Natural Resources committee  You don't need it in the winter. You have the snow that is melting in the summer, and you would store that snow in a place that could then access the coolness of that snow.

Natural Resources committee  Absolutely. We have had that type of application come through the Green Municipal Fund. In fact, that's where we see one of the most significant opportunities: recreation centres and arenas that are all fairly outdated now and are being retrofitted or improved. Certainly it makes sense to make sure you're putting in the best systems you can.

Natural Resources committee  No.

Natural Resources committee  The evaluation of the applications is done through an independent third-party process. There's a board of federal, municipal, and private sector decision-makers who make a recommendation on the applications.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, it's a reference to snow melt that's taken off the streets and then used in the system.

Natural Resources committee  Again, I think it's through the provision of information and knowledge. Part of planning in an integrated way is having the information you need to make that plan. Having the federal government represented at the table in that bottom-up approach and providing the information and resources required would go a long way to improving the process.

Natural Resources committee  For integrated planning, we fund studies. I don't have the actual percentage. I can get it for you.

Natural Resources committee  Well, in terms of numbers, as Eamonn mentioned, we have funded about 69 capital projects, and over 150.... In your package is a small subset of examples in which the Green Municipal Fund has been active. Municipalities have been much more active than just what the Green Municipal Fund has funded.

Natural Resources committee  Improving the energy code for buildings is one of the key solutions, and setting standards for technology as well, so that it can be implemented faster. We run into a lot of barriers around new technology that is coming on line, in applying it and getting it passed.

Natural Resources committee  There's solar hot water on roof tops and what has to happen to make those...and renewable energy production, and the transfer of renewable energy, and the ability to produce it at the municipal level. Ontario just came out with their new energy plan, which incents and allows for municipalities to get into the renewable energy production field and distribute that energy.

Natural Resources committee  I absolutely think it is necessary. One of the things the Green Municipal Fund does—and you have a package of information there.... We provide and share information; we work with the municipalities to build capacity through education and training services. There are other organizations and federal and provincial departments that are also doing it.

Natural Resources committee  Who needs it? I would say most of the folks you identified need it in some way, shape, or form. As we're talking about integrated energy systems, we also need an integrated approach. I don't know that this is an appropriate answer or whether you're looking for something a little more specific, but I would say municipalities.

Natural Resources committee  In addition to that, the Green Municipal Fund, which was an endowment given to FCM, can be treated as the municipal share of a project. They are stackable. That's an instance in which there has been some consideration of the challenges municipalities face.

Natural Resources committee  The most critical role, again, would be from a support standpoint, to look at policy that does facilitate the development, the uptake of integrated energy systems. So that can come through policy instruments. It can come through regulatory instruments. It can come through setting goals and targets that can follow through.

Natural Resources committee  I'm not aware of that.