At last, the light goes on... 

...and it's an energy efficient bulb

It's been 10 years, maybe even 30 depending on your point of view, since energy conservation was given any serious thought in Ontario.  During that time Ontario's energy total energy use and per capita energy use have climbed steadily.

It's the per capita use that is the most troubling.  From 1992 to 1997 (according to Stats Can figures) Canadian per capita consumption rose 7.5%.  The simple fact is we are just not getting any better at conserving energy.

Over the fifty years of the Conservation Council's history (the blink of an eye in the global time scale), total energy use has tripled and per capita use has doubled.  This is not a sustainable energy system, nor is it good for the environment, economic efficiency, or human health.

In the past month, we've seen two major issues dominate the media -- the Kyoto Protocol and Ontario's soaring hydro rates.  Had we been practicing good conservation practices ten years ago, both issues would have been easier to solve.  

Chris Winter,
Executive Director
The Conservation Council of Ontario

Kyoto and Konservation

Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller has taken the extraordinary step of reviewing the science behind the Kyoto Protocol, concluding that there is convincing evidence that the climate is changing, and that these changes carry significant socio-economic implications for the province. His findings were presented in a special report to the legislature on November 19.

While staying clear of making policy recommendations, Miller felt it was essential to review the science of climate change given the "numerous allegations that there is no scientific basis for climate change." 

See: http://www.eco.on.ca/ for the report.
  

Much is being said by the provinces about the sketchy nature of the federal plan.  The criticism is not without validity, however the pot should take some care when it calls the kettle black.

Environmentalist Tooker Gomberg is now in Alberta, where he has uncovered the "Alberta-Kyoto Solution"  (actual title: A Discussion Paper on the Potential for Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emission in Alberta 1988-2005). This document, published By the Alberta Department of Energy in 1990, clearly shows that Alberta could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 7% and earn a 30% rate of return on the investment. Download the pdf here: http://joe.k9k.net:8080 

Ontario's record on climate change planning tells a similar story.  If you read through Ministry of Environment business plans of years past, you'll find that the provincial government quietly dropped a firm commitment to stabilize emissions at 1990 levels, promising instead to develop its own climate change strategy.  Four years later, Ontario's strategy has yet to see the light of day.

Hydro Bills Fuel Conservation

What the Kyoto Protocol failed to achieve in four years, escalating hydro bills has accomplished in mere days --  the provincial government is now making firm commitments to reduce its energy consumption and increase its green power portfolio.

Among the commitments announced by Energy Minster John Baird on November 13: 

• a 10 percent reduction in its energy consumption, 
• a 20% renewable energy portfolio.  
• a program to convert 100,000 homes to solar energy over the next five years.

These are excellent initiatives, consistent with the recommendations the CCO made to the Select Committee on Alternative Fuel Sources earlier this year.

In announcing the government's intention to reduce its own energy use by 10% (and hence its own escalating energy bills), the minister issued a challenge to all consumers to match this reduction. 

We couldn't agree more:  Ontario needs an energy conservation strategy that will achieve a 10% reduction in energy consumption within five years!

Little detail was available, however on the type of support the ministry will offer consumers, other than a public education campaign, unspecified "support measures" and a tax rebate on solar panels.

The minister's announcement is a good start, but much work needs to be done over the next months to flesh out the details of the economic instruments, support programs, and public campaign that will be necessary to carry out a meaningful energy conservation campaign.

See the full press release on the ministry website.

Ontario's non-governmental organizations have shown strong leadership in promoting energy conservation.  We can play a major role in delivering the support programs and public education component of a provincial energy conservation strategy.

Homeowner Support 
Green Communities
Founded with the support of the Ontario Ministry of Environment local utilities and energy companies in the early 1990's,  Green Community projects sprung up all across Ontario.

Green Community groups specialize in home energy audits, a three hour comprehensive survey using the federal Energuide for Houses.  

Green Power
Windshare / Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative: Windshare, an energy cooperative, and its partner, Toronto Hydro Energy Services, are building
two power generating wind turbines on the Toronto waterfront.  Each windmill can power 250 homes, and you can buy shares!

Green Power Trade Show: now an annual event hosted by the Canadian Institute of Environmental Law and Policy and the Independent Power Producers. 

Get out of your Car
Autoshare -- Don't own, share a car.  Less hassles, less costs.  Use a car only when you need one. 

Bikeshare -- helping get cheap bikes into the hands of people who need them

Pollution Probe's Clean Air Commute: a public awareness campaign working with companies to promote car pooling and transit.

Ontario's Eco Summit will showcase NGO activities and investigate ways to strengthen Ontario's commitment to conservation.  To register, go to www.greenontario.org/ecosummit, or if you have questions contact Chris Winter at cco@web.ca 

 

Economic Instruments

The polluter should pay, right?  It's a well known principle, and it's often applied to waste management issues like recycling, hazardous waste disposal, and emission controls.  So why not energy?

Currently, if you want to use non-polluting energy you have to pay a premium.  It's known as being a "green angel". There's too few of us at the moment to get the job done.

Thanks to high hydro rates, all of a sudden conservation and green power has become attractive. But there has to be a better way and less socially-disruptive way of closing the gap between cheap polluting energy and clean alternatives..   

As a start, the Conservation Council has recommended a 0.1cent per KWh surcharge on electricity to develop a Clean Air Fund that would subsidize conservation and green power services.

Ontario's Eco Summit 2002
November 27, 2002, 
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto

Help renew Ontario's commitment to conservation!  

See www.greenontario.org/ecosummit for details and to register.

The Conservation Council of Ontario
Annual Meeting and Call for Nominations

November 27, 2002, 4:00 pm, 
Royal York Hotel, Toronto (following the Eco Summit)

We're looking for new member organizations and individual members who can lend their expertise and time to the cause of conservation.  In particular, we are looking for people who can help bridge the conservation/environmental movement with other sectors of Ontario's society and economy -- including culture, first nations, faith, communities, labour and business.  If you are interested, send a brief description to Chris Winter, Executive Director, at cco@web.ca.