The NewsRoom

2009/104 (a)

Backgrounder

Integrated Community Energy Solutions

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Integrated Community Energy Solutions (ICES) are the next step towards smart and sustainable use of our energy resources in communities across Canada.

ICES takes a holistic approach to how we can better manage energy consumption, and considers the cleanest and most efficient ways energy can be supplied and consumed across an entire neighbourhood or community, rather than assessing an individual house or building.

ICES considers all aspects of energy supply and demand in a community, for example, houses and other buildings are built not only to high standards of efficiency, but may be positioned to take advantage of the energy of the sun. They may include district heating systems that incorporate renewable energy, or use waste heat from industry to supply heat to other buildings in the community.

ICES communities may also reduce energy used for transportation by situating residential and commercial buildings close to transit hubs, and dedicated pedestrian and cycling routes to encourage walking, cycling and use of public transit.

This approach to energy efficiency can achieve significant reductions in energy consumption — which means lower energy costs for business and consumers, as well as reductions of as much as 40 to 50 percent in greenhouse gas emissions on a community-wide basis over the long term.
These and other economic and environmental benefits are increasing interest in an ICES approach around the world.

In Canada, a growing number of communities are applying the principles of ICES. In Alberta, almost all of the heating needs of the 52 energy-efficient homes in the Drake Landing Solar Community are met by a solar-powered district heating system. The Dockside Green project in Victoria, B.C. is turning a former brownfield on the city’s harbourfront into a high-density, mixed-use community of highly energy-efficient buildings. Among other features, the development includes a biomass-fuelled district heating system, and a water management system that treats wastewater on-site and recycles it for toilet-flushing and landscape irrigation.

The Government of Canada is involved in a number of activities to advance widespread adoption of ICES principles, including the development of Integrated Community Energy Solutions — A Roadmap for Action. Developed in collaboration with a range of stakeholders including provincial and territorial governments, the Roadmap sets out how Canadian governments can work together and with other stakeholders to promote and support ICES across Canada.

More information about ICES can be found on Natural Resources Canada’s Web site at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/communities-government/ices.

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Media may contact:

Jocelyne Turner
Parliamentary Secretary
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
(613) 996-2007

Or

Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.