Municipality of North Cowichan Environmental Advisory Committee AGENDA · 2015-11-13 ·...

Municipality of North CowichanEnvironmental Advisory Committee

AGENDA

Wednesday, November 18, 2015, 9:00 a.m.Municipal Hall - Council Chambers

Pages

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Recommendation:

That the Committee approve the agenda as circulated [or as amended].

3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3 - 5

Recommendation:

That the Committee adopt the minutes of the meeting held September 16, 2015.

4. DELEGATION AND PRESENTATIONS

4.1 Coastal Douglas-Fir Conservation Partnership 6 - 30

Purpose: To hear from David Haley regarding the Coastal Douglas-firConservation Partnership.

5. BUSINESS

5.1 Community Energy Management Workplan & Reserve Fund Request 31 - 42

Purpose: To consider the proposed Community Energy Manager’s 2016 workplanand Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP) reserve fund request.

Recommendation:

That the Committee recommend that Council

1. approve the proposed Community Energy Manager’s 2016 work plan, and2. budget $50,000 in 2016 to fund these initiatives from the Climate Action

and Energy Plan reserve fund.

5.2 Corporate Energy Management & Reserve Fund Request 43 - 48

Purpose: To review 2015 projects completed under the corporate energymanagement program and projects scheduled for 2016.

Recommendation:


1. approve the proposed 2016 corporate energy program 2016 work plan, and2. budget $211,000 in 2016 to fund these initiatives from the Climate Action

and Energy Plan reserve fund.

6. NEW BUSINESS

1

7. ADJOURNMENT

2

1

Municipality of North Cowichan

Environmental Advisory Committee

MINUTES

September 16, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

Municipal Hall - Council Chambers

Members Present Councillor Rob Douglas, Vice-Chair

Cam Campbell

Reed Early

Katherine Garrah (arrived 9:14 a.m.)

Sandra McPherson

Darlene Walkey

Mayor Jon Lefebure (ex-officio) (arrived at 9:10 a.m.)

Members Absent Gail Calderwood, Chair

Staff Present Dave Devana, Chief Administrative Officer

Brian Green, Manager of Planning and Sustainability

Brigid Reynolds, Senior Planner - Environment and Policy

Michael Mark, Manager of Building and Compliance

Darrell Frank, Municipal Forester

Shaun Chadburn, Engineering Technician (Environmental Programs)

Kristy Convery, Records and Information Management Assistant

1. CALL TO ORDER

There being a quorum present, the Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

It was moved and seconded:

That the Committee approve the agenda as amended, to include a verbal report from the

Manager of Building and Compliance as part of item 4.3 Capturing of Grey Water.

CARRIED

3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES


That the Committee adopt the minutes of the meeting held August 19, 2015.

CARRIED

4. BUSINESS

3

September 16, 2015 - Environmental Advisory Committee Minutes

2

4.1 Coastal Douglas Fir Conservation Partnership

The Committee received a presentation from Dave Haley, local forester and Coastal

Douglas Fir Conservation Partnership ("CDFCP") Steering Committee member. Mr. Haley

began by explaining what the Coastal Douglas-Fir Biogeoclimate zone is, and noted that

it is one of the smallest and most at-risk zones in British Columbia. Mr. Haley showed a

map of the CDF zone, explaining how it involves North Cowichan lands, and discussed a

scenario that the CDFCP has put together to protect these lands.

Mr. Haley asked on behalf of the CDFCP that Council support two resolutions proposed

for debate at the 2015 Union of BC Municipalities' Annual Convention, namely the

Islands Trust resolution requesting the Province provide more resources for the CDF

Conservation Partnership, and the Comox Valley Regional District resolution proposing

the creation of a Conservation Tax Incentive Program. He also asked that North

Cowichan become a supporter of CDFCP and consider ways to support and integrate the

CDFCP's initiatives into the Climate Action and Energy Plan.

The Committee discussed Mr. Haley's presentation and decided that it needed time to

read and discuss his report. The Committee invited Mr. Haley to attend the next

Committee meeting and asked the Mayor, and possibly the Municipal Forester, to report

at that time on similar discussions held at a recent Forestry Advisory Committee meeting

regarding participation with the CDFCP.

4.2 One Cowichan Proposal - Solar Energy

The Committee discussed Council's September 2, 2015 request that the Committee

clarify its previous recommendation regarding One Cowichan's solar energy report.


