Energy

The London Green Directory!

In Ontario as of 2018, electrical energy comes from 6 sources: 59% nuclear, 21% hydro, 16% natural gas, 3% wind, 0.5% solar and 0.1% biomass (according to HydroOne). By reducing our energy consumption, we reduce problems plaguing each of these areas. Less nuclear power use, reduces nuclear production residue, less hydro-electric power spares natural areas from flooding.

In 2015, Ontario produced 166.2 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Emissions have declined since 1990. Most of this emitting is from transportation, buildings, and industries. Ontario also has the third lowest emissions in Canada. Ontario consumed 32% less electricity than the national average. In London specifically, the total energy distributed increased 0.8% in 2017 to 178.7 gigawatt hours.

Ontario was the first jurisdiction in the world to commit to phasing out the use of coal power. Nanticoke, the largest coal-fired power plant in North America and Lambton’s plant, near Sarnia was Ontario’s second highest air polluter. Both influenced London’s air. In 2005, Ontario’s coal-fired plants produced as much pollution as 5.6 million cars.

Alternatives such as solar power, geothermal, biomass, wind, water (tides) and waste provide new options. Energy from landfill waste, ethanol from grains and electricity from wind and photovoltaics are growing in importance in Southwestern Ontario. A few places in London which provide solar energy equipment are: Solcan, SunTap Technologies, and the Solar Store.

A major provincial open-market supplier of green energy available in London is Bullfrog Power whose generators meet or exceed the federal government’s Environmental Choice Program EcoLogo standard for renewable electricity.

Table of Contents

Home Energy Conservation

Incentives

As part of the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada ran the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program until March 31, 2012, to help homeowners make their homes more energy-efficient and reduce the burden of high energy costs. Successfully reaching its goal of 250,000 registered homeowners.

Insulating and Weatherproofing

Area	Problem	Location of Draft	SOLUTION
House	Air leaks through cracks in windows, door frames and improper caulking. This can attribute to 30-40% of the heating bill.	Cracks through the thermal envelope allow warm, moist air to leak out and cold dry air in. This makes the house uncomfortable and can cause structure damage.	Caulk all cracks from inside (around window frames, baseboards, sill plates, openings for pipe wiring etc.), weatherstrip leaky windows and doors, install storm doors or insulated doors. Insulate hot and cold water pipes. Ensure upkeep on weather stripping.
Attic	Heat rises and often attics aren’t properly insulated. This is the easiest and least expensive area to insulate.This attributes to heat loss of about 10-15%.	Note: openings in attic ceiling should be sealed before insulating to protect against moisture damage.	Insulate. Suggested insulation values: flat ceilings, R40, RSI 7.0; cathedral and sloped ceilings, R36, RSI 6.3 Get a reversible fan for the attic, or use vent louvers or plugs.
Basement	Underground basements are often cold and poorly insulated. Accounts for about 20-25% of the heating bill.	Insulation is most cost effective when done with other repairs/remodelling.	Insulate. Suggested insulation values: interior R12, RSI 2.1; exterior R10, RSI 1.8 (both to min. 60 cm below grade)
Windows	Existing windows can be improved with caulking and weatherstripping.	Heat loss of 15-20%.	Upgrade. Windows should be double-glazed at minimum. Consider installing low-emissivity.
Walls	The best time to improve wall insulation is when renovating.	Heat loss of 10-20%.	Insulate. Suggested insulation values: R20, RS1 3.5

Adapted from Power Saver Ideas to Help you Manage Your Electricity Bill

Ontario Hydro

Air Quality and Ventilation tips: Use natural ventilation open windows. Install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) as directed by manufacturer. Keep indoor humidity level at 30-40%, lower in cooler weather. Keep vent grille, fan blades and air conditioner clear of obstructions.

