CSCD recently began examining the impact of Green Municipal Fund (GMF) grants for feasibility studies, field tests, sustainable community plans and assessments. The Centre took a close look at how these studies translated into the implementation of capital projects. The findings were simple: GMF studies foster exciting change in communities.

GMF studies converted to capital projects	Outcomes of GMF studies
21 GMF-funded studies led to 19 GMF-funded capital projects 75 capital projects proceeded without GMF financing	Capital projects Operational change Background information for policy development and planning Program development Illustration

GMF offers grants for feasibility studies, field tests, sustainable community plans and assessments, as well as grants and low-interest loans for capital projects through a competitive Request for Proposals process.

GMF has funded many studies by municipal governments that have gone on to apply for and receive GMF financing for the resulting capital projects. To date, GMF has approved 19 capital projects that were preceded by GMF-funded studies.

The Town of Hinton’s new eco-industrial park project — just announced in October 2006 — is an example of a GMF-funded study that led to a GMF-funded capital project. The goal of the original study (GMEF 3228 - Sustainable Industrial Park Business Plan) was to develop a sustainable industrial park business plan. The study was completed in 2004, and the Town of Hinton is now in Phase 1 of a three-phase project to build Canada’s first eco-industrial park. The Town will act as the land developer and build green municipal infrastructure for the 42-hectare eco-industrial park. As part of the project, the Town developed Canada’s first exclusive eco-industrial zoning designation, as well as guidelines to ensure that buyers use land efficiently and preserve natural features, and build facilities that align with the park’s eco-industrial concept, complement its green infrastructure approach, and reduce its environmental impact. The GMF study from which this project emerged is available on the 
GMF Approved Projects Database on the CSCD website. More information about the project can be obtained from the Town of Hinton.

A sizable number of GMF-funded studies have led to capital projects that were not funded by GMF. During the summer and early fall of 2006, CSCD conducted a telephone survey of municipal governments that have completed GMF-funded studies. The survey found that 

• 86 of the 143 respondents report that they have undertaken or are undertaking further study of the issues raised by their GMF-funded study;
  
  
• 105 of the 143 respondents answered "yes" when asked if they were undertaking any of the recommendations from their GMF-funded study; and
  
  
• 75 of the 143 respondents report that they are undertaking or have undertaken a capital project as a result of their GMF-funded study.

The capital projects reported in the survey are at all stages of implementation. Respondents report an average time of approximately 14 months between the completion of a GMF-funded study and the start of a related capital project. Examples of these capital projects include the following:

• The City of Charlottetown, formerly without a transit system, has implemented a five-bus transit program since completing their transit study (GMEF 0684 - Innovative Public Transit System).
  
  
• The City of Dawson has implemented a water-bleeding project since completing their water study and is now working to address other water issues (GMEF 0302 - Water Metering and Bleeder Pilot Project).
  
  
• The Region of Peel undertook a study on the feasibility of developing an electronic waste collection program. The field test was highly successful and this program is now part of their regular waste management plan (GMEF 1623 - Electronic Equipment Collection).
  
  
• The City of Waterloo installed solar panels on city hall since completing a study of solar power (GMEF 2804 - Alternative Energy Through a Solar Power Pilot Program). Waterloo’s city hall has also benefited from the construction of a green roof since the completion of a separate GMF study, and two new green roofs are planned for other municipal buildings (GMEF 2961 - Green Rooftops).
  
  
• The Corporation of the Township of Esquimalt undertook a study to improve stormwater quality along the Gorge Waterway. The Township just completed work to recreate the natural estuary to restore the water habitat and create more natural areas throughout the Gorge waterway (GMEF 2058 - Gorge Waterway: Storm Water Quality Improvement).

The studies that preceded each of these projects are available on the GMF Approved Projects Database on the CSCD website.

The telephone survey revealed that many GMF-funded studies lead to outcomes other than capital projects, such as operational change within a municipality. Some examples include the following:

• Halifax Regional Municipality undertook a study to assess the viability of using compost to control common pest problems in turf grass. The study has led to a change in operations: the Municipality is now using compost (top dressing) rather than pesticides to maintain major sports fields. In addition to the direct environmental impacts, the use of compost has reduced maintenance, led to a more resilient turf, and extended the life of the sod field (GMEF 1670 - Municipal Waste Compost Marketing Study).
  
  
• The City of Ottawa undertook a study to find solutions for water and wastewater management in rural areas of the city. The goal was to analyze a range of solutions and costs, and select a preferred option. The study provided valuable background information for planning and policy development, and has been used in a variety of ways including community design planning in rural areas (GMEF 1242 - Rural Area Wastewater Treatment Study).
  
  
• The City of Edmonton’s study on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) has resulted in a municipal program rather than a capital project. The City has undertaken a public education program on ways for residents to improve energy efficiency. This has included producing a series of homeowners’ information booklets on energy efficiency, and a program of financial incentives to homeowners who undertake energy upgrades in their homes (GMEF 3070 - Edmonton's Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions).
  
  
• The Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) undertook a study to illustrate green options rather than prepare for a capital project. The goal of the GMF study was to develop a 100-year plan for the GVRD, incorporating the latest tools and methods for green infrastructure and energy planning. This plan was unusual in that plans are usually made for periods of up to 30 years. The plan was part of Canada’s submission to the 22nd World Gas Conference in Tokyo in 2003, and won the competition for sustainable urban systems design for a major metropolitan area. The study was also instrumental in establishing the Cities PLUS Network, an international network of cities committed to planning for long-term urban sustainability (PLUS) (GMEF 2909 - Century Urban Systems Plan (CUSP) for the GVRD).

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