Climate Good
Learn about AMA’s climate commitment through sustainable initiatives that include a partnership with Project Forest, use of geothermal and solar energy, and recycling programs. We’re reducing idling time, conserving resources, and helping to build a greener future for Alberta.
We feel incredibly lucky to call this province home—and as an organization started by Albertans, for Albertans, our pulses race at the opportunities for its environmental protection. AMA’s commitment to climate good is multi-pronged, inspired, and mobilized throughout the Association. From our energy use to our printing practices, every year brings a new chance to do better and ultimately reduce our footprint on this remarkable and precious landscape.
Rewilding Alberta is one of our biggest, and certainly most rewarding, projects in the climate space. It’s our 100-hectare investment in natural carbon capture, biodiverse forests, and creating protected outdoor spaces for future generations to enjoy.
In 2024, we passed the halfway mark of our “forever forests” commitment, which will see the planting of 200,000 trees—about 247 football fields’ worth—in partnership with Project Forest. Two of our six forests were officially unveiled in 2024: Benoit, in Lamont County, and Flatbush, in northern Alberta. Over their lifetime, Project Forest estimates these two forests are expected to capture 33,814 metric tonnes of carbon.
We were also honoured to support the planting of critical trees and plants in the new Wihnemne School Forest on Paul First Nation. As a proud partner of the endeavour, we worked with Project Forest to create a food and medicine forest for the young students of the K-9 school. The forest features nearly 600 seedlings, including culturally significant plants that will be tended by local youth. Guided by Paul First Nation, this project supports the exchange of traditional knowledge between students, teachers and three generations of elders. We love knowing that as the trees grow, so too will the children’s experience with nature.
AMA’s alternative energy journey began in 2009 with our Kingsway centre in Edmonton. From Day 1, the unique building has relied on the earth’s core for heating and cooling, ultimately requiring less fossil fuel.
Consider this: if you compare a building similar in size with no geothermal system, the Kingsway building consumes nearly six times less natural gas in a year! It’s pretty special nowadays, but was truly amazing for its time, as geothermal wasn’t commonly considered back then.
Unfortunately, Kingsway’s heat pumps—which are among the main components of the geothermal system—carry high electricity demand. So, in 2024, we began the engineering and procurement process to install solar panels on the main roof and parkade. Thanks to these solar arrays, which will be installed in early 2025, we anticipate offsetting 18% of our electrical consumption at the centre—the equivalent of producing approximately 32 homes’ electricity for an entire year! It’s an exciting example of how heat pumps and renewable energy can create energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
In sunny Medicine Hat, where we’ve initiated plans for a similar solar array, we expect to offset as much as 90% of electrical consumption. At this smaller AMA centre, that’s the equivalent of producing approximately eight homes’ electricity for a year!
We anticipate offsetting 18% of our electrical consumption at the Kingsway centre and up to 90% of our electrical consumption at the Medicine Hat centre for a combined total of the equivalent of approximately 40 homes’ electricity for an entire year!
Every year, our member-exclusive Shredding and Electronics Recycling events are key parts of our climate commitment. These programs empower members to divert waste from landfills, save trees, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and recover such resources as metals, glass and plastic to make new products—all while helping protect their data and guard against identity theft.
Like many large organizations, we’ve been guilty of too much printing, too few digital alternatives, and too neutral a stance on paper use. But we’ve been working hard to change that, both through offsets, process changes, and more sustainable practices around printed materials.
From an impact perspective, it’s about doing our part to reduce deforestation, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease the water and energy usage associated with paper production.
AMA Insurance is a strong example of these efforts. As of November 2024, the department has moved 25.5% of payments to Electronic Funds Transfer—up from just 8% in 2022. And DocuSign, which saves an average of 15 sheets of paper per agreement, was used 4,406 times, which is more than double its use versus 2022.
Since 2022, AMA has additionally used PrintReleaf Exchange to mitigate our Association-wide paper consumption through reforestation. Between January and December 2024, we consumed 17,367 lbs of paper, which is equivalent to 71 metric tonnes of CO2e. Thanks to this program, our impact on the environment was mitigated by the planting of 209 new trees.
25.5%
As of November 2024, AMA Insurance has moved 25.5% of payments to Electronic Funds Transfer—up from just 8% in 2022.
4,406
DocuSign, which saves an average of 15 sheets of paper per agreement, was used 4,406 times, which is more than double its use versus 2022.
209
Thanks to the PrintReleaf Exchange program, our impact on the environment was mitigated by the planting of 209 new trees.
Our evergreening program ensures that every retired desktop, laptop, monitor and printer at AMA is sustainably recycled, refurbished or rehomed. It’s about keeping electronics out of landfills, while helping put much-needed equipment into the hands of Albertans who need it.
Throughout the year, retired AMA machines and accessories are meticulously wiped clean by our IT team and donated to Computers for Schools (CFS), a not-for-profit organization that supports youth, Indigenous communities, new Canadians, low-income parents, libraries, and not-for-profit organizations. Because we believe every Albertan deserves equal access to these critical learning and development tools.
Conscious consumption is a powerful tool for environmental change—especially in areas with a heavier carbon footprint. By taking a mindful approach to everything from idling times to the types of vehicles used in our fleet, we hope to empower our team to be part of the solution. It’s about driving the buy-in for sustainable practices and supporting climate good.
In late 2022, Roadside Assistance set a target to reduce fleet idling time from 40% to 20% by 2025. A new “conscious idling” policy was created and, as of November 2024, our average idle time had already dropped to 15.92%.
Adding four electric vehicles to our Roadside and Driver Education fleets has made a smaller impact, comparatively, but one we’ll see grow as we bring on more EVs. In 2024, the vehicles collectively reduced AMA’s greenhouse gas emissions by 52 metric tonnes of CO2e, which is the equivalent of saving 2,389 propane cylinders for your barbecue!
