Description

The City of London is a participant in the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program, a network of Canadian municipal governments that have committed to reducing greenhouse gases and acting on climate change. PCP is a partnership between the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability.

The overall goals of London’s Community Energy Action Program (CEAP) are to:

1. Increase the local economic benefit of sustainable energy use through:
   • Cost savings from energy conservation and energy efficiency,
   • Revenue from local production of clean & green energy products, and
   • Job creation associated with product and service providers engaged in these activities.
2. Reduce the environmental impact associated with energy use, through the use of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets consistent with the Province of Ontario’s goals, namely:
   • 6 percent reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2014,
   • 15 percent reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, and
   • 80 percent reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050.

The following is an overview of the major action plan elements. Keep in mind that Londoners and London businesses – people – are the key to all areas:

1. Policy Support for Community Energy Action Planning
2. Reporting and Education about the Economic and Environmental Considerations of Energy Use
3. Single-Family Homes
4. Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
5. Commercial and Institutional Buildings
6. Industry and Manufacturing
7. Stores and Restaurants
8. Local Energy Production and Cogeneration of Heat and Power
9. Vehicles and the Transportation System

Within the action plan, information has been provided on the highest priority actions for the City of London in 2014 and 2015 and key strategies for the City of London to 2018.  Examples of some of the corresponding actions being undertaken by local stakeholders, as identified by them, have also been provided.

The pace of local action can be influenced by both the levels of funding and resources provided, as well as by more-efficient and collaborative application of resources between the City of London and key energy stakeholders (business and community).

For the City of London, this involves taking the actions outlined in the CEAP and developing this in to an ongoing Community Energy Action Program that is frequently updated and with results reported on a semi or annual basis.