In this issue: Celebrate our newest solar source | p. 4 Hear from sustainability leaders who are greening their supply chains | p. 6 Coming soon: EV charging for homes and businesses | p. 8 What’s a net-zero target, and are you ready to set one? | p. 12
BRIGHT FUTURE
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Contents 3 A message from
Suha Jethalal Get to know Bullfrog Power’s new President
4 Here comes the sun Celebrate the solar farm our customers helped bring to Alberta
6 It takes a village Learn what business leaders are doing to advance the circular economy
8 Transport: it’s electrifying We’re launching an electric vehicle charging solution soon
9 Sustainable gardening Get recipes and tips for your garden
10 Class of net zero by 2050 See how your support is funding the next generation of climate activists
12 Net zero 101 Everything you need to know about corporate sustainability targets
13 Take the carbon
neutrality quiz! Find out if your organization is ready to set a more ambitious climate target
14 Bullfrogpowered
green index Congratulations to the bullfrogpowered businesses that made an impact this year
16 Projects you’re supporting Take a peek at the upcoming community projects that our customers support! the bullfrog buzz•2
Bullfrog Power’s mission, team, and community have inspired me since I joined in 2009. Our staff and our customers are knowledgeable, passionate about decarbonizing Canada’s energy systems, and a joy to work with — even during endless virtual meetings! I’m honoured to support our team and our customers’ sustainability goals as Bullfrog’s new President. I’ve touched nearly every part of the Bullfrog business, from overseeing our residential green energy products to launching new commercial offerings, leading our marketing efforts, and building our supply. But in all my time here, I’ve never seen a year like this. Despite the ongoing pandemic, we’re seeing more demand for clean, green energy than ever before. Our network of bullfrogpowered businesses and individuals understand that the energy choices they make affect the health and the future of their communities. They want to make a positive impact on Canada’s most carbon-intensive grids, which is driving our ability to bring new solar and wind farms to Alberta. (See page 4 to see the proof!) Our customers also want to support projects that bring social benefits to their local communities. We know that environmental and social issues are deeply intertwined, and we’re proud to support more than 160 community-based green energy projects with youth groups, nonprofits, Indigenous Peoples, and more. (See page 10 and the back cover for the latest news.) I want to thank each and every one of our customers for believing that we can build a brighter, cleaner, and more equitable future together. Your support matters, and you’re already transforming our energy systems. Let’s keep the green momentum going!
Suha Jethalal, President, Bullfrog Power
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From left to right: Grant Arnold, President & CEO of BluEarth Renewables, Kelly Matheson-King, Chief Operating Officer of BluEarth Renewables, Mark Brown, Regional Vice President of RBC Royal Bank , and Kyle Pichette, Regional Manager of Renewables and Service at Spark Power
Here comes the sun Celebrating our newest solar source
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Last year, we partnered with RBC and signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with BluEarth Renewables to enable the construction of the Burdett and Yellow Lake Solar Facility. The 39 MWAC facility was completed in June 2021 and is now a source of your green electricity! PPAs support solar growth by guaranteeing the developer a fixed price for energy from a project that they’d like to build. The Burdett and Yellow Lake Solar Facility is a tangible example of how the bullfrogpowered community is accelerating Canadian renewables.
The solar facility is southwest of Medicine Hat, Alberta.
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Producers
Manufacturers
“We’re trying to be stewards of our little corner of the planet. We invest in energy alternatives like solar and heat capture, and our farm has been certified organic for 25 years. Perhaps most importantly, we actively support local, provincial, and federal initiatives to save forests, protect farmland, and engage with consumers and other producers to think about how we can improve.” Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd.
“We recognize the opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, where many supply chains begin. We prioritize projects that reduce our energyrelated emissions, including lighting retrofits and building Canada’s largest solar-powered egg-laying farm. We have a responsibility to enrich natural spaces rather than deplete them; as part of that commitment, we’re conserving and managing 400 hectares of wooded areas in Eastern Ontario.”
