Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 18/05) - A committee group tasked to investigate how to curb the city's energy consumption says city council should hire an energy co-ordinator next year.

Energy planning committee recommendations to the city: Reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from city operations and facilities by 20 per cent over 10 years. Increase transit use and encourage greater local transportation efficiency. Inform and educate the public on climate change and energy issues. Apply for more funding to implement community energy plan. Create a fund that would finance "green" energy projects. Establish and apply guiding principles for environmentally sustainable communities. Create tougher building standards that require high standards of energy efficiency. Encourage use of renewable energy designs and technology in homes and buildings.

The city's community energy planning committee submitted an interim report Monday, attached with nine recommendations.

One asks for the city to reduce its energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent over the next 10 years. Another recommends the city establish a "green" fund, with help perhaps from the territorial and federal governments, to aid Yellowknifers with heating upgrades at home for better savings on their energy bills.

The group also wants the city to implement tougher building standards so newer homes, particularly prefabricated ones, won't waste energy.

"The building standards are quite old," said Andrew Robinson, the committee's project manager.

"They haven't been updated in 15 years."

According to the committee, the city produces about 360 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, much of it from heating Yellowknife homes.

The group says Yellowknife residents spend about $40 million a year on heat and for electricity, translating into about 140 tonnes of greenhouse gasses or about 37 per cent of the total emitted within city boundaries. City Hall spends about $2.1 million on energy and contributes about two per cent of the city's greenhouse gases.

Robinson told city council to get the committee's recommendations off the ground they'll need to hire a $60,000 energy co-ordinator.

The group is looking for an overall commitment of $180,000 from the city for next year.

"Big issues can't be tackled with small budgets," said Robinson.

He said the city won't have to go it alone, however, as there are several funding sources available, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Fund, who have already committed $30,000.

The committee hopes to have $240,000 in place to fund the community energy plan next year, and $595,000 for 2007.

Council have yet to adopt an energy plan, and much will hinge on decisions made during budget deliberations next month.

Coun. Bob Brooks said if the plan is to succeed, council will have to show residents that putting in a chunk of money now will be worth it in the long-term through savings on their energy bills.

"I find people aren't swayed by moral arguments, they're swayed by energy savings," said Brooks.