The Forks and Their Efforts to Become Environmentally Sustainable

 

 

It is a detrimental roadblock in the protection of our environment that many companies refuse to reduce their carbon footprint. There are ways, however small, to improve the way humans use our resources on a daily basis, such as eating less meat, taking advantage of public transportation, line-drying clothes, and so on. The issues caused by our treatment of the earth are cumulative, as are the solutions. We have a responsibility to repair the damage we have caused, and that responsibility cannot be excluded from companies or establishments, no matter how big or small they may be. 

​

The horrible truth is that how we have been treating our world—the only world we currently have—is unsustainable. According to an article published in 2017 by CBC, the effects of climate change are already upon us. In 2017, British Columbia experienced its worst fire on record. Almost 900,000 hectares of the land went up in smoke. Mike Flannigan, a wildfire expert from the University of Alberta states, “The warmer we get, the more fire we have. The more fire we have, the more greenhouse gases are released. The more gases that are released, the warmer we get.” It is a vicious cycle, and it’s not only affecting plants and wildlife. It’s affecting us too. In 2016, nearly 90,000 citizens were evacuated from their homes in Fort McMurray due to a devastating fire raging through the land. If we continue as we have—if we allow ourselves to remain in an exponential state of apathy—fires such as this one will only become more powerful, and more destructive. 

​

To reduce the impact of global warming, The Forks recently replaced their old HVAC system with geothermal heating and cooling. The geothermal system uses energy stored in the Earth, the river, and groundwater, as well as recycles the energy produced in The Forks Market. Installing this new system didn’t cost them any more than it would have normally, as they needed to replace their old HVAC system. In fact, according to Dave Pancoe, the Projects Manager, by installing a geothermal heating and cooling system The Forks was able to avoid escalating energy costs while also reducing their carbon footprint.  Everything comes down to a cycle of ‘give and return,’ Pancoe states. Companies must invest in making changes to become more environmentally sustainable, but these changes don’t have to cause vexation. As proven by The Forks, environmental sustainability breeds financial sustainability, if done correctly. 

​

If you venture to The Forks, you will notice they have posters put up all over the market with information regarding the Target Zero Emissions project, in which they have taken up what for most establishments is thought of as an impossible goal: zero garbage, zero water waste, and zero carbon emissions. This is quite an audacious objective, but seeing as they have over four million visits annually, it is one that will have a great impact on the environment. 

​

The Forks is setting an example that we should all follow. It doesn’t take much to improve our world. It’s the small changes that will ensure future generations can enjoy the clean air, water, and food of the earth as we have. It’s up to us to protect our environment—and by extension ourselves. After all, the environment can live without us, but we cannot live without the environment.