Phase 1 - Community Energy Plan

This first phase of the plan examines current and future energy consumption patterns for the municipal operations of Dawson Creek. Once we understand these patterns, we can start to look at different energy options, and identify financial and environmental risks that could be faced in the future. On the flip side, if we did not identify these patterns, we run the risk of missing opportunities to improve efficiency and supply, which in turn will lead to increased financial costs for the city.

Working together with the Pembina Institute, we discovered the following:

  • Every year, the City spends about one million dollars on energy.
  • Every year, the City produces about 2,400 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

The City uses three types of energy:

  • Natural Gas (primarily for heating public buildings);
  • Electricity (used in nearly all areas of operations, but water and sewer are the biggest users of electricity);
  • Fuel (mostly for vehicles).

Once we identified how we were using energy, we began to look at strategies and actions to reduce our energy costs–financial and environmental.

Baseline Report

For more information, you can view the Pembina Institute’s complete Baseline Report (324 KB).

Alternatively, you may also view a specific section of the Baseline Report:

  1. Introduction (20 KB)
  2. Scope (28 KB)
  3. Data Sources (28 KB)
  4. Energy Consumption (48 KB)
  5. Energy Costs (44 KB)
  6. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (44 KB)
  7. Next Steps (36 KB)
  8. Appendix A - Data Tables (32 KB)

Fuel Costs

The City spends $160,000 per year on fuel, producing 500 tonnes of greenhouse gases. The biggest user of fuel is automobiles. Strategies to reduce fuel consumption include:

Green vehicle purchasing policy

As our current vehicles age, they need to be replaced by newer vehicles. We have committed to purchasing low emission vehicles where possible, and right-sizing the fleet. Dawson Creek bought its first hybrid in June of this year and has ordered 4 compact SUVs to be used by department supervisors. Previously, in the absence of a vehicle purchasing policy, these positions were outfitted with half ton, V8 pickups which used much more fuel than the new compact SUVs.

Anti-idling policy

As part of Dawson Creek’s Energy Plan, the city is looking at ways to reduce our green house gas emissions. The municipal vehicle fleet of 40+ vehicles is moving towards being an idle-free "green friendly" group, which follows Dawson Creek's commitment to reduce its energy costs and related emissions and the City's ongoing efforts to become a visionary community that works together for innovative social, cultural, economic and environmental vitality. 

Idle-Free policies have been proven to reduce emissions from vehicles by 15 percent and improve fuel efficiency dramatically. Long held and wide spread myths and misperceptions have fueled the idea that vehicles must be idled for long periods of time to warm up and that it is good for all engines to run. But in fact, even according to vehicle manufacturers (such as Cummins and Ford) these are just that -- misperceptions.

By reducing idling times or not idling, we will see an improvement in how our vehicle run, we will have to fill up less often, and everyone, specially children who are more prone to harmful effects of vehicle emissions, will breathe easier and will help us to meet the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, p. 23).

Other steps

Other measures include vehicle sharing (to ensure maximum efficiency), education for City employees to learn fuel-saving driving techniques, and a strict maintenance standard, knowing that vehicles run most efficiently when they are in top shape.

From the Pembina Institute's Baseline Report:

Electrical Costs

The City spends $500,000 on electricity in one year. Water and Sewer Operations are the City’s chief users of electricity. Strategies to reduce electrical consumption include:

Retrofits

A series of building retrofits will ensure existing structures use as little energy as possible. The city’s five largest structures were studied in August 2006, and recommendations for retrofits will guide future capital improvements.

We have also completed a street light retrofit. All City owned street lights are fitted with “dark sky friendly”, low voltage, high-pressure sodium lights which reduce our consumption by about 100,000 KW/h per year, a savings of about $1,200 per month. LED traffic lights have also been installed throughout the city and that has translated into substantial savings as well. The money saved will go back into retrofits.

On-site renewables

Dawson Creek is pursuing on-site renewables by investigating the use of wind turbines for the water and sewer operations, as the department is heavily dependent on electricity. Wind data is currently being collected at relevant locations.

From the Pembina Institute's Baseline Report:

Natural Gas

The City spends $260,000 on natural gas, producing 1600 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Most of that is used in heating recreational facilities. The strategy to reduce natural gas consumption is primarily based on solar heating. Even in the winter, Dawson Creek receives plenty of sunlight. The solar section has more information on Dawson Creek and solar energy.

Solar Hot Water

City Hall and the Fire Hall are now equipped with Solar Hot Water Systems, which supplement hot water for the buildings. City Hall also serves as a demonstration and test site for the use of these systems in a northern environment.

By partnering with the Solar Society of Canada, the City helped Northern Lights College become the first College in Canada to offer a solar curriculum. Starting this fall, students at NLC involved in the plumbing trade will be able to get a certification in Solar Hot Water Systems installation.

From the Pembina Institute's Baseline Report:

Bio-fuel and Bio-energy

The city is investigating other means to reduce its impact on the environment, including bio-diesel and bio-energy.

Bio-diesel Strategy

The City is committed to using bio-diesel, when locally available, through the adoption of the green vehicle policy. We have provided relevant information to the BC Grain Producers Association and their consultants and are awaiting completion of a study on the feasibility of building a bio-diesel plant in our area.

Bio-energy

Bio-energy refers to the use of forestry, agricultural and municipal solid waste to produce electricity and or heat. As this is a new industry in BC, there is a need to know exactly how much fuel is available in the area in order to determine size and number of plants that can be supported in this area. We are looking for a consultant that can do the feasibility study. Our hope is that the Northern Development Initiative Trust or the South Peace Economic Development Commission would fund this study as it would better position the South Peace for attracting a cogeneration plant to the area.



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Sustainable Dawson Creek is an initiative of the City of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada

 

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