Space Heating

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Reduce your night thermostat setting to 17°C – also use this setting if nobody is home during the day, use 20°C for when people are home
Close off unused rooms – reduce temperature to a minimum of 10°C and close heating vents in these rooms if possible
Close drapes or insulated shutters at night to reduce heat loss; open them during the day for sunlight
Keep air registers and radiators clean and free from obstructions
Clean furnace filters regularly
Have your furnace serviced annually and check accuracy of thermostat
Seal furnace ductwork with duct tape and insulate hot air ducts passing through unheated spaces
Close fireplaces and woodstove dampers tightly when not used
Keep exhaust fans in good repair – minimize their use in winter
Install fences, hedges or trees as energy-saving windbreakers
If re-insulating your home, determine if the furnace could be downsized

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Hot Water Heating

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Turn the thermostat on your water heater down to 49°C if possible (this is if your dishwasher has a booster)
Upgrade the hot water tank insulation to RSI 3.5 (R20) by wrapping it with glass fibre insulation
Insulate hot water pipes – cool basements or crawl spaces
Drain about 4.5 litres of water every 2 months from the hot water tank to remove sediment and reduce scaling
Turn off your water heater during vacations or weekends away
Fix leaky taps. At one drop per second, it wastes 800 litres per month
Using faucet aerators can reduce water consumption by 25-50% per tap since they add air into the water flow
Take a shower instead of a bath. The average bath is about 75 litres of hot water, while taking a 5-minute shower with an energy-efficient showerhead uses less than half of that
Wash your clothes with cold water instead, it will protect your clothes from fading and shrinking. About 25% of hot water is used for clothes washing, switching to cold water is the equivalent amount of energy saved for 220 showers a year
Using the light or short cycles on your dishwasher for easy-to-clean loads helps save energy; also letting the dishwasher air dry by opening it after the wash cycle is complete reduces energy by 10%. Always run full loads.

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Space Cooling

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Use awnings, blinds or drapes to reduce heat gain through windows
Ventilate your attic with outside air
If you have an air conditioner, keep it in good repair and do not set it lower than 25°C
Plant shade trees on the east and west sides of your house
Plant trees or shrubs to shade your outdoor condenser, it becomes up to 10% more efficient
Increase ventilation at night when air is cool and reduce it during the day to keep the hot air out

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Lighting

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Turn off all unnecessary lights
Convert to LED or fluorescent lights
Use low-watt bulbs whenever possible
Convert to fluorescent lights where practical and visually acceptable
Keep bulbs and fixtures clean
Install dimmer switches on incandescent bulbs
Use task lighting (a smaller light close to the point of use)
Make optimal use of natural light and track lighting
Minimize decorative lighting
Use switched, exterior lighting instead of dusk-to-dawn, motion-sensitive or timed types
When decorating note: ceilings, walls, floors and furniture with light-coloured finishes reflect more light, whereas rooms with dark colours absorb light and require more lighting
Use LED Christmas lights as they use 75% less electricty than traditional mini-lights and 98% less electricity than a 5 watt incandescent bulb

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Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

In 2014, Canada adopted new minimum energy performance standards for lightbulbs to align with the US standards, found here. By the start of 2015 all 40, 60, 75, 100 Watt incandescent bulbs were banned from import and production in Canada. National Resources Canada describes a standard incandescent bulb as the traditional, rounded light bulb we have been using in our homes for years for all kinds of uses.

Newer halogen bulbs use 28% less energy and has a 3 times longer lifespan of traditional incandescent bulbs. CFL bulbs (the common spiral fluorescent) have been in production since the 1980’s and have been widely improved in their operation. EnergyStar bulbs are said to use up to 75% less energy and last about 8 years, as long as a traditional incandescent bulb.

Finally, LED (light emitting diodes) have become more popular in recent years, from Christmas lights, to household use. They have many more advantages than the other light bulbs, the energy being drawn to create visible light instead of creating heat (like incandescent bulb do). LED’s are said to use 75% less energy than other bulbs and last 25% longer than traditional bulbs.

Since fluorescents last up to 20 times longer, they are ideal for lights in hard-to-reach places. They also do not generate extra heat on summer days. According to the Ontario 2018 peak electricity hours, and assuming a 25 bulb house, you would save $4244 annually by switching from incandescent to LED lights; switching from incandescent bulbs to CFL would save you about $3765 annually.

Use motion-sensor lighting outside your home to cut energy costs.

Appliances and Energy Efficiency

When the time comes to replace appliances, think of both unit price and operation cost (use the ‘EnerGuide’ label to calculate costs). Any energy efficient appliance may cost a bit more but pays for itself in savings.

ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models. Look for energy-efficient washers and dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers with the ENERGY STAR label on the appliance, the packaging or the EnerGuide label.

The lifespan of common appliances varies depending on type and amount of use. As a rough estimate, dishwashers last about 9 years, fridges 9-13 years, washers 15 years, electric stoves and dryers 10-18 years and freezers 13 years.

Ontario Rebate Program

Ontarians are eligible to save up to 25 percent per items (up to $500) except for tankless condensing water heaters and ductless mini-split indoor units (air-source heat pumps), for which rebates can be up to $1,000 per item. The rebate is available in stores and online.

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2019/08/energy-savings-rebate-program.html

Reducing Energy Use in Appliances

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on appliance use and servicing.

Refrigerator

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Avoid overloading unit – inside air circulation is important
Don’t keep the door open any longer than necessary
Locate away from heating sources
Thaw frozen foods in refrigerator to help keep fridge cool
Ensure cooling coils on back of fridge are clean – this is where the heat is released from the fridge
Leave space around the back and sides of unit for air circulation over the cooling coils
Check to see door seals are tight by closing fridge door on a piece of paper and trying to remove paper – it should be snug
Defrost fridge when 7 mm. of frost is in the freezer section

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Freezers

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Chest freezers are more efficient than upright models
Don’t buy a freezer with more space than you need

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Ranges

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Use pots and pans with tight fitting lids and match pot to burner size
Use energy-efficient double-boilers, pressure cookers, slow cookers, steamers and electric kettles when possible
Self-cleaning ovens are better insulated than regular ovens – in regular use, they will use less energy
Oven preheating takes 10 minutes and is only necessary when baking
Keep oven door closed – up to 20% of the heat is lost when it is open
Look for gas ranges with electronic ignitions – a pilot light burns gas all the time
Smooth surface cooktops, with burners under glass, use more energy
Keep drip pans clean – this conserves heat reflecting it back to the pot
Turn off the oven several minutes before food is finished cooking – the remaining heat will complete the task
Make sure the oven door seals tightly

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Dishwashers

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Clean dishwasher screen regularly
Only run when there is a full load and during “off peak” hours
Try ‘econo’ cycles – they use less water and energy
Always air dry your dishes instead of using the electric dry
If buying an “energy efficient” dishwasher, make sure that it has a hot water booster. You can then reduce your hot water tank to 49C

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Clothes Washers

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Front loading machines generally use less water than top load machines
Whenever possible, use warm or cold washes and rinses instead of hot
Wash full loads only

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Clothes Dryers

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Hang clothes to dry whenever possible – clean the filter after every load – clean the dryer motor, drum and pipes annually
Avoid over-drying – use automatic controls if you have them
Avoid partial loads
Vent your dryer to the outdoors – this uses less energy than when venting inside

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Check your home electronics for “phantom load” – products such as gaming consoles, plugged in chargers (not in use), and TVs can still draw power even when turned off. Any electronic with a status light or sits on a standby mode has a phantom load. Plugging these into a power bar can be used to ensure that the power is turned off or simply unplug them if not being used. Canada has regulated the standby phantom load to only use 0.5 Watts of energy according to NRcan.gc.ca.

Alternative Energies

Solar:

Sunlight can be used directly to provide space heating in buildings, and/or hot water; it can also be converted into electricity. In solar thermal electrical generation the sun’s energy is collected by mirrors or lenses in a pipe. The energy heats the fluid in the pipe to generate electricity. Photovoltaic solar cells convert sunlight into energy with a thin film which generates electricity.

Wind:

Used widely for water pumping, but can also be used to generate electricity for grid supply and remote operation. According to National Geographic, every kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by wind turbines rather than fossil fuels prevents 2 to 4.5 kilograms of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.

Wood:

A lot of household heat can escape up a fireplace or wood stove chimney; check the flue damper is snug and closed when not in use.