“In today’s world, true business resilience is only reached through sustainability, including greening supply chains. Several hundred new products go through 3M’s commercialization process every year, and all of them have to demonstrate impact for the greater good. The choices we make for our material and service providers must also reflect these values – companies need to collaborate to meet our collective environmental goals.” 3M Canada
It takes
Burnbrae Farms
Recyclers “Our high regard for sustainability is our organization’s key differentiator, and we believe companies can always do more. Focus on the positive outcomes of implementing sustainability practices, look for ways to improve your existing green projects, and think outside the box. In our case, the exponential reuse of technology through our rental program raises the bar in our industry for creative sustainability initiatives.” DCR Systems the bullfrog buzz•6
“By recycling, companies benefit in three ways: they can be paid for their scrap metal, they lower the cost of supplies because recycling reduces the cost of supplies over mining for metals, and they reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These benefits ripple across the supply chain and can, with enough participation, create a circular and sustainable economy.” Peel Scrap Metal Recycling
“Since 2005, we’ve been proving that a company can practice sustainability and still be successful in a competitive marketplace. In addition to engaging our own staff, we seek out suppliers and vendors that align with our goals to be green. We’ve even helped some of our raw material suppliers identify and trial new products that require less energy to process.”
Distributors “It was important for us to green our services because there’s a misconception that all printing is bad for the environment. We do our part to educate our customers and provide an environmentally friendly option. By the same token, we do our research when it comes to production processes and recycling programs. We can’t ignore other aspects of our supply chain.” Warren’s Waterless Printers
Flexahopper
a village Emissions from a company’s value chain often outweigh its operational carbon footprint. This can be a challenge to measure, but it also represents huge opportunities for emissions reductions. We spoke to bullfrogpowered organizations from all parts of the supply chain to learn how their sustainability efforts extend well beyond their own operations.
“The powerful connection between the environment, education, and entrepreneurship is at the foundation of what we do. We want to be an organization that our associates and the communities we serve are proud of. We do that by greening our own operations and by helping Canadians make sustainable choices through partnerships, education, and programs like in-store recycling.”
“Distributors can play a key role in advancing supply chain transparency and tackling industry-wide environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges. We’re partnering with both manufacturers and retailers to unlock trapped value and eliminate inefficiencies. And when we reduce our operational greenhouse gas emissions, we’re supporting our customers in achieving scope 3 emissions reductions.” National Tire Distributors
Retailers “Retailers have considerable influence over both the upstream and downstream value chain. We recently installed a cardboard shredder at our SPUD Edmonton warehouse that lets us wrap glass bottles in recycled carboard instead of the plastic usually used in distribution. To reduce downstream waste, we donate excess food from our stores to local charities.” Blush Lane
Staples Canada the bullfrog buzz•7
Transport: it’s electrifying Green energy is an essential part of any sustainability strategy, but it’s not the only area we need to focus on. The transport sector is responsible for about a quarter of all Canadian emissions1, and electrifying our fleets and personal vehicles is a must if we’re going to meet the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement. The question is no longer if electric vehicles (EVs) will catch on, it’s how quickly they’ll take over. Automakers around the world are announcing electric models, and the Government of Canada has set a mandatory target for all new light-duty cars and passenger trucks to be zero-emission by 2035. Drivers are also getting on board, with annual passenger EV sales expected to reach 14 million in 2025, compared to 3 million in 2020.2 “To remain successful, we need profitable growth. So instead of investing in a shrinking business, we choose to invest in the future – electric and online. We are fully focused on becoming a leader in the fastgrowing premium electric segment.” - Håkan Samuelsson, CEO, Volvo Cars
