www.michaelemm.com

As a leader in our community, I will list for you my environmental thoughts and accomplishments so as you know where I stand.

Personal:

1. I cut my lawn with a hand reel mower in the spring and fall to reduce harmful emissions being emitted into the air. During summer months I do use the gas mower but I limit my use to act responsibly.
2. My wife, children and I continuously try to find ways to reduce our household garbage so as it reduces the burden on our environment.
3. Our family recycles extensively and my father Gerry Emm was instrumental in implementing Durham recycling.
4. I have just recently outfitted our entire home with energy star appliances to lessen the burden on our energy use.
5. My home surpasses R2000 standards and currently I have window glazing which surpasses an energy rating of R9.
6. I installed casement windows when I built my home to direct the air into the home and along with skylights on the top floor we rarely have to use the central air.
7. I have planted a globe maple tree in our front yard to give our home natural shade thus lessening the burden on central air conditioning when required.
8. My wife and I constantly use the delay features on our dishwasher, washing machine and dryer to lessen the burden and lower our hydro consumption.
9. When rebuilding our kitchen I used natural granite stone counter tops so as to be ECO friendly and thus having a chemical free counter top.
10. Natural wood floors were used during the building of my home. Wood floors come from recurring forests and last forever unlike carpets and laminates which end up in our landfills.
11. I have planted Cedar trees on my property in areas to use as a fence instead of a board fence to lessen my impact on the environment.
12. I have great ideas on how to lessen the exhaust output of refuse trucks by implementing a very easy doubling up plan with your neighbour.
13. Myself and my family ride our bikes instead of taking the car when we have to take short trips in Whitby and we constantly ride our bikes along the lakefront trail.
14. I have only just swapped out the rental hot water heater and installed an ultra high energy efficient tank which will pay for itself within 17 months.
15. We use energy efficient bulbs throughout our home and teach our children the rules of wasting energy.
16. My wife and I do our best to organize our trips out so as we can lessen our fuel consumption in our vehicles and get more things done in one trip.
17. My wife always uses the 100% canvas shopping bags for grocery and pleasure shopping so as to lessen the burden of plastic bags going to landfill

Corporate:

1. I applaud the planting of trees and currently I'm watching the four corners of Whitby where trees were destroyed in order to pave way for a new flower bed. I trust these trees will be replaced.
2. I will lobby the province to implement the Havelock to Toronto train service so as it will reduce the amount of traffic on our roads and lesson our vehicle emissions. The completion of the 407 to the 35/115 is a must to reduce the traffic congestion for Whitby and its pending Intensification.
3. I will research ways to have government buildings reduce their energy levels by upgrading glazing and implementing off hours lighting in buildings and parking areas.
4. I refuse to use pesticides for weed control and I personally was given a dandelion puller from my daughters for fathers day (I love this thing)
5. I encourage the idea to have more people who can, use public transit and carpooling. Vehicle idling is an area to be looked at here in Whitby and drive-through establishments would have to be looked at very closely for idling and traffic volume concerns
6. I will work closely with developers to ensure that their contractors work towards a more waste efficient work sites as well to keep building construction debris out of our landfills. Local contractors need to be further educated also to reduce their waste.
7. In my campaign I will be using many of my father's recycled election signage, some of these signs have been through eight or nine elections. (You can't get better than that).

In closing I consider myself a man who wants the best air, the best water, and the best community for my children to grow up in. I believe I can make a difference on Whitby council and make Whitby a greener community for all to enjoy.

Sincerely

Michael G. Emm

Whitby Centre Ward 3 Candidate