Long Term Energy Plan is Big for Conservation Efforts

Today, the Minister of Energy, Hon. Bob Chiarelli, announced the Long Term Energy Plan for Ontario.

A big focus of the plan is Conservation:

“Key Initiatives

Putting conservation first will require a co-ordinated approach between the government, its energy agencies and electricity and natural gas utilities. By working together, new conservation initiatives will be introduced and the capability of Demand Response – a reduction of energy use to ease the load on the system - will increase.

Key initiatives include:

• Working with energy agencies to ensure conservation is considered first in their planning, approval and procurement processes. The province will also work with the Ontario Energy Board to incorporate the policy of conservation first into distributor planning processes for both electricity and natural gas utilities.
• Providing information and incentives to help consumers choose the most efficient products for their homes and businesses. Ontario will also continue to show leadership in setting energy efficiency standards for products and appliances.
• Making new financing tools, including on-bill financing for energy efficiency retrofits, starting in 2015.
• Enhancing the role of local distribution companies in the delivery of Aboriginal conservation programs, particularly for on-reserve First Nation customers.
• Giving consumers online access to their electricity data through the Green Button Initiative. Consumers will be able to connect their data to mobile and web-based applications that will help them analyze and better manage their electricity use.
• Piloting a social benchmarking program that helps consumers compare their energy consumption with similar consumers. Social benchmarking increases awareness of energy use and promotes conservation. 
• Working with Ontario EcoSchools, an environmental education and certification program for grades K-12, to bring more resources about energy conservation into classrooms.”

Minister Chiarelli commented that the programs are expected to be unveiled and rolled out by mid-2014.

While the announcement is short on program details, at the moment, this a step in the right direction.

Consumers need to pay the real costs of electricity so that they make the appropriate investments in clean technology and conservation measures that mitigate their risks, as well as push the limits on utilizing technology for productivity gains. Ontario leads in advanced manufacturing, and laying out a plan that prepares all consumers, is wise.

SustainCo will use this opportunity and our headquarters in Ontario to increase our investments in people, ideas and innovation and lead by example in creating a more sustainable economy.

We will lead in advancing thermal energy investments in communities and campuses, and using our design capabilities to design cost effective systems.

Sustainability is profitable!

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Thanks

Frank Carnevale

SVP, Strategic Developments & Communications

SustainCo Inc. – Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions