Innovation in Neighbourhood ScaleEnergy Planning: Examples and Lessons Learned in Canada

Devin Causley MCIP RPPManager Climate Change Programs (on leave)Federation of Canadian Municipalities

October 29, 2013Thriving Neighbourhoods Conference

Outline• Provide stories of innovate innovative projects

happening at the local government level. Could these projects our experiences be replicated in Australia– Comparing Australia and Canada – Canadian energy context– Project examples– Lessons learned

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities

FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters the development of sustainable communities to improve quality of life by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government.

• Our members

• Our mission

• Our purpose

• Our philosophy

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Municipalities in the Fiscal Landscape

Out of every tax dollar collected, only eight cents goes to municipal governments.

Municipal Responsibilities

•Transportation•Water•Waste•Recreation•Housing

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• Circular population• Urban concentrations• Vast unpopulated land• Natural resource rich• Cooling focused• Energy policy?

• Linear population • Urban concentrations• Vast unpopulated land• Natural resource rich • Heating focused – changing• No national energy policy

Common Energy Systems

Legacy• Large scale central

generation plants – coal, gas, nuclear, hydroelectric dams

• Expensive to run and maintain

• Large, complex transmission grids

• Flick of the switch systems - out of sight out of mind

Future• Experimenting regionally

with renewables• Varied approaches with

carbon pricing• Rising demand• Vulnerability to climate /

weather events• Utility structures vary by

province – regulated / deregulated

Trends in Canada

• Diminished role of federal government – increased role of provincial and local.

• Regional approaches to energy.• Provincial requirements for local

government to conduct energy / climate change planning.

• Increasing awareness by local government of energy issues / opportunities.

• Feed-in-Tarrif programs.

Do you know how much your community spends on energy each year?

Yes (37.5%) - No (62.5%)

Financial Drivers

Population Local Government Corporate Energy Expenditures ($)

Total Community Energy Expenditures ($)

under 5,000 200,000 8 .9 million

under 10,000 300,000 30 million

10,000 to 50,000 970,000 97 million

50,000 to 100,000 2 million 105 million

100,000 to 500,000 7,5 million 600 million

500,000 to 1 million 10 million 470 million

more than 1 million 100 million 3 ,7 billion

Projects

Solar-Powered LaptopsSierra Leone, Africa

Integrated Community Energy Systems

What

•Integration – of land-use, transportation, energy, waste, water wand waste systems and planning to support energy efficiency

Why

•In order to address energy management it must be understood as a system from source to consumption. All stakeholders must be engaged to develop modern energy systems.

Who

•Local governments, utilities and developers (i.e. City of Vancouver,

• Supported by Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow (QUEST) and Natural Resources Canada

Learned

•Clearly identifying and articulating the concept with examples

•Concepts of efficiency and generation can and should be combined

© One Laptop Per Child© One Laptop Per Child

City of VancouverSoutheast False Creek

• Redevelopment of former industrial lands

• Olympic village site• Mixed use up to 13,000 people• District heating from sewage• Energy efficient buildings• Integration of transit and active

mobility

Community Energy Mapping

What

•Visually representing supplies and demands of energy on a map involving interactive community participation

Why

•Enables decision makers and stakeholders to understand local energy demands and supplies

•Supported by Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Urban Institute

Who

•City of North Vancouver, City of London, City of Calgary, City of Barrie

Learned

•Many energy demands can be met through local sources

•Engaging the community in an understanding of energy use in their community

•Issues of data modelling, integration and appropriate scale of data representation

© One Laptop Per Child© One Laptop Per Child

City of North VancouverEnergy Mapping

• Building upon already successful district energy and development incentive programs

• Spatial mapping of energy supplies demands

• Interactive table top exercise• GIS based and hands on

District Energy

What

•Centralized generation of heating or cooling and / or Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

•A re-emerging technology

Why

•Alternative means of heating or cooling using a variety of flexible feedstocks.

•Increased understanding of the value of thermal grids including CHP

Who

•Local governments large and small

•Vancouver, Revelstoke, Calgary, Toronto, Hamilton, Markham, North Vancouver, Guelph

Learned

•There are a variety of ownership and operation models

•District energy can be operated as a utility be LGs and generate a new revenue source

•Regulatory, technology and skills challenges exist and vary by jurisdiction

© One Laptop Per Child© One Laptop Per Child

City of TorontoDeep Lake Water Cooling

• Deep lake water heat exchange system

• District cooling loop serving over 30 facilities

• Operated by Enwave with City of Toronto as one of two shareholders

• City benefits – reduced energy consumption, GHG emissions

© One Laptop Per Child© One Laptop Per Child

Town of Ritchot, ManitobaIle des Chenes Arena Geothermal System

• Geothermal heating and cooling system for three facilities

• Expanding to connect other buildings

• Community of 5,400

Renewable Energy - Solar

What

•Solare thermal for hot water and solar PV for power.

