Consumer Education
Consumer education involves empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions about real estate and their role as a homeowner, condo owner, landlord, tenant, or rural property owner.
ResourceCommunity Needs Assessment Study
As a support agency to the social profit sector FuseSocial’s role is to aid other agencies to not only recover from the effects of the 2016 wildfire but improve the quality of life in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. FuseSocial presents the results of this study and other survey series to key stakeholders and funders in order for them to understand the needs of the community and address them. We help other agencies to help the community.
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Renewable Best Practices
Over the next 15 years, wind capacity in Alberta will roughly quadruple, with the provincial goal of 30% renewable electricity by 2030. While wind is a cleaner source of electricity, some residents have concerns about the impact on vistas, property values, and local and migratory species. These concerns are best mitigated proactively by adhering to best practices for wind development. The purpose of this project is to highlight best practices that empower and benefit stakeholders as well as minimize the impact on the ecosystem, and to build a framework that will enable development of responsible and socially acceptable wind projects in Alberta.
ResourceBest practices for responsible wind development in Alberta
In order to meet the Government of Alberta’s goal of generating 30% of electricity from renewable power sources by 2030, 5,000 megawatts (MW) will need to be added to the province’s electrical grid, with a large portion of this capacity coming from wind. However, if this additional wind power is going to gain social acceptance, it must be done in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible, to address the concerns of Albertans and maximize the benefits associated with wind development.
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Challenges and Solutions in Acquiring Water for Housing Development
Housing development is a $10 billion industry in Alberta. However, it may be curtailed by lack of water needed to service new residential communities. This study explores the challenges and solutions to acquiring water for housing development and the secondary impact a decline in the industry could have on the real estate market.
ResourceCondo Law for Albertans
Condo Law for Albertans is a project of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people understand the law as it affects their everyday lives. We develop plain language online tools, publications, and presentations to help people recognize and respond to their legal rights and responsibilities.
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Forward Thinking Speakers Event – Building Better Communities
The Edmonton Public Library, with its extensive and diverse reach, is in the unique position to bring together community members to share insights, ideas, experiences and viewpoints through our Forward Thinking Speakers Series. EPL would like to present a speaker to our community in 2016, with a focus on building better communities and a goal of engaging more Edmontonians in this concept.
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Sustainable Development Department
The City of Edmonton will be implementing three projects which will provide citizens with access to information that increases one’s ability to effectively and meaningfully contribute to their community. One project improves citizen understanding of the City’s planning processes; one provides information about the potential for solar PV installations in homes and buildings, and the third project shares tools and resources for understanding the basics in assessing one’s living space for energy efficiency.
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Senior Research Studio on Aging-in-Place Laneway Housing
This project will look at options for aging-in-place in laneway homes and secondary suites. It is being conducted in the context of a senior graduate level architecture research studio in the Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary. 10-14 concept designs will be developed in conjunction with industry and diverse academia to demonstrate how secondary suites and options for aging-in-place can fit into our existing neighborhoods.
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Condo Law for Albertans – Phase Two
The “Condo Law for Albertans” project will increase Albertans’ knowledge of their rights and responsibilities under current and future condominium legislation. During phase two of the project, plain language resources (including a website) will be produced for condominium boards, to help them better understand their rights and obligations under the law by increasing their ability to access accurate legal information.
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Paying For It: The Calgary Citizens’ Infrastructure Finance Commission
The “Paying For It” project will look at how Calgary’s growing economy and population has begun to put significant strain on our municipal infrastructure as well as look at the existing funding model. This project will employ a Citizens’ Commission, an innovative model of public engagement. The Calgary Citizens’ Infrastructure Commission will work through the challenges that Calgary faces and ultimately issue a series of recommendations that will guide the development of a Calgary City Charter.
ResourceGreen Home Energy Toolkit
The Green Home Energy Toolkit provides tools, tests and information to help you understand your household energy use and help you identify some ways to save energy and money.