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Climate Change – Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
What is Climate Change? Some describe the changing climate in scientific terms, such as measures of an increase in water levels due to flooding, or increase in fuel costs associated with transportation and heating. We also hear desrciptions of oral history, such as ice roads opening later and closing earlier and depleting berry patches due to temporal changes such as water shortages. Both descriptions relate to changes in the environment and weather, forming a view of climate change. Climate change is something First Nations understand and know how to prevent. Currently there are several Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) applications communities are using to reduce their heating and electrical costs. Actions include use of renewable energy such as wind turbines, micro-hydro, solar-air walls and photovoltaics, thereby reducing the amount of carbons (CO2) we emit into the atmosphere and reducing energy costs with environmentally friendly actions. Energy efficiencies are also a type of energy savings that will help reduce energy costs in housing and commercial buildings. Energy efficient applications can be done by simply retro-fitting existing homes with R-2000 housing applications or though commercial building projects like an ice arena heat recovery system. Larger projects include retro-fitting all the community commercial buildings with CFLs, higher R-value insulation and low-e windows.
In order to understand your communities potential action plan the first step is to assess the community’s energy consumption and demand. This is completed though a Community Energy Map (CEM). A CEM identifies the communities costs relative to energy consumption and demand, for residential, non-residential and transportation as well as the production of greenhouse gas emissions. It also identifies the potential energy reduction options, as well as the cost savings associated with the option.
If you’re interested in what your community can do to reduce energy costs and what action to take to prevent climate change then please check the websites below or contact Denise Verreault at (780) 483-8601.
Links:
CASA - Clean Air Strategic Alliance
ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities - Overview ...
Environment: Airsheds
Environment Canada - EcoAction / Environnement Canada - ÉcoAction
Home: Natural Resources Canada
RETScreen International Clean Energy Decision Support Centre
The Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE)
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