Urban Energy Efficiency

Ottawa - Canada could save as much as $29 billion and cut greenhouse gases significantly by mid-century by applying new, integrated ways of using energy in Canadian communities, a new study shows. The Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow (QUEST) study, released today, looks at how the economy and the environment could be helped by rethinking the way our communities are designed and how people travel and commute. The study, prepared by MK Jaccard and Associates Inc. with input from some of the leading Canadian energy, land use and transportation experts, looked together at what would happen by integrating these solutions, using data from four communities-the Greater Toronto Area, ON; class=”xn-location”>Winnipeg , MB; Dawson Creek, BC; and Fort McMurray, AB; and scaled up its findings to the national level.

Instead of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, Canada’s cities could reduce urban GHGs by between 5 and 12% by 2050, by applying integrated community energy solutions. QUEST then applied “integrated community energy solutions” (ICES) to each community to see what would happen to the economy and greenhouse gas emissions if these were put in effect. These solutions include building more close-knit communities, adding district heating and cooling systems, improving public transportation and developing policies that enable people to work closer to home, cutting commuting. “The Government of Canada is pleased to have supported this study together with provincial partners and private sector organizations.

The study provides useful insights on how incorporating energy in community level decisions can lead to more efficient management of our energy resources and stronger communities,” said Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources class=”xn-location”>Canada . “Increasing the use of Integrated Community Energy Solutions could stimulate growth, create jobs and help to preserve our environment.” QUEST found that by applying comprehensive integrated community energy solutions, Canadians could: Reduce Canada’s yearly greenhouse gas emissions by 12 per cent by 2050, Save up to $29 billion by 2050 from reductions in overall direct capital spending, as well as spending on labour and energy, and Reduce spending on energy in households and in the service and construction sectors by billions more. “The QUEST study asks an important question: what if we do things differently?” said Michael Harcourt , QUEST Chairman. “It recognizes urban areas contribute up to 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions and that our communities and their infrastructures will all need to be modernized in the coming decades.” By looking at four different communities of varying sizes across Canada , QUEST has provided valuable insights into how we could benefit by using energy most efficiently, fostering innovation, and supporting integrated community energy solutions-both environmentally and in the bottom line. Our current sprawling, auto-intensive urban form is GHG and energy intense, and each year it looks more impractical, notes the study. It’s a wasteful development pattern which, if it continues, would lock in emissions and energy use for up to 100 years or more.

Integrated community energy solutions represent a better alternative. The study demonstrates that it is possible to save money, create jobs, grow the economy and reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously through integrated community energy solutions . Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow (QUEST) is a collaborative of key players across class=”xn-location”>Canada from industry, environmental movement, governments, academia and consulting community that are encouraging all levels of government, industry and citizens to support integrated approaches to providing energy services in communities.

The full report is available at: href=”http://www.questcanada.org/publications” title=”http://www.questcanada.org/publications”> href=”http://www.questcanada.org/publications” target=”_blank” title=”http://www.questcanada.org/publications”>www.questcanada.org/publications