Energy, sustainability and communities : assessing the potential for community energy planning in British Columbia

Analysis of the demand for energy services has traditionally focused on efficiency improvements to buildings and equipment. Yet, energy consumption patterns are also influenced by urban infrastructure characteristics which are largely under the control of municipal government.Community energy planning (CEP) is an integrative process that aims to jointly address energy,sustainability and community planning objectives. It is currently in its infancy as a planningprocess. To move from the realm of concept to that of practice , it is necessary to answer three questions: what is CEP? ; why should we do it?; and how do we do it?This study develops the concept of CEP into four policy packages designed to influence urban land use planning, transportation management, site and building design, and the use of alternative energy supplies . The " why" ofCEP must be answered at two levels: at the community level in order to motivate local action; and at a more aggregate level in order to motivate major policy shifts. In this study, the benefits to communities are demonstrated through a series of four casestudies which compare two alternative scenarios of development over a fifteen year time frame.Demonstrating the benefits at a more aggregate level is difficult , given the diversity of communities . By focusing on a single component of CEP, namely urban land use planning, it was possible to develop a heuristic for illustrating the benefits of CEP at the provincial level. The "how" of CEP is also examined at two levels: a conceptual level , to identify major legal, technical, economic and social issues ; and a practical level, to develop, through a case study, an understanding of some real-world problems and solutions . As CEP requires the involvement of municipal government in an area-not traditionally considered municipal jurisdiction, the specificlegal authority for municipal action with respect to CEP is examined.The results of the study analyses suggest that communities can achieve energy and cost savings of 15 to 30% and energy-related emission reductions of 30 to 45%. Investments in the energy sector tend to produce two to three times more jobs in the local economy in a CEP approach versus a business-as-usual approach. At an aggregate level, land use planning reform alone is estimated to produce carbon dioxide emission reductions of 17% at cost savings of 20%. Savings per tonne ofabatement are in excess of $600 . These results are relatively insensitive to substantial changes in the underlying assumptions, suggesting that uncertainty is not a significant factor in interpreting the results . The study suggests that the greatest benefits will be realized by bringing very low density urban areas up to more moderate densities through selective redevelopment.The implications of these results for municipalities and regions , the province , and the energy utilities are presented, along with suggestions for further study.