Community Energy Plan
As part of the Town’s Thinking Green! Strategy under the theme of Energy Conservation, the Town has established a Community Energy Plan (CEP) that will guide the municipality’s energy future for years to come.
Background
On November 17th, 2008, Town Council received an introductory presentation from the Town’s consultant, Peter Garforth of Garforth International llc. Mr. Garforth introduced his team of international team of energy experts and outlined the approach to developing the Town’s CEP, stating “It’s the best global practices mixed with local needs. We’re creating a layout map for 20 or 30 years of energy evolution for the Town.”
The CEP will help the Town create a healthy, sustainable, energy-efficient community. Benefits of developing a CEP include energy efficiency, cost-savings, and economic competitiveness. The Town's goal is to reduce energy and water use; reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts and; ensure reliable, affordable energy for our growing community. As a member of the Partners for Climate Protection network, the Town has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The development of a CEP will help the Town achieve key steps in the PCP program, in terms of establishing an energy and emissions inventory, setting targets and developing and implementing initiatives aimed at conserving energy and reducing greenhouse gases.
On June 1, 2009, Mr. Garforth presented preliminary recommendations from the draft CEP Summary Report to Council, as outlined below:
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Implement a district energy system to serve the majority of growth in the Urban Area;
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Establish a community controlled Energy Service Company;
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Create efficiencies through higher density, mixed use neighbourhoods in 6 proposed scale project areas;
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Implement higher building standards expanding on the Town's current Energy Star® and LEEDTM policies;
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Adopt an energy performance labelling program;
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Promote alternative forms of energy supply, by installing a significant number of solar cells by 2031;
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Develop a large-scale passive village;
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Increase transportation efficiency through the promotion of alternative forms of transportation, improving vehicle efficiency and developing a live/work community.
The Town hopes to conserve energy through more efficient land use, community design, energy and transportation planning; building retrofits and enhancements to the Town's existing green building policies; water conservation; and infrastructure design. The Town’s CEP will also explore all forms of renewable energy, including district energy, geothermal and solar technologies.
Using energy more efficiently will make it feasible to add homes while minimizing the net increase in energy needs. The Town will strive and succeed in establishing new, innovative development standards that will promote self-sustaining growth.
For more information, please contact Robin Prentice by phone 905.478.4282, extension 1286 or email rprentice@eastgwillimbury.ca.