Howard Hampton talks Environment with Students

By Kelly Roche

TORONTO: NDP Leader Howard Hampton met with students at a roundtable discussion on environmental issues.

This is one of the most important issues that we face. It should be one of the most important issues in this election campaign, although it hasn’t received the attention that it deserves and that it needs, Hampton said.

The meeting took place on the rooftop of the Arcadia Glen Co-op, winner of the 2006 Toronto Award of Excellence for Water Efficiency. The co-op houses a solar heating system for residential water, as well as pressure-assisted toilets and conservatory shower heads and kitchen faucets in all 110 units.

The NDP leader praised the co-op’s low consumption rates and wants new homes built with high levels of insulation and passive air conditioning. Hampton mentioned financial incentives for people to install solar hot water heaters in their homes.

Hampton also praised energy legislation in Manitoba and California and has similar plans for Ontario, saying, California insists that you update the efficiency every three years. So what was energy-efficient three years ago isn’t acceptable today.

The NDP leader encouraged the use of energy-efficient doors, windows and appliances, telling the students, as you said, we waste a lot of energy He estimated saving between 25-33% of energy costs after shifting to these methods.

Addressing the need for environmental change, Hampton said, we have to confront global warming...over the last ten years there has been a lot of lip service. You have seen ads on television, but there has been very little action.

[Kelly graduated B.A. (Hons). Windsor University and is currently studying for post-graduate studies at Humber college for Broadcast Journalism. This article is the result of her talk with Howard Hampton.]