Month: February 2015

For Immediate Release
February 26, 2015

Bridgetown, BB – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is leading a trade delegation – featuring a number of local firms – to Barbados, St. Vincent, and Trinidad and Tobago.

“This targeted mission is the third phase in a focused strategy aimed at securing international business opportunities for firms in Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Ted Lomond, NEIA’s Executive Director.

“Operating in Newfoundland, the technologies and services developed by our firms lend themselves to use in an island setting, so these are strategic investment locations,” says Lomond. “Our firms are looking for international growth, whether that be through sales, distribution, supply chain diversification, or the development of new partnerships.”

Lomond notes this NEIA initiative is unique in that it has been driven from the outset by the common interests of private sector firms. “Over a year ago, our Export and International Business Network members identified the Caribbean as a location of business interest,” explained Lomond. NEIA’s Export and International Business Network is a group of firms in the environmental sector conducting business, or looking to explore opportunities, abroad.

The second phase of the project took place over the course of 2014. “Last April NEIA hosted officials from Barbados to establish personal relationships with key partners and to help them gain an understanding of Newfoundland and Labrador.” Lomond says that since that time, NEIA has worked with participating firms to develop individual market entry strategies, and with consultants and the Canadian High Commission to assemble a program for the mission. “This trade mission is the culmination of a lot of work investigating and confirming growth opportunities within these developing markets,” says Lomond.

While in the Caribbean, NEIA has facilitated – for participating Newfoundland and Labrador firms – a series of meetings with trade officials and potential partners in the region. “Our companies have been busy building contacts which they hope will develop into business relationships,” says Lomond. “The results thus far have exceeded expectations.”

On a broader scale, NEIA staff are investigating further environmental sector opportunities in the region for firms in Newfoundland and Labrador. “In addition to supporting the objectives of the individual firms, NEIA has a program of meetings in place exploring the potential for closer collaboration between our two regions,” says Lomond. NEIA is meeting with Barbados’ Department of Environment, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Canadian High Commission, the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the Barbados Chamber of Commerce, and others.

Lomond says the Caribbean mission is just one of NEIA’s ongoing international initiatives. “The growth of international business activity of local firms is critical to the diversification and strengthening of our province’s economy.” Lomond says NEIA’s role is to help firms work together to explore common markets of interest, where working alone would be cost prohibitive.

“Our network has independently identified a number of regions of interest to the environmental sector,” notes Lomond. “NEIA will work with these firms to help research, outline, and pursue international business opportunities.”

For more information on NEIA’s Export and International Business Network, visit https://neia.org/network/. NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the growth and development of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 190 members. Learn more about NEIA at www.neia.org.

Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
709.237.8190
kieran@neia.org

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2015

Gander, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is unveiling a new website at the Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador 2015 Conference and Trade Show in Gander this week.

GreenTourismNL.ca aims to introduce tourism operators in the province to practices and strategies that will enable businesses to contribute to – and benefit from – a greener industry.

“Tourism is a billion dollar industry in Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Ted Lomond, NEIA’s Executive Director. “Much of that industry relies on the beauty of our natural environment. It is important we are aware of the environmental costs of tourism and do what we collectively can to ensure it is prosperous for many years to come.”

But Lomond says the biggest benefit of a more sustainable industry is in the bottom lines of the operators themselves. “Greening your business practices is all about decreasing waste and increasing efficiency,” he says. “This means lower costs and more value for each dollar spent on resources. Green business is good business.”

GreenTourismNL.ca makes the business case for tourism operators by offering best practice information in waste management, energy efficiency, purchase planning, impact assessment, employee and customer buy-in, and more.

“Our site encompasses many areas of sustainable business,” says Lomond. GreenTourismNL.ca directs its visitors to the provincial authorities on each subject. “To learn more about waste management we point operators to the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB). For energy efficiency, takeCHARGE. For food service, the Restaurant Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (RANL). And so on.”

Lomond says NEIA is excited to launch GreenTourismNL.ca at the province’s premiere tourism industry event. “Working together we can build the awareness that ‘being green’ isn’t just the right thing to do for the natural environment,” says Lomond. “It also means a more profitable and enduring sector of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy”

GreenTourismNL.ca offers its content in downloadable PDF documents for those who want to take a close read, and is formatted for mobile devices for those who want to take a look while away from their computers.

NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the growth and development of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 190 members. Learn more about NEIA at https://neia.org.

Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
709.237.8190
kieran@neia.org

For Immediate Release
February 19, 2015

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is applauding the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for its investment in electrical vehicle infrastructure. The Department of Environment and Conservation announced today funding in the amount of $52,000 to aid with the supply and installation of five residential and 14 commercial electric vehicle charging stations in the province.

“Electric vehicles are well suited for our province,” says Lomond. He notes that when Muskrat Falls begins operations, 98% of Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy will be derived from renewable resources. “Electric vehicles will produce no emissions while on the road, and will be charged by a clean energy source.”

Lomond says the province’s rich supply of renewable energy presents a unique opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador to significantly impact one of its highest sources of greenhouse gas emissions: transportation.

“Over time, our provincial government can replace portions of its fleet with electric vehicles,” suggests Lomond. “This will create great value for the taxpayers. The government could achieve a significant reduction in fuel consumption and maintenance costs.”

Electric vehicles cost about $2.00 to drive 100km. Even a brand new compact car uses 7 litres on average or more fuel per 100km. At gas prices of $1.00 per litre, that represents a cost of $7.00 to drive 100km. Natural Resources Canada estimates the average driver in Newfoundland and Labrador drives close to 15,000km per year. “Fleet-wide, this could represent considerable savings for our province” says Lomond. In addition, electric vehicles have less moving parts and components then fossil fuel vehicles and require no oil or filter changes – meaning less maintenance.

Lomond suggests that the province could explore the use of rebates and/or tax incentives to encourage consumers to purchase electric vehicles. “Other provincial jurisdictions in Canada offer incentives to individuals, businesses, and municipalities to encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles,” says Lomond. “Given our renewable energy resources in Newfoundland and Labrador, this may be a worthwhile program for our province.”

Lomond recognizes that the appropriate infrastructure must exist before such plans are realized. “We congratulate the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on its initiative to help build that charging station infrastructure throughout the province.”

NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the growth and development of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 190 members. More information can be found at https://neia.org.

Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
709.237.8190
kieran@neia.org