Our Green Map Criteria

Our Criteria

Different Green Maps use different criteria to decide which places should be included on the map – and which ones should not be included. The main purpose of a Green Map is to promote sustainability and this should be reflected by the places that are showcased on the map. Well-defined systems for understanding/implementing sustainable development include the CERES Principles, the Natural Step, and the NEECHI Co-op Principles.

The Spence Neighbourhood Green Map is testing the applicability of the NEECHI Co-op Principles. The Neighbourhood Association’s CED committee had found these to be effective. The businesses included on the Spence Neighbourhood Green Map fulfill at least two of the NEECHI Co-op criteria* and recycle and compost.

The 11 NEECHI Co-op Criteria are:

1. use of locally produced goods and services
2. production of goods and services for local use
3. local re-investment of profits
4. employment of local residents
5. local skills development
6. local decision making
7. promotion of public health
8. improvement of the physical environment
9. promotion of neighbourhood stability
10. promotion of human dignity
11. mutual aid support among organizations

Click here to download a deatailed PDF of individual businesses and how they met the criteria.

The Green Map promotes sustainable development on a larger scale. For example, by promoting walking and biking routes to local businesses rather than driving out of the community to access these services.  The Green Map helps identify not only environmental, but also social planning issues, needs and resources in the community.

* Spence Neighbourhood is a pilot project for a community-based mapping process which will eventually be applied to other neighbourhoods and we plan to adapt the criteria to identify places for the broader Green Map based on the experiences through this pilot. If you have suggestions on how to change/improve our criteria, please let us know (Choose “Get Involved” and then “Contact” in the menu).