EVs are coming fast, and we’ll need a robust, reliable, and low-carbon charging network to keep them running. That’s why we’re excited to launch an electric vehicle charging solution in 2022. the bullfrog buzz•8
Our parent company, Spark Power, is already a leader in EV infrastructure, and we can’t wait to offer our combined expertise to new and existing Bullfrog customers. Since 2017, Spark has built EV charging sites from B.C. to Nova Scotia. We’ve installed 25 MW of total charging capacity, and we’re ready to install and service electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). We’re currently working for IVY Charging Network to build twelve charging sites at ONroute plazas along Ontario’s Highway 401. So what does this mean for Bullfrog? We’re working on a seamless EV charging solution for homes and small businesses. Once you’re ready to go electric, we’ll take care of everything you need to stay charged. And if you’re already bullfrogpowered, you’ll have the added benefit of knowing that your vehicle’s energy footprint is 100% emissions-free. Interested in learning more? Visit bullfrogpower.com/ev to sign up for email updates about this product. ¹ Environment and Climate Change Canada BloombergNEF ³ Forbes, Car and Driver 2
When will automakers phase out internal combustion engines?3 Audi: 2033 BMW: no commitment Bentley: 2030 Fiat/Chrysler: no commitment Ford: 2030 (Europe only) GM: 2035 Honda: 2040 Hyundai: no commitment Jaguar/Land Rover: 2036 Mazda: no commitment Mercedes-Benz: 2030 (with some caveats) Mitsubishi: no commitment Nissan: no commitment Toyota: no commitment Volvo: 2030 VW: 2035 (Europe only)
Sustainable gardening with Isaac Crosby Isaac Crosby, Lead in Urban Agriculture at Evergreen, is also known as Brother Nature. He comes from a small farming community south of Windsor and went on to study Landscape Horticulture Tech at Humber College. Isaac is proud of his Ojibwa and Black Canadian heritage, and he incorporates his education and traditional First Nations knowledge to grow great crops, to teach others, and to do his part in saving the Earth. “We must work with nature and not against her. By concentrating on a more holistic approach to gardening [...] we can have successful gardens that will stand the test of time.” - Isaac Crosby, Lead in Urban Agriculture, Evergreen
Brother Nature hosted a sustainable gardening webinar for the bullfrogpowered community. In case you missed it, we’ve included his recipes for homemade bug spray and fertilizer — try them in your garden or on your neglected office plants. To learn more about urban agriculture and the work Evergreen is doing to create cities that are livable, green and prosperous, sign up for their newsletter at evergreen.ca/newsletter
Homemade bug spray
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1 litre water 5 drops of Dawn dish soap 1/2 cup of 70% rubbing alcohol
Mix together and spray over the entire plant, including surrounding soil.
Homemade fertilizer • • • •
1 tablespoon baking soda 1 tablespoon Epsom salts 1 teaspoon household ammonia (do not use industrial ammonia) 3.65 litres (1 gallon) of water
Mix together and apply to plants and soil once a month.
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Class of 2021
net zero by 2050 Young people are a powerful force in the climate movement, and Youth Challenge International (YCI) is helping them turn their ideas into action. YCI’s Youth Climate Leadership Program gives young people from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area comprehensive training on designing and growing a sustainable project, mobilizing youth, and encouraging community development while deepening their understanding of climate science and traditional ecological knowledge. On behalf of the bullfrogpowered community, we’re proud to support the Youth Climate Leadership Program’s pitch night prizes. These funds will help youth launch and grow their climate action ideas. Meet some of the pitch night participants below, and head to youthclimateaction.ca to learn more.
pitch $2,500 ner!!! win night
Angelina La
Ashwini Selvakumaran
Purvangi Patel
Angelina created Food Unity to engage, empower, and employ youth in under-served communities to increase food access. She’s working on a meal subscription pilot where youth will use rescued food to prepare healthy, culturally appropriate meals for families in Black Creek.
Ashwini created the Brown Citizen Circle (BCC) to elevate the voices of Black, Indigenous, and South Asian youth that have been marginalized in climate advocacy throughout the GTA. In August, the BCC hosted it’s first BIPOC Youth Social Policy Case Competition to combat climate stigmatization.
Purvangi created Change for Transit (C4T) to address the growing gaps between public transport infrastructure and the community in cities across the GTHA. C4T is rethinking the culture that surrounds mobility and public infrastructure while empowering youth to develop creative solutions.
$500 pitch night the bullfrog buzz•10
winner, YAY!
$500 pitch night winner! WOW!!
Saumya Suresh
Umair Ghantiwala
Megan Halferty
Saumya created Halton Composts to spread awareness about plasticfree food packaging. Particularly during COVID-19, restaurants have been relying more on takeout, leading to more plastic food packaging waste. Halton Composts is providing restaurants with the information they need to switch to compostable alternatives.
Umair is further developing the New Grocery Movement, a nascent nonprofit dedicated to dismantling the harmful structures that perpetuate food insecurity, intensive commercial agriculture, and environmental degradation. Umair aims to build a consumer-driven movement to demand better food and access for everyone.
Megan created Green Urban Revitalization (GreenUR) to provide experiential education on waste management through the topics of fast fashion and consumerism. Seeing a gap in Ontario’s curriculum, Megan’s goal is to engage high school students in workshops and activities where they can act as global citizens.
te!
$500 pitch night winner, go Charlot Charlotte Dunford-Dionne
Marlene Rong
Rachel Davis
Charlotte created Second Life Patterns Co. as a solution to combat textile waste. As home sewing continues to grow in popularity, Charlotte wants to create a collection of home sewing patterns that are designed to use pre-loved textiles rather than new fabric.
Marlene created Green Committee Connect (GCC), a platform that provides resources to green committees across Toronto and creates a space for them to connect and collaborate. Through their website, GCC is supporting tenant-led zero waste initiatives in multi-residential buildings.
Rachel founded Desire Paths to develop an interactive digital activity for Toronto high school students to visualize the achievable future of a “habitable Earth.” She noticed that youth became discouraged when they couldn’t live up to an ideal sustainable lifestyle, so her project aims to turn feelings of climate guilt into empowerment. the bullfrog buzz•11
Net zero 101 By Stephan Wehr, Vice President of Technical Services, and Matt Beck, Senior Director Carbon Management and Sustainability at The Delphi Group By the end of 2021, countries responsible for nearly 80% of global GDP will have pledged net-zero emissions by 2050 — or, in the case of China and Brazil, 2060. One-fifth of the world’s largest corporations have set net-zero targets, and that figure is expected to grow exponentially. Many leading companies and organizations here in Canada have made similar pledges, which can be found on Canada’s Net-zero Leaderboard.
How do I know if a net-zero target is robust? Once again, the SBTi comes to the rescue by proposing the following criteria for robust targets: •
In line with what climate science deems necessary to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals and limit warming to 1.5°C
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Always includes value chain emissions, unless there are none
What is the difference between a carbon-neutral and a net-zero target?
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Prioritizes reducing emissions related to business activities and value chains over offsetting them
In a word, none.
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Includes near-term goals with clear action plans on how to achieve them
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Transparent
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Independently assessed
Want to know more about all things net zero? Look no further.
Until recently, carbon neutral was the term we used to refer to a goal that balanced (1) the carbon emissions an organization produces with (2) activities that reduce or offset its emissions, so the net result is zero. Net zero is an equivalent term that has gained popularity in recent years, in part because it is used in the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change that was adopted in 2015. Are all net-zero or carbon-neutral targets created equally? No. Currently, these targets can be based on different timelines and include different types of emissions – for instance, many companies do not yet include scope 3 (value chain) emissions, which are associated with supply chains and how products and services are distributed and used. There’s some good news, though: the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi ), which is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is working on a science-based standard for net-zero target setting. Having a global standard will make it easier for investors, customers, and other stakeholders to compare and differentiate between companies.
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Are there other types of carbon goals out there? There sure are: some companies are going beyond net zero by committing to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than they release. These commitments have been referred to as ‘carbon negative’ and ‘carbon positive,’ but we like to think of them as restorative goals. For example: •
Interface launched its first carbon-negative carpet tiles this year
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Microsoft has also recently set a carbon-negative target
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IKEA has pledged to become carbon positive by 2030
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Patagonia also has a carbon-positive goal
Do you have questions about setting and achieving a net-zero target? Contact Matt Beck at mbeck@delphi.ca
Take the carbon neutrality quiz! Is your organization ready to take stronger climate action? This quiz can help you find out if you’re ready to set a carbon neutral target or assess where you should focus your sustainability efforts.
How is your company progressing on its near-term environmental targets (for example, a 10% reduction in energy consumption or a 50% increase in renewable energy use)? A. Our organization has a strong track record of setting and achieving climate goals.
B. We’re relatively new to setting goals, but we’re making good progress.
C. We haven’t set specific interim goals.
How well is your current climate strategy integrated within your organization? A. Our climate strategy has a strong influence on decision-making, risk assessments, and performance incentives.
B. Climate change issues are considered, but are sometimes overshadowed by other business goals.
C. Carbon emissions are an afterthought or aren’t considered at all.
What’s your organization’s understanding of its current and historical greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint? A. We’ve developed inventories of all material sources of scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and we have a solid understanding of historical trends.
B. We track scope 1 and 2 emissions, but haven’t delved into indirect emissions from our value chain.
C. Our organization doesn’t measure its carbon footprint.
Mostly As: be a netzero hero Your organization already understands that the climate must be considered alongside other critical business goals. You’re ready to make an even bolder sustainability commitment and accelerate your journey to carbon neutrality.
Mostly Bs: you’ve got low-emission vision Your company has strong climate aspirations, but sometimes struggles with following through. Work on changing those Bs to As, and you’ll soon be ready to level up your climate commitment.
How well does your organization understand the climate disclosure practices in your industry? A. We follow our competitors’ climate targets closely, monitor industry standards and guidance, and we understand how a strong climate plan will help meet our stakeholders’ needs.
B. We’re aware of our peers’ commitments, but not everyone in the organization understands or values the business case for climate action.
C. We don’t follow other companies’ climate disclosure practices.
Mostly Cs: you’re a GHG trainee Your organization hasn’t yet put a climate plan in action, but it’s never too late to get started! Don’t let talk of carbon neutrality scare you off – a smaller target is just what you need to get the ball rolling, and every bit helps.
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green index Vanguard 5,000–40,000 MWh or 35,000–280,000 GJ or equivalent combination*
Ambassador 500–4,999 MWh or 3,500–34,999 GJ or equivalent combination
TM
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Steward 100–499 MWh or 700–3,499 GJ or equivalent combination • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Nature’s Way Morguard Vega The Printing House Royal Printers Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co. George Brown College Pattison Outdoor Advertising Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Flow Alkaline Spring Water Warren’s Waterless Printing Sanagan’s Meat Locker KingSett Captial Davis Alphawave IP Jazz Cabbage Gardens BLES Biochemicals The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company Muldoon’s Craft Roasted Coffee OMISTA Credit Union Rocket.Ink Greengate Garden Centres Value Village Righteous Gelato Ecotrend Ecologics Lac-Mac Just Us! Coffee Roasters The Bullring Community Foundations of Canada
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Eight Ounce Coffee JASCO Applied Sciences Laurentian Bank Provincial Credit Union Blackbird Baking Co. Trusu Local 15 CFS Dialog Bridgemark Uponor Go Java Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd. Geotab Upper Canada College McMillan Beck Taxi IATSE 873 Local Horizon Distributors Velocity EHS Hain Celestial Canada Morgan, Meighen, & Associates David Suzuki Foundation Urbanspace Property Group St Gabriel’s Passionist Parish Muttley Crue Grooming & Daycare Dominion City Brewing Co. ergoCentric Seating Systems Red Bloom Salon Mitsubishi Motors DJO Brookstreet Hotel
*Green Index tiers are based on annual purchase volume of green energy. Calculated as of October 31, 2021.