•Small scale to large format solar farms

•Variety of technologies

Why

•Provincial FIT program incentives in several provinces

•Falling cost of solar panels – coming close to grid parity

•High solar exposure for most of Canada

Who

•City of Markham, Town of Nicolet, City of Guelph

Learned

•Provincial incentives may be required to establish an industry

•Local governments can benefit best through a community energy plan

•Solar is well suited to support a variety of municipal facilities including off grid facilities

© One Laptop Per Child© One Laptop Per Child

Halifax Regional MunicipalitySolar City

• Support the installation of solar hot water systems on residential units

• Property tax affixed financing • Turn-key service using

municipal financing• 1,000 units per year• Community GHG reduction

© One Laptop Per Child© One Laptop Per Child

Town of OkotoksDrake Landing Solar Community

• Built as demonstration project• 52 unit subdivision• Combines solar thermal and

PV, district energy and thermal storage

• Ground storage of solar thermal for seasonal heating / cooling

StoriesCity of Yellowknife (YK), Community Energy Planning

• Community energy plan• Mine geothermal project• Building bylaws (EGNH-80)• Biomass heating and LED

lighting

Greater Toronto Area (ON), Partners in Project Green

• By-product exchange• Green purchasing blocks• District energy• Four municipal partners

Lessons Learned

• Regional approaches to planning – Sharing resources, bring communities

together• Coordinated effort between upper and

lower tier municipalities• Combining energy and emissions planning• Integration of adaptation • Experimenting with alternative financing

mechanisms• Collaboration with utilities

Lessons learnedWhat is working?

• Large scale, mass engagement planning process – Sustaining momentum

• Over reliance on consultants for core projects– Poor RFP processes, project scoping

• Over reliance on external funding resources – Need for experimentation with alternative financing

• Plan and implement - demonstrate some early quick wins

Lessons learnedWhat is Not?

• Start with what you know. – Implement actions for corporate operations first. Then,

move to broader community projects.

• Maximize and share resources. – If your community lacks the staff or financial resources to

undertake a plan on your own, consider partnering with nearby communities to share costs.

• Integrate your plans. • Frame the plan around local issues. • Speak a financial language.

Top ten tips for implementation…

• Keep council informed and engaged. • Achieve two in one.

– If properly designed, plans and projects can meet multiple objectives (i.e. new regulatory requirements for emissions reductions and energy planning)

• Give the plan a home. – Once the plan is complete, it needs to be housed in a place that

has the capacity to promote and monitor implementation. The city administrator’s office is often that place.

• Manage expectations. • Report your successes.

…Top ten tips for implementation

Want to Know More?Partners for Climate Protection - National Measures Report

Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Green Municipal Fund

Knowledge in – Knowledge out

ProjectsThe most popular types of projects reported by PCP members over the past five years have been energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives.

The majority of the reported measures target GHG emissions attributable to local government operations, particularly those from municipal buildings and facilities.

11%

8%

6%

2%

2%

7%

44%

2%

3%

7%

8% Alternative Energy

Alternative Transportation

Anti-idling

Change in Vehicle Fuel Type

District Energy

Education and Awareness

Energy Efficiency

Parks and Greenspace

Policy

Vehicle Replacement

Waste Diversion or Reduction

Project Cost Annual Energy Savings

Annual Cost Savings

GHG Reduction

Payback(years)

Installation of a wood pellet boiler that provides heat to the Community Arena, Curling Rink and Pool facilities through a district heating system. (Yellowknife, NT)

$529,000 296,000 L Heating Oil

$138,800 79 tonnes/yr

3.1

Lighting retrofit at public library (Saint John, NB)

$35,000 144,000 kWh Electricity

$14,000 116tonnes/yr

2.5

Pool waste heat recovery systems completed at three facilities (Brampton, ON)

$84,080 220,000 kWh Electricity

$15,000 97tonnes/yr

5.6

Electronic entry of hourly employee timesheets initiated for payroll purposes (Saskatoon, SK)

$11,000 2.4 tonnes Paper

$24,300 6tonnes/yr

0.5

HVAC upgrade in the City Market building (Saint John, NB)

$15,000 31,416 m3 Natural Gas

$25,000 60tonnes/yr

0.6

Glycol fan cooling system installed to cool City’s computer server room (Yellowknife, NT)

$69,000 1,070 Heating Oil & 36,829 kWh Electricity

$8,650 15tonnes/yr

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PARTNERS FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION

Ice Rinks with IceMax— Saskatoon, SKFeaturesPseudomonas Syringae – powdered packets

Raises the ice set point temperature by 1°– 3°C.( Freezes water with less energy and for denser ice surfaces

Applied in 4 ice rinksOutcomes$ 4,250 saved/yr

170 day season for the rinks

Decreased energy use by 18%

140 tonnes in GHG reductions

PARTNERS FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION

Computer Shutdowns – Thunder Bay, OntarioFeatures

Installation of auto shut systems for computers at city facilities

Outcomes

Energy Savings of 102,000 kWh/yr

Cost savings of $10,322

GHG reductions of 10 tonnes/yr

Contact

• Devin Causley• Manager Climate Change Programs• Federation of Canadian Municipalities• dcausley@fcm.ca causleyd@rogers.com • 613-907-6370 0403 273 757