HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-07-067 - Air Quality 2006 Best Bet No 31
h~TC~NER . , .
Development &
Technical Services
Report To: Environmental Committee
Date of Meeting: April 19, 2007
Submitted By: Jeff Willmer, Director of Planning
Prepared By: Barbara Steiner, Environmental Planner (741-2293)
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: April 16, 2007
Report No.: DTS-07-067
Subject: Air Quality 2006 Best Bet No. 3 -Reduce Non-Residential
(ICI) Point-Source Emissions
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
BACKGROUND:
In May 2006, the Environmental Committee presented a report entitled Air Quality in Kitchener
to Kitchener Council. The report was the culmination of a year of deliberations by members of
the Committee responding to direction from Council in November of 2004 to develop a long-
term, "comprehensive plan" on the air quality in the city of Kitchener. The report included a
series of (50+) Recommended Actions which constituted the plan and, in 2006, five (5) of these
actions (Five Best Bets) were put forward by the Committee for investigation by staff into their
feasibility. Kitchener Council ratified this committee recommendation on July 4, 2006 and, in so
doing, staff was directed to commence a consideration of the feasibility, and ways and means of
implementing the Five Best Bets.
Best Bet No.3 was: Reduce Non-Residential Industrial -Commercial -Institutional (ICI) Point-
Source Emissions. The report went on to make specific recommendations:
• that the City of Kitchener becomes familiar with-and refer ICI site plan and building
permit applicants and enquirers to-the up-to-date list of incentives and rebates found at
the website for Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Office of Energy Efficiency; and
• that the City of Kitchener becomes aware of informative publications and considers
making them available to applicants and enquirers (e.g. those available from Natural
Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency).
REPORT:
The Environmental Committee's report on Air Quality in Kitchener was the product of over a
year's worth of consideration commencing in 2005 and culminating in the tabling of the report at
Kitchener Council at the end of May in 2006. Early in 2006, a new federal government was
elected and a number of environmental initiatives administered by the Office of Energy
Efficiency were cancelled, coincidentally, also in May of 2006. Other initiatives were redesigned
and/or renamed. Therefore, for the last year a certain amount of uncertainty has existed with
respect to the incentives provided by the federal government.
At this time, certain funding programs reflecting the level of federal investment in environmental
technologies are more well developed than others, with some of the first revised programs
coming into effect as recently as April 1, 2007. It is likely that other new funding programs will be
developed based on recent government announcements.
The Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) has been replaced by an
initiative under the ecoENERGY program which started in April 2007. Funding has been
announced for the years 2007-2011. These ecoENERGY components are specifically designed
to provide incentives for retrofitting existing houses, small building and industrial stock, to raise
the bar for new construction, and to continue collaboration with industry on efficiency
improvements.
NRCan's ecoENERGY for Industry and ecoEnergy Retrofit initiatives are designed to improve
industrial energy intensity and reduce energy-related industrial greenhouse gases and air
pollution. They will be delivered through the long-standing CIPEC, a voluntary partnership
between the government of Canada and industry. Among other tools, financial incentives will be
available for industrial energy assessments as well as for industrial energy retrofit projects.
Other ecoEnergy initiatives are targeted at commercial businesses and public institutions to help
them increase energy efficiency in existing buildings through the Energy Innovators Initiative
where such organizations can apply for Energy Retrofit Assistance. This funding is available
both for planning activities (energy audits, feasibility studies, energy management plans etc.)
and implementation projects (lighting, heating, controls, monitoring and tracking, training etc.).
Copies of the publications available for distribution at this time are attached.
The most promising source of incentive funding for energy efficiency initiatives in new buildings
for industrial, commercial and institutional organizations will likely be through utilities such as
Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro who will administer initiatives with funding from Ontario Power Authority
commencing this spring.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None, or nominal to purchase publications.
COMMUNICATIONS:
None required.
CONCLUSION:
New federal incentive programs for energy efficiency retrofits of industrial, commercial and
institutional buildings have come into effect as of April 1, 2007 under the ecoENERGY series of
initiatives (see attachment). Publications are just becoming available.
There is a definite willingness to make any such publications available to enquirers and
applicants in both the Building and Planning Divisions of the City. Building staff conduct regular
education sessions with building designers which could provide an effective avenue for
disseminating information on financial incentives for (especially) retrofits for energy efficency.
Due to the emerging nature of such incentive programs, opportunities for incentive funding will
continue to have to be monitored by staff so that the most recent information is available to
enquirers and applicants as they plan and design retrofits and new buildings.
Barbara Steiner, B.Sc. Alain Pinard, M.A., MCIP, RPP
Environmental Planner Manager of Long Range and Policy Planning
Jeff Willmer, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning
Attachments
OEE website information: Financial Assistance for Commercial and Institutional Organizations
Energy Innovators brochure
Energy Retrofit (Planning Activities) brochure
Energy Retrofit (Implementation Projects) brochure