That the Committee recommend that Council direct staff to prepare a report to the

Environmental Advisory Committee that addresses the issues raised in One Cowichan's

report entitled "The Cowichan Solar Capital of BC, Recommendations for Local

Governments".

CARRIED

4.3 Capturing of Grey Water

The Committee discussed Council's decision to refer the Committee recommendation on

the capturing of grey water back to the Committee. Council and staff were reluctant to

support the recommendation, due to insufficient information. The Committee also heard

from the Manager of Building and Compliance regarding grey water regulation under

the BC Building Code and noted that although not a requirement, the Code allows

installation of grey water recovery and reuse systems. The Committee requested that

staff contact the BC Building and Safety Standards Branch to ask for an update on the

Branch's work regarding grey water recovery and report back at the next Environmental

Advisory Committee meeting.

4

September 16, 2015 - Environmental Advisory Committee Minutes

3

4.4 Climate Action and Energy Implementation Plan Priorities

The Committee heard from the Chief Administrative Officer regarding the Climate Action

and Energy Plan Implementation and Monitoring Framework and the focus to reduce

corporate greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. The Chief Administrative Officer

indicated that he will begin putting together a "green team" by selecting a staff member

from each of the relevant departments to address corporate greenhouse gas emissions

and energy use.

4.5 BETTER OFF North Cowichan Workshops

The Committee heard from the Senior Planner, Environment and Policy on the status of

plans for the three BETTER OFF North Cowichan Workshops scheduled for October 17,

November 28 and December 5. The Senior Planner will communicate via email with the

Committee, to set a date to review the presentation.

5. NEW BUSINESS

The Committee briefly discussed a new Oil to Heat Pump Conversion Program established by

the Provincial Ministry of Energy and Mines. The Program will help provide greenhouse gas

reductions for the community. The Senior Planner will promote this program as part of the

Municipality’s BETTER OFF North Cowichan home energy conservation program.

6. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting ended at 10:23 a.m.

________________________________ ________________________________

Signed by

Chair or Member Presiding

Certified by

Recording Secretary

5

Presentation to Environmental Advisory Committee of the

Municipality of North Cowichan Part 2 – Coastal Douglas-fir

Conservation Partnership (CDFCP) November 18, 2015

David Haley RPF

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Overview

• Follow up to presentation on Sept. 16, 2015

• BRIEF overview of the approach by CDFCP and the model MARXAN

• Support of:

– Four (of 10) CAEP priorities; AND

– Municipal Forest management

• Next steps

8

Prioritizing Landscapes for Conservation:

Focal Indicators of Human Influence and

Biological Diversity

Dr. Peter Arcese Chair, The Nature Trust of BC Prof., FRBC Chair in Conservation, UBC

9

Traditional Goal of Conservation Area Design

Prioritize and Conserve ‘Intact’ or ‘Relic Ecosystems’

• Multiple criteria

• Decision support tools

Cowling et al. 2003

Cape Floristic Region, SA

Gonzales et al. 2006

Great Bear Rainforest, BC

10

Coastal Douglas Fir Zone

• 2,561 km2 in extent

• 49% Converted to Human Use

• < 3% Pre-settlement Forest-Woodland Habitat Remains

• 80% Privately-owned, unsurveyed

• 117 Species At Risk

Most ‘Imperiled

Ecosystem’ in BC

Vancouver

11

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

1964 vs 2005

Royal Oaks

Victoria, BC

High Urgency, Threat

Viability?

12

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/ibt/userfiles/image/photos/800/lewis's-woodpecker--tom-munson.jpg&imgrefurl=http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/ibt/site.aspx?id=N54&usg=__axq8BDU86a3zBE4xlL0O4XhcAiM=&h=961&w=800&sz=150&hl=en&start=8&itbs=1&tbnid=wadT-F_vzL4ADM:&tbnh=148&tbnw=123&prev=/images?q=lewis+woodpecker&hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Western_Bluebird_-_male.jpg

How Do We Identify The Most Intact and Viable

Sites?

