Colwood and Royal Roads University will work together so the West Shore municipality can become Canada's first "Green Learning City."

The city and university signed a memorandum of understanding to become partners on several sustainability projects, as well as on research and community education to help Colwood become carbon-neutral and energy-positive -- producing more energy than it consumes.

Projects planned include a proposal to the federal Clean Energy Fund for $3.5 million to create a model geo-solar development. A Royal Roads bachelor of commerce marketing class will work on "re-branding" Colwood as a green learning city.

Other projects under development include collaborating on waste- and energy-recovery opportunities for both the city and the university.