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Chief energy conservation officer issues 2007 annual report

Codes and standards are among the most effective ways to achieve the
province’s conservation goals, Love emphasized, saying the that Ontario
Power Authority (OPA) will be pursuing enhanced codes and standards in
2008. As a means of extending the provincial drive to the local
government level, he said he would be encouraging the appointment of
municipal energy conservation officers to empower all of the province’s
communities to conserve energy.

Love noted that Ontario would meet its peak demand reduction target of
1,350 megawatts (MW) in 2007, and that Ontario consumers have reduced
their electricity consumption by about five per cent per capita between
January and June 2007 compared to 2005. He also noted that the Ontario
government has bettered its own 2007 target of 10 per cent energy
savings in government buildings by an additional two per cent.

However, Love believes more must be done to reach long-term goals. He
believes the Ministry of Energy should develop a comprehensive,
integrated energy conservation policy for all government departments
aligning electricity policies with other related policies. The Ministry
should also issue regulations under the Energy Conservation Leadership
Act to designate combined heat and power projects, clotheslines and
solar collectors so that they may be used where there are restrictions
that would otherwise impede their use. The Ministry of Energy should
also raise the minimum energy performance standards for six appliances
now exempt from provincial retail sales tax to the highest levels in
North America.

Love also renewed his call, first made in summer 2007, for the
appointment of municipal energy conservation officers across Ontario:
“Ensuring that every city, town and/or region has a local champion for
energy conservation will help meet our goal of saving 1,350 MW by 2010
and 6,300 MW by 2025,” said Love. “Some Ontario communities already
have someone performing this function to some degree – every Ontario
community needs one.”

Love added that: “We must unify energy conservation efforts across the
province to include all levels of government, institutions, businesses,
and consumers.”

Municipalities interested in getting more information about the
municipal energy conservation officer concept, or that want to register
the names of their appointees should contact the Chief Energy
Conservation Officer at CECO@conservationbureau.on.ca.

The Chief Energy Conservation Officer and Conservation Bureau are part
of the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), which was established to plan
Ontario’s new power system, to acquire new sources of power, and to
promote a culture of conservation throughout the province.

For a copy of the report, visit www.conservationbureau.on.ca.