Planning for the Future

The Ontario Ministry of Energy’s responsibility is to ensure that Ontario’s electricity system functions at the highest level of reliability and productivity. The decision-making of this ministry is of prime importance to municipalities in protecting the environment, developing renewables, cleaner fuels, new ideas and technologies. Also, the fostering of a conservation culture for Ontario’s electricity future to protect citizens in future global energy markets is paramount.

In 2014, Ontario stopped relying on coal as an energy source. Our energy comes from 59% nuclear, 21% hydro, 16% natural gas, 3% wind, 0.5% solar and 0.1% biomass. Eliminating coal allowed Ontario to achieve their reduction target of 6% of GGE below 1990 levels. In addition, since the elimination of coal, our energy sector has been cleaner. In 2016, about 90% of the electricity system was GHG emission free.

The ministry facilitated a Feed-in-Tariff, a program that encouraged the use of renewable energy sources and the development of projects. The province has also encouraged the development of near net/net zero homes and buildings to reduce emissions using integrated energy solutions for heating and cooling, such as solar air and hot water heating. Other initiatives have included the development of renewable natural gas in order to lower carbon fuels, and switching to lower carbon gasoline and diesel. One large startup was Sarnia’s solar farm, making it Canada’s largest, with a capacity of 97 MWP.

Source: http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=english.main

Going carbon neutral by purchasing ‘carbon offsets’ is one way we can take responsibility for emissions created every time we drive a vehicle, take a plane, or turn on a computer. This is based on the principle that, as climate change is a global problem, an emission reduction elsewhere i.e. wind farms, solar installations or energy efficiency projects have the same positive effect as one locally. By voluntarily allocating cost to carbon emissions, you can begin to designate responsibility to those emitting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are regulated and taxed. This is an important step towards managing carbon emissions efficiently, reducing climate impact, supporting transition to sustainable energy and identifying reductions and savings. For several tips, visit https://cotap.org/reduce-carbon-footprint/.

Federal government transfer of gas tax revenues to municipalities began in 2005. This funding supports investment in environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure to contribute to achieving shared national outcomes of cleaner air, water and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. For example, in Markham, ON, they have used 50% of their gas tax shares to help finance its district energy system, an annual investment of about $8 million; and in Hamilton, ON, they have used a portion of their federal gas taxes to fund solid waste projects such as its residential organics program, construction of its central composting facility, and upgrades to its materials recycling facility. The federal transfer of gas tax revenues allowed London to build the Regional Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) which diverts over 35,000 tonnes of waste a year. If not for the federal funding, along with other sources, London would not have been able to build a facility that serves not only London, but other municipalities as well. This helps divert even more waste from landfills.

Ontario’s new Climate Act in 2017 provided targets and timelines for emissions that contribute to poor air quality. The Act also included strategies of renewables, conservation, land and natural resource protection, industry emissions reduction, education and adaptation. . National Resources Canada has a number of energy efficiency resources. Federally, Environment and Climate Change Canada has a two year plan, beginning in 2017 which includes regulation to limit CO₂ from natural gas fired plants, and reducing the emissions from other coal-fired plants in Canada.

There are two main sources of federal greenhouse gas emissions data collected. The first is the National Inventory Report with national, provincial and sectoral level data. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are all reported as well as an analysis of underlying trends in emissions since 1990 to meet its United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and toward the Paris Agreement. Internationally agreed to guidelines are followed developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change using 6 sectors: Energy; Industrial Processes; Solvent and Other Product Use; Agriculture; Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry and Waste.

The second is the Facility Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program which targets all facilities that emit the equivalent of 50,000 tonnes or more greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalent units) yearly. This represents only a portion of industrial emitters in Canada, a subset of the larger picture from the national inventory.

Ontario’s Climate Change strategy is found here. The strategy focuses on a high productivity and low carbon economy. Carbon pricing was introduced to Ontario in 2015 under the Western Climate Initiatives Inc. With a new governing body as of June 2018, this may change. Ontario successfully reached their 2014 goal of 6% reduction of GHG, compared to the 1990 levels. This reduction can be attributed the shut down of coal-fired power plants.. Refer here.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Reduction Target

2050 target: 80% below 1990 levels

Interim Target

2020 target: 15% below 1990 levels

2030 target: 37% below 1990 levels