Operationalizing Sustainability through Community Energy Planning : Operationalizing Sustainability through Community Energy Planning Laura Porcher Executive Director Community Energy Association www.communityenergy.bc.ca For FCM February 2, 2006


Slide2: Assisting local governments to promote energy efficiency and alternative energy through community energy planning and project implementation Mission FCM Tradeshow Booth #8


Slide3: Planning Institute of British Columbia Partners 2006 Who is CEA?


 Challenges & goals of sustainability : Challenges & goals of sustainability Key Challenges Climate Change / Air Quality Fossil Fuel & Energy Supply Waste / Resource Scarcity Water Quantity/Quality Supply Ecosystem Integrity Food Supply / Quality / Security Economic Prosperity / Viability Social and Community Health Sustainability Goals Reduce Emissions Renewable Energy / Efficiency Reducing Waste / Recycling Better Water Management Ecological Design / Protection Organic / Local Supply Diverse / Local Systems Individual and Community Health Energy is a critical factor in all sustainability challenges and goals


Timing of change : Timing of change Obsolescence Cycle of a City City structure and layout - subdivision & roads (75-200+ yrs) Buildings (50-100 yrs) Infrastructure (20-100 yrs) Landscape (10-100 yrs) Systems and equipment (5-20 yrs) Design determines sustainability in many ways Defines how much ($, E, W, W, etc…) it takes to keep you housed, fed, employed and happy – decades to centuries Holland Barrs


What is Community Energy Planning?: What is Community Energy Planning? Community Energy Planning (CEP): Consideration of energy supply and demand in community design and development Four pillars: Design: Land use and transportation Buildings: Site planning, green buildings and retrofits Infrastructure Alternative energy supply options


Land Use: Land Use Compact Development Mixed Use Design for Walking, Cycling, & Transit Approaches Development standards Development cost charges Policies and by-laws Demonstration projects


Transportation: Transportation Public transit Pedestrian and cycling amenities Car/van pools Alternative fuels ethanol biodiesel Green vehicles hybrid gas/electric vehicles right sizing Fleet policies


Buildings: Buildings Energy codes Policies to encourage efficiency DCCs streamlined approvals tax breaks Education / information campaigns For developers, builders, public Municipal buildings Retrofits of existing buildings Design standards for new buildings


Infrastructure: Infrastructure Streetlighting / Traffic Lights Water Conservation / Wastewater Reduction District Heating / Cooling Sewage Heat Recovery


Alternative Energy: Alternative Energy Biomass - for heating, electricity or fuels Landfill gas - for heating, electricity Wind Solar – thermal or photovoltaics Heat pumps – ground or water source Waste heat recovery


Benefits of energy planning: Benefits of energy planning Economic development & energy security Reduced energy costs Job creation - new energy & efficiency businesses Keeping energy dollars local Long-term energy security Healthier communities Livability Efficient communities Habitat & agricultural land preservation Reduced travel times Greenhouse gas reduction Demonstrating leadership and self-reliance


Integrating Community Energy Planning: one planning dimension: Integrating Community Energy Planning: one planning dimension Integrate energy considerations into regional & community planning initiatives, seeking energy opportunities: Integrated Community Sustainability Plans Partners for Climate Protection GHG action plans Airshed planning Regional Growth Strategies Official Community Plans Downtown revitalization and neighbourhood projects Green building initiatives


Community Energy Planning: Scale: Community Energy Planning: Scale Can be at any scale within the community


Possible outcomes from CEP: Possible outcomes from CEP Comprehensive energy plan “The full meal deal”- all aspects of community Integrated into community plan and working policies Single issue energy plan Energy component of some other system or project New energy-related program e.g: Access BC Hydro’s PowerSmart program New energy systems or infrastructure e.g: district system, waste heat capture, micro-hydro


About CEP: About CEP Starts with identifying community goals: Economic development Confront rising energy costs; save energy dollars Greenhouse gases; air quality Energy security Examines energy end-use, amount and supply What do we use energy for? How much do we use? How can we reduce? Where does it come from? Can we use renewable? Involves the community and partners in identifying challenges and solutions


Full CEP may include:: Full CEP may include:


Case Studies: Case Studies Whistler 2020 Sustainability Plan Integrated energy planning as part of sustainability planning; The Natural Step Systems approach Goal to move off fossil fuels District heating landfill gas, sewer gas, renewables Green Buildings guidelines and retrofits Flexible energy platforms, e.g. district-compatible hydronic systems Transport


Case Studies: Case Studies City of Vancouver GHG Action Plan Community heating system for SE False Creek Geo, sewer heat, biomass Buildings energy efficiency Transportation modes, vehicle & fuel efficiency One Day Vancouver … public engagement


Case Studies: Case Studies City of North Vancouver, BC GHG Local Action Plan Energy planning objectives in OCP efficient building design community energy systems increased use of transit, walking, and cycling Community heating system for Lower Lonsdale Mixed use compact development in Lower Lonsdale


Case Studies: Case Studies Dockside Green, Victoria, BC 15 acre brownfield redevelopment Entire site GHG neutral All buildings to be LEED certified Biomass (wood waste) cogeneration using thermochemical gasification On-site sewage treatment Cycle & walking paths, car co-op, harbour ferry


Case Studies: Case Studies Shoal Point, Victoria, BC Industrial site re-use and remediation Mixed use residential & commercial 45% energy reduction vs. MNECB Ground source heat pump Passive solar design


Case Studies: Case Studies Revelstoke, BC Community Environmental Strategy including energy and GHGs Community heating system using local wood waste as fuel, displacing propane Targets for municipal buildings efficiency Bicycle paths in all new subdivisions


Case Studies: Case Studies Wastewater Heat Reclaim, Kelowna, BC Wastewater treatment plant discharge used as low temperature heat source Heat recovered using heat pumps Used to heat nearby Okanagan University College $300,000 annual energy savings


Case Studies: Case Studies Vancouver Landfill Gas Utilization, Delta, BC Co-generation plant utilizes LFG 5.5 MW electric generation 6.5 MW thermal heat generation Power sold to BC Hydro Heat sold to CanAgro tomato greenhouses 33% expansion planned for 2006


Case Studies: Case Studies Hartland Landfill Gas Utilization, Victoria 1.6 MW green power generation Privately built by Maxim Power $250,000/year royalty to CRD


Potential partners: Potential partners Federal govt NRCan, Infrastructure, Environment, WD FCM Green Funds Province, e.g. Local Govt Planning Grants Utilities: BC Hydro, Fortis BC, others Terasen BC Transit, Translink Non-governmental organizations Private sector, financial instns, foundations


Slide28: Linking private and public-sector partners Services, website, tools, e.g. CEP Toolkit Showcasing, e.g. Energy Aware Award BC first stop for Kyoto Protocol implementation New CEA/Infrastructure Canada municipal outreach program www.communityenergy.bc.ca Assisting local governments FCM Tradeshow Booth #8


Conclusion: Conclusion Community self-reliance, independence, and prosperity can be greatly enhanced by addressing energy Many opportunities and benefits await The process has been clearly mapped with many case studies to learn from; resources are available An energy-smart community is a great community -- THANK YOU