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## The Municipality of West Elgin
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## Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan 2014-2019
The Municipality of West Elgin has created and will continue to develop an evolving Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan as required under Regulation 397/11 of the Green Energy Act.
## Vision
The Municipality of West Elgin strives to be an energy management champion among smaller rural municipalities. This can be achieved by integrating energy efficiency facility infrastructure, operational efficiencies, and by encouraging energy awareness and knowledge throughout the organization.
The five year Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan has been designed to meet current energy needs and future obligations of the municipality. This plan specifically serves as a guide, providing a general direction in which the Municipality of West Elgin moving until which time a more detailed plan of action may be formed.
## Goals
1. To develop an energy management program.
2. To reduce the Municipality of West Elgin's environmental footprint.
3. To reduce the total annual operating utility costs.
## Objectives
In order to meet the goals set out by the Municipality of West Elgin, the organization is looking to fulfill the following objectives.
## 1. To develop an energy management program.
- Establish an internal energy management committee.
- Build our energy data capacity by using the LAS Energy Planning Tool.
- Establish and record key performance indicators.
- Conduct an internal energy audit to see what can currently be done for existing facilities/equipment.
- Assess current operating procedures and compare with best practices.
- Incorporate energy efficiency into all departments
- Raise employee awareness and communicate successes.
## 2. To reduce the Municipality of West Elgin's environmental footprint.
- Reduce our overall energy consumption (from all facilities and streetlights) by 5% from 2014 to 2019.
## 3. To reduce the total annual operating utility costs.
- Lighting retrofits are expected in the near future. On May 8, 2014, Council approved the purchase of 17 new energy efficient LED street light fixtures, Photocells and arms for Queen Street in Rodney. Dependent on a successful trial, the proposal for the 2015 Budget is to look at converting all existing High-Pressure Sodium streetlights in West Elgin to the new LED streetlights. A current estimate for streetlight conversion is between 5 and 6 years payback of capital investment.
- Integrate energy efficiency into all areas of our activity including our organizational and human resource management procedures, procurement practices, financial management and investment decisions, and facility operations and maintenance. As a major component of the operating costs of municipal facilities and equipment, energy costs will be factored into the lifecycle cost analysis and asset management analyses and policies of the Municipality of West Elgin.
- The Municipality of West Elgin continues to look for government programs and grants offered by various levels of government for replacing/retrofitting facilities and equipment.
- Time of usage is currently being assessed at our facilities. Seasonal facilities are currently opened and closed to reflect optimal use.
## Current State of Corporate Energy Management
Important as the conservation of energy is, the procurement of energy can be just as important. Currently the Municipality of West Elgin belongs to consortium with other municipalities and participates in bulk energy purchasing through the Local Authority Services. West Elgin enjoys rate optimization for hydro and natural gas accounts as well as access to an energy tracking program. Gasoline and Diesel fuels are also purchased from local suppliers at discounted prices.
Buildings around the municipality are moving towards being automated and retrofitted with energy efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and upgrades that indirectly result in energy savings.
The 2014 Budget approved several newer fit for purpose pieces of equipment that are both energy and cost efficient. These purchases are being monitored for energy efficiency and effectiveness.
## Looking Ahead...
Seeing as municipal operations are not something that can simply be shut down, how we consume energy will be carefully examined. Reinforcing conservation behaviours and encouraging employees to take ownership of limiting energy use and to eliminate waste will become a new focus.
Energy management is a topic of discussion and will be integrated throughout all municipal departments. An analysis of energy costs and savings potential will be explored
The Municipality of West Elgin is committed to reducing its energy consumption and remains flexible to change that augment its' goal of becoming an energy management champion among smaller municipalities.