Codes and standards key to energy conservation

Ontario’s Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Peter Love, has said the Ontario Power Authority will be pursuing enhanced building codes and standards in 2008. As well, he will be encouraging the appointment of municipal energy conservation officers to help communities conserve energy.
Love was appointed in April 2005 to head the Conservation Bureau, a division of the Ontario Power Authority. Presenting his 2007 report “Taking Action,” at the Ontario Energy Network forum in Toronto on 9 November, he said he wants the Ontario government to achieve a “culture of conservation” throughout the province, and said codes and standards are among the most effective ways to achieve that.
Love reported the Ontario government itself has improved its energy savings in its own government buildings by 12 per cent over the year, beating its 10 per cent target. Now he wants the Ministry of Energy to develop an integrated energy conservation policy for all government departments.
He also said he wants the Ministry of Energy to issue regulations to designate combined heat and power projects and solar collectors under the Energy Conservation Leadership Act. This would allow for them to be used in situations where they might otherwise be restricted.
He said the province will meet its peak demand reduction target by 2007, and that the province’s goal is to save 1,350 MW by 2010 across Ontario.