the release, a key initiative for the new branch will be to develop a Utilities Kingston Climate Action Leadership Plan by the end of 2024, to identify opportunities for operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and infrastructure resilience.
Utilities Kingston said that the branch will also:
- Develop, manage, and report on Utilities Kingston’s climate action goals.
- Manage conservation programs, helping utility customers with water and energy efficiency, while preserving and protecting the environment.
- Play a pivotal role in reducing GHG emissions from utility operations.
- In partnership with internal departments, address system energy needs through conservation and demand management.
“Utility companies manage the environmental impact of delivering energy, treating source water and managing wastewater, while relying on the natural environment for clean water and energy sources,” said Stephanie Pettis, Manager of Sustainability & Climate Action for Utilities Kingston. “This organizational change supports Utilities Kingston in reducing the environmental impact of delivering multiple utility services, while furthering our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Visit Utilities Kingston’s Corporate Responsibility page to learn more about the company’s initiatives to protect the planet.
We hope that this new branch of Kingston Utilities will switch all public buildings to heat pumps, and convince the city to call for developers to build new housing with heat pumps, not gas lines. As the federal Environment Minister said today, all of Canada needs to retrofit all buildings to get away from burning fossil fuels. We must electrify our heating/cooling. There are amazing federal grants of $10,000 to help homeowners and landowners switch to cold climate heat pumps. They work.