High Native Cover/Richness vs High Exotic Cover/Richness

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How Do We Identify Mature Forest Stands

to Restore ‘Old-Growth’ in the Georgia

Basin

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Modern Alternative: Map Conservation Value as the

Distribution of Indicators

• 726 Point Locations, 1700 counts

• 29 Landscape and 5 spatial variables used to Map ‘Occupancy’ for 45 Bird Species

• 6 Warblers , 6 Sparrows, 4 Finches, 3 Woodies, 3 Flycatchers, 3 Swallows, 3 Wrens, 3 Thrushes, 2 Corvids, Hummer, Vireo, Kinglet, Creeper, Nuthatch, Chickadee, Tanager, Blackbird, Eagle

Victoria

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Marxan Lets us Prioritize Parcels with High

Biodiversity but Low Assessed Value or

Opportunity Cost

• Optimizes Reserve

Designs as Constrained

Problems to Create

‘Portfolios’ of Candidate

Parcels

• Engages with

Stakeholders to Define

Consensus Planning

Goals

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Species or Other Valued Feature

Score Based on Richness:

1) One Site 2 (7 spp)

2) Two Sites 2,3 (7 & 6 spp)

3) ‘Minimum Set’ 2,3,7 & 6 needed to represent all 11

spp or elements

8 Candidate Sites

11 Focal Features

From Scoring to Complimentarity

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Complimentarity: Contribution of a Site

to Otherwise Unrepresented Features

Species or Other Valued Feature

Sites 3 & 7 offer a

more efficient

‘Minimum Set’

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What can Marxan do?

• Identifies areas that meet targets for a range of input features while minimizing ``cost``

• Employs complementarity to create dramatic efficiencies in biodiversity conservation by co-locating features of interest

• Can maximise compactness by minimizing boundary length

• Can incorporate layers representing ecological processes, threats and condition

• Decision-support, not a decision-maker

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17% Target

20

50% Target

21

17% Target

with ALR

providing

connectivity,

ecosystem

services

22

Going Forward

• Improving Data Inputs Based on Community Consultation

• Working with Local Governments (LG) to Facilitate Outcomes

• Exploring Stewardship Options with Conservancies and Private Land Owners

• Expanding Efforts to the Salish Sea Region to Enhance Trans-boundary Planning

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North Pacific Landscape Conservation

Cooperative

Goals 1) Expand Approach to Salish Sea

Bioregion

2) Engage 40 Scientists, NGOs,

Local, Regional, State, Provincial

and Federal Partners. 8-9 April/15

Friday Harbour, San Juan Island

Managers Workshop

3) Develop Long-range Stewardship

and Acquisition Plans for the

Coming Century

Seattle

Vancouver

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FRBC Chair in Conservation Biology

Department of Forest and

Conservation Sciences, UBC

The Nature Trust of BC

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CDFCP – CAEP mutual support

1) creating an urban/rural forest strategy

(including adaption to climate change for the

Municipal Forest Reserve);

2) greening the infrastructure;

3) creating a water conservation strategy;

and

4) completing an agricultural land inventory.

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CDFCP – CAEP - Municipal Forest mutual support

• Buffer (visual, access, other) – Water – storage opportunities, flood mitigation, quantity and

quality – Fire - forest fuel mitigation – Invasives – tansy ragwort, knotweed, hogweed, fire ants and

gypsy moth – Future opportunities – biosolids, liquid waste fertilizers and

extracting slash for fuel

CAEP # 8 • Rural afforestation • Urban forest strategy • Increase the area of municipal forest; and • Investigate forest carbon offset programs

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Next Steps - UBCM resolution

• In combination with Forest Advisory Committee: – Thank you to FLNRO for expansion of Vegetation Resource Inventory

(VRI) to south-eastern portion of Vanc. Island (local government lands, including MNC); AND

– Provide access to municipal vegetated lands for VRI ground checks

• In combination with CVRD, support the UBCM request for the

provincial government to provide core, multiyear funding to the Partnership to assist its members to implement the conservation strategy with the Province, First Nations, local governments, the federal government, stakeholders, and the general public.

28

Next Steps – UBCM resolution and future steps

• In combination with CVRD, support UBCM resolution re Conservation Tax Incentive Program (CTIP)

• Consider other opportunities for mutually beneficial support and action – including Cowichan Tribes

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Thank you

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Report

7030 Trans-Canada Highway | Box 278 | Duncan, BC V9L 3X4

Ph 250.746.3100 Fax 250.746.3133 www.northcowichan.ca

Date November 3, 2015 File: SPP012

To Council

From Brigid Reynolds, Senior Planner Endorsed:

Subject Community Energy Manager’s 2016 Workplan and CAEP Reserve Fund Request

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to recommend that Council approve the proposed Community Energy

Manager’s 2016 workplan and Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP) Reserve Fund Request.

Background

On February 20, 2013 Council adopted the CAEP. The CAEP inventