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City gets green light of approval for initiatives

Penticton has a new logo to sport on its official documents.

Penticton has a new logo to sport on its official documents.

In August, the city was awarded green community status by the Union of B.C. Municipalities Green Communities committee.

But the logo means more than just bragging rights, according to Mayor Garry Litke.

“It does increase our qualification for applying for green community funds, grants from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. We have been making use of that,” he said. “Everything helps. This improves our resume and it will improve our chances of getting funding in the future.”

Litke credits the work of the city’s climate action committee, noting ongoing work to improve Penticton’s carbon footprint and energy efficiency as well as the energy retrofit loan program, which allows homeowners to borrow through the city to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

“All that kind of work the city has been doing has gained some recognition,” said Litke.

The green communities status marks Penticton reaching level 2 in the Climate Action Recognition Program. To reach the next level, the city will have to achieve carbon neutrality.