Southport Areospace Centre Inc. is now the first Climate Smart Certified company in Manitoba.

Climate Smart is a program aimed at profitably reducing carbon emissions. Bryce Taylor is the Manager of Facilities, and he explains Southport's Board of Directors brought forth the strategy placing Southport in an innovative position.

In 2018, Southport measured it's carbon footprint and enacted a few critical projects to decrease the overall forecasted carbon footprint. Some of these projects include carbon avoidance designs, a recycling program, and reduced paper use.

"I think the best thing that comes out of the Climate Smart Program is the ability to not just measure your carbon footprint but to see what your projects and changes do to decrease it," says Taylor.

A new hangar is being built at Southport and Taylor explains the original design called for 63 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, now that has been brought down to less than two tonnes.

Taylor adds the Centennaire South housing development also received a carbon avoidance design.

"In the next ten years through the Centennaire South project we expect to avoid 200 tonnes of carbon emissions," says Bryce.

Originally each home was to produce 6 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, now that is down to under 1 tonne.