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Navigant Consulting
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June 20, 2014

The big take away from Obama's new rule to help cut carbon dioxide emissions was the flexibility for states to decide how to meet the new targets. Interestingly a Washington Post-ABC poll shows support for cutting greenhouse gases even if it costs money. When asked if they'd continue to support these sorts of regulations, even if it raised their monthly energy expenses by $20 dollars a month, 63 per cent, including 51 per cent of Republicans were still in favour of regulations. Canada was called out by the US ambassador who urged Prime Minister Harper to take action to combat
climate change as Canada lags on cutting emissions. Maybe the government needs to read this article on why the carbon regulations won't ruin the economy. It lists three steps, including the tendency to overestimate costs of new regulations.

How to turn their fear of being first into an energy efficiency opportunity

Regulation is often thought of as a dirty word in business. But we discovered

Regulation isn't a dirty word if it levels the playing field says building sector in CEEA survey. Photo by Pedro Moura Pinheiro

otherwise when we asked architects and construction companies about energy efficiency. In CEEA's 2014 survey 67 per cent of businesses in the building sector said they'd support improved building codes, even if it raised the cost of commercial real estate. This jumped out at us because we've also been hearing that cost is a barrier. Why is the building sector so attracted to what is often perceived as a nasty stick? It has to do with competitiveness and a firm belief in first-mover disadvantage. MORE BLOG

CEEA UPDATES
New Member: The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) has almost 1,000 member companies in a number of disciplines including ventilation, plumbing, heating and controls systems. Based in Ottawa, their members work in industrial, commercial, institutional and service sectors.

CEEA members at the EE Global Forum in Washington: Ian Morton, Summerhill, Kateri Callahan, CEO of the Alliance to Save Energy, Leslie McLaren, Roxul and Jay Nordenstrom, NAIMA Canada.

Consent reminder: If you haven't already, please make sure to click "Yes, I consent" when CEEA sends its next email reminder about Canada's anti-spam legislation.    

Ukraine election observer: We are proud of Isabel Metcalfe, our governmentrelations consultant, who took the time in May to be part of Canada's election observers in the Ukraine.

EnerQuality Workshops: There are three coming up in Toronto. Part 1: Advanced Building Science for Energy Star for New Homes, June 24; Part II: Technical Specification for Energy Star for New Homes, July 16; and Part III: Marketing and Selling, July 29.

POLICY BRIEF
Ontario
Election Wynne: Kathleen Wynne's majority win came as a surprise to many. Energy efficiency it was not a specific talking point, but the price of energy bills was a concern for voters. The Globe and Mail summed up the environmental perspective with this headline: Green energy sector breathes easier after Ontario Liberal win.

US
Ohio freezes energy efficiency and renewable rules: They were frozen for two years after utilities and major industries push for backwards step.

Europe
The EU's New Energy Efficiency Directive: Member states have a lot of work ahead of them to meet their 2020 targets. Some of the key measures the EU is expected to put into practice include compulsory energy audits for large companies and the renovation of 3 per cent of public buildings per year.

EE & BUILDINGS
Perceived building costs prevent conservation
Barbara Carss of Building Strategies + Sustainability writes about CEEA's business survey and how the building sectors shows ambivalence to energy-saving investments.

Advanced building controls save more than originally thought
A year-long study by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory says commercial buildings could cut heating and cooling use by 57 per cent with advanced energy efficiency controls.

PROGRAMS & FINANCING
Alberta energy efficiency incentives under development
Expected by fall 2014, a $25-million per year incentive program will help Albertans install new, efficient furnaces, windows and doors.

Manitoba Hydro has aggressive, new, energy efficiency programs
The utility's goal is to saving ratepayers $157 million over the next three years.

Hamilton saved $32 million in energy costs since 2006
The city continues to be ambitious with plans to improve fuel efficiency of city fleet vehicles by 20 per cent.

Program helps Mi'kmaq communities develop skills, save energy and lower costs
Efficiency Nova Scotia efficiency initiated the program, which reaches almost 1,900 households across the province. Each household is expected to save $180 in electricity costs a year.

China, US ink deals on energy efficiency
A number of deals were signed, including jointly training personnel in one of China's low-carbon eco-cities.

INNOVATION
Can China take over the LED market?
The evolution of the LED market has now created a price war with the Chinese moving against top players in the US, Europe & Japan.

App-reciating energy efficiency in a (virtual) apocalyptic wasteland
Aimed at tech-savvy teenagers, a new app by Australia's Skillset sets a game in a real community. Powerplay lets players rebuild their community and become energy efficient after an apocalypse.

CLIMATE CHANGE
EU energy efficiency review leak: The review is to be published in September, but a recent leak reveals some details. Expect a 40 per cent energy efficiency target for 2030 and a hope for theeconomy to grow by 4 per cent per year. The UK some eastern European states are not thrilled about the higher target.

Finland's first Climate Change Act: We're guessing Finland wouldn't have a problem with the EU goal, it has committed to an 80 per cent emissions cut by 2050.

Scotland misses carbon targets for third year in a row: The government blames a cold snap that had power companies switching from gas to coal.

AWARD WINNERS
2014 Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards: McGill students Fiona Yuan & Christopher Tegho won the $10,000 student leadership award. EnergyMobile Studios in Ottawa won $15,000 for the innovation award, and Solterre Design in Halifax walked away with $50,000 for the business leadership award.

Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada: A big congrats to CEEA member Enbridge, which ranked 19th on the Corporate Knights list.

Denmark wins EE Visionary Award: Presented at the EE Global Forum, its energy consumption hasn't increased since 1980 but its economy has grown by nearly 80 per cent!

EE STATS
Most Albertans support increased funding for energy efficient building upgrades: From an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Alberta Energy Efficiency Alliance (AEEA).

1,500 private sector jobs saved in Wales thanks to investment in energy efficiency: From Carbon Trust's office in Wales.

Coca-Cola on track to replenish 68 per cent of the water it uses: As part of its 2020 water replenishment goal Coke has set up 500 community water projects in over 100 countries.

Cape Breton District Health Authority to save $245,000 through energy efficiency: The results are from projects that included renovations to HVAC systems and LED lighting.