The Town of Stratford is asking residents for ideas on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the community.

It's joining 11 other communities in Atlantic Canada in developing a Community Energy Plan.

The plan will include ways residents and businesses — and the town itself — can lower energy use and reduce their carbon footprint.

Stratford is holding a "World Cafe" on Monday night as a way to get ideas from residents. Everything from solar panels to town-wide energy competitions will be considered, the town said in a news release.

Mayor David Dunphy said he's hoping for a good response.

"We feel that our residents will support strongly this Community Energy Plan and that residents will participate and will do what they can, where possible, to reduce their energy consumption or consume energy in a more efficient manner, and get behind it and do what they can to make it happen."

The event starts at 7 p.m. in the Southport Room at the Town Centre.

Stratford has hired a coordinator for the Community Energy Plan to collect data on how much energy Stratford currently uses. The data will help measure any reductions once the plan is in place.

The plan, which will cost about $60,000, will take about a year to develop.