Develop a cool, multi-pronged ad campaign geared towards changing public perception about smaller footprints. Illustrate the personal and environmental advantages in hip, amusing ads that can be shown on billboards, buses, bus passes, etc. For example, ads that contrast the freedom and ease of a small, well organized space against the burden of a large home, full of furniture, junk and clutter. Make it hip and desirable to live in smaller spaces. Change the collective culture of our cities.

Community gardens throughout the city with produce available for those without yards to plant

Using the $50k it would be cool to set up a campership fund with a local summer camp and ensure that every kid in the neighbourhood had the opportunity to spend some time outdoors - at a residential summer camp or as part of an outdoor education program. Building a deeper longing for nature and desire to learn about how health, wellbeing and happiness are all linked to being outdoors!

Build a half acre (+) farm on un used school grounds in my community. The farm would grow fresh vegetables to sell to the community, and back to the school lunch program. The teachers and students could use the farm as an outdoor classroom, connect to the Urban Agriculture courses offered, and provide hope to school students looking for an alternative to the ol' 9-5. We'd use organic practices, engage the community, and become a thriving hub of community participation. Fun times getting our hands dirty, growing food and a future generation of farmers!

Air Turbin in design of your Vehicle! Create air intake system that funnels air through wind turbin systems as vehicle moves through the Air with the vehicle under electric power it can harness the wind it creates with permanent magnetic generators! Cycle this DC energy through Capasitor System and charge the lithuim Ion system, Thouse zero point return energy can be achieved!

With the challenges Bixi Bike is having around limited coverage of the city, why not pair up to expand the program across a larger area of Toronto?

I would have my company partner with SMART to bring our electric lawn tractors to market. A small multi purpose battery electric tractor that runs on only batteries and cuts grass, plows snow, tows garbage and recycling bins, power sweeps curbs and so much more. Our tractor under the SMART electric brand. We could help reduce large amounts of carbon emissions by introducing these tractors to North America.

Effective on a certain date, if you want to buy new batteries the retailer must require and accept your old batteries for proper disposal in order for you to buy more of the same. Retail giants have a huge role to play in this. Subject to flexibility of course. But much more strict rules on that poisonous stuff. Don't allow dollar store bulk pack battery sales. Easy.

In most cases water mains are installed under the road bed. Coincidently street lights illuminate the same road bed. Installation of pelton wheels (inline turbines) inside the water main would generate micro amounts of electricity that could be consumed locally (i.e. provide power for the street lamps). As the wheel would generate power 24/7 rain or shine. Adding streetside batteries would enable storage of surplus energy that could be used for re-charging smart cars!

Get the Building Code in Canada to require a shut off to garden hoses in the kitchen. A timer could cheaply and easily be screwed on/attached inside. Most water is wasted because people are busy and forget to shut if off, or too lazy to go outside and turn the tap off. Requires just an extra piece of plastic or copper plumbing pipe in new or older homes. Saves energy, water, chemical treatments, property taxes, frozen outdoor taps, etc.

Share green, yellow and blue boxes with a next door neighbor who also never fills their own. Less fuel and stops for recycling trucks, much less 5am noise, Then, on less travelled side streets let the trucks go down the centre of the street and collect from both sides at each stop, rather than using both sides of the street. They use mechanical arms anyway, and it could create some clean jobs while saving fuel and making the city more quiet.

Use a good quality hand towel to dry off after shower or bath. Any dermatologist will tell you a bit of moisture left on your skin is GOOD anyway. We don't need large towels or beach towels in bathrooms or pool areas and hotels. Laundry, detergent, water and chemical usage all greatly reduced throughout the entire system. Alternately we could just use paper towel and place it in our green bins for compost. Add: time and money saved. It's a no brainer that simply requires making a decision to change today which is instant and well "within a reasonable and practical timeframe."