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First Capital CTI Working Environments Optimum Health Vitamins Creative Therapy Consultants Mills Office Productivity Ocean Brands NetX Holy Spirit Lutheran Church The Turn Lab Quadrangle VersaCold Logistics InvestorCom Diva International DDS Earnest Ice Cream MyPlanet Volvo Cars of Canada Greenpeace Malty National Terramera Wild Rock Outfitters Sunnyside Natural Market Colour Innovations Benevity Cask Global Canning Solutions Annex Ale Project Situra Inc. Hilton Vancouver Downtown West Kelowna RCMP detachment Peel Scrap Metal Recycling LTD.
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Toronto Zoo Jugo Juice Amity Insulation MKTG Urban Strategies Inc. Calstone Inc The Pembina Institute i2i Healthcare solutions Dalvay by the Sea Marketing Kitchen Caffe Beano Rain or Shine Ice Cream Garrison Brewing West Canadian Digital Imaging Eco-Max Canadian Green Building Council Jonah Group Ottawa Community Foundation Teachers Plus Credit Union Zulu Alpha Kilo Novex Delivery Solutions Nature Canada Kasian Architecture Moya Financial Nova Scotia Community College Clearstone Engineering Toronto Foundation Bartlett Lodge pb+j Manderley Turf Camp Tanamakoon DTAH
To view a full list of bullfrogpowered organizations and the details of their green energy commitments, visit bullfrogpower.com/greenindex the bullfrog buzz•15
Projects you’re supporting Our customers have funded grants for more than 160 small-scale, community-led projects, including solar panels on schools and in Indigenous communities, education and training programs, and cleantech accelerators. Here’s a sneak peek at some of our upcoming projects!
Solar Schools Canada in Halifax, N.S., collaborates with schools to develop renewable energy projects and related educational programs. We’re contributing $20,000 to their smart solar awning and e-bike charge station, located at Hope Blooms’ kitchen and community space. Hope Blooms uses agricultural and culinary programs to help youth improve food security and disrupt the cycle of poverty. Bullfrog contributed funds to a solar array on their greenhouse in 2015.
Fresh Start Recovery Centre in Calgary, Alberta, helps individuals and families recover from addiction through housing, treatment, and support. Climate action is top of mind for this recovery centre, as it allows them to lower their carbon emissions and free up more dollars for life-saving treatments. The bullfrogpowered community will contribute $25,000 to their upcoming solar project, a 366-panel system that Fresh Start hopes will inspire other nonprofits and neighbours.
About Bullfrog
Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola, B.C., is an off-grid community that currently relies on diesel for their electricity needs. Thanks to our customers’ support, Bullfrog will help fund solar panels on the Nuxalk Nation’s upcoming longhouse and/or on community-owned housing (at the Nation’s discretion). This project will reduce the need for diesel fuel, showcase solar on prominent community infrastructure, and contribute to the Nuxalk Nation’s energy independence.
Bullfrog Power, Spark Power’s sustainability division, is Canada’s leading green energy provider. Bullfrog empowers thousands of businesses and individuals to take action on climate change. Our solutions include power purchase agreements, energy efficiency services, and renewable electricity, natural gas, and fuel.
the bullfrog buzz Bullfrog Power Inc. Oakville 1315 North Service Road East, Suite 300, Oakville, ON L6H 1A7 Toronto 30 St. Patrick Street, Suite 600, Toronto, ON M5T 3A3
bullfrogpower.com Contact us: 1.877.360.3464 info@bullfrogpower.com @bullfrogpower Copyright © 2021, Bullfrog Power Inc. All rights reserved. Bullfrog Power® and bullfrogpowered® logos are trademarks of Bullfrog Power Inc.
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