Energy Management Plan

The City of St. Catharines' updated 'Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan' was approved by council on October 21, 2019. The Energy Management Plan is design to:

• Commit the necessary resources to develop and implement a strategic
  energy management plan that will reduce our energy consumption
  and its related environmental impact.
• Recognize our stewardship responsibilities in our use of finite energy
  resources and to demonstrate leadership, optimize our delivery of services, and enhance the overall quality of life in our community.
• Provide for ongoing energy monitoring and targeting of utility usage.
• Establish Facility operational guidelines and define equipment standards
  for City staff to follow.
• Set 5 year energy reduction targets.
• Recognize and allow for reporting on recent energy reductions.

The updated plan now includes a target for reducing corporate greenhouse gas. The emissions target approved was not mandatory and was intended to go further than what was required by Ontario regulations. The approved target is a 40% reduction in corporate greenhouse gas intensity by 2030 compared to the base year of 2011.

The target aligns with Canada’s commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2011, St. Catharines has been able to reduce its greenhouse gas emission intensity by 25% and the City has reduced its annual energy consumption by over 7.5 million kilowatt hours of energy. This is the equivalent to the annual energy consumption of almost 800 households.

Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan updates

• LED retrofits of Street Lights were completed in 2018, which has reduced the Cities Street Light energy by 62%
• An Electric Vehicle Charging Station was installed outside of City Hall in October 2018.
• Lighting upgrades in Seymour Hannah Sports Complex was completed in 2014, which has reduced the buildings energy consumption by 67%.

Previous 2014 Energy Management Plan & Reporting 

The City’s first Energy Management Plan was produced in 2014 to satisfy its obligations under a previous regulation (O. Reg. 397/11). The approved 2014 Plan and Greenhouse gas reporting is found below for insight into how much energy was used by City facilities at that time.

• 2014 Energy Management Plan
• Full green house gas report
• Condensed green house gas report
• Energy and green house gas emissions