Residents, retail businesses invited to review City of Kingston draft bylaw
The City of Kingston invites community members to review and submit feedback on a draft Bylaw to Prohibit Open Doors and Windows when Air Conditioning Systems are in Operation in Retail Business Establishments in the City of Kingston.
“This draft bylaw was developed based on Council direction and shaped by community input received during the initial public engagement in 2020,” said Julie Salter-Keane, Manager of the City’s Climate Leadership Division.
The City engaged with members of the business community and the city at large in January 2020. The feedback received through an open survey and one-on-one conversations led to the inclusion of several proposed exemptions to the draft by-law, according to a release from the City. This, alongside best practices observed in communities with similar municipal regulations, informed the draft document.
“We ask community members, especially those who own shops and retail spaces, to carefully review the draft bylaw and submit input by 4 p.m. on May 13,” Salter-Keane said.
If implemented, the City said they would adopt an education-first approach to implementation, and work with community partners to ensure broad awareness of the draft bylaw and the environmental impact of having doors open when air conditioning is in use. The draft bylaw would also be enforceable by City Enforcement Services.
On Aug. 13, 2019, Council passed a motion directing staff to prepare a bylaw to prohibit open doors and windows when air conditioning is in operation. In March 2020 and again in March 2021, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, Council directed staff to defer preparation of the bylaw until the second quarter of 2022.
The City said that members of the community may submit their input via Get Involved Kingston or by calling 613-546-0000. According to the release, feedback received will be compiled in a report and presented to Council with the draft bylaw in June. To learn more about this project, visit: https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/air-conditioning-bylaw
At the same time, perhaps we should stop burning fossil fuels for outdoor patio heaters.
I’d like to see the ban on propped open doors include during the heating season as well. There are stores that prop open their doors while their furnace is going.
While it seems logical that retailers/businesses should not waste energy on open doors and windows while heating or cooling interior spaces- we now know that open windows and doors help to circulate clean air for health and safety (i.e., airborne viruses live in interior air); and HVAC systems also help to circulate and filter interior air -/so maybe both are needed at times? Regulating private businesses to this extent seems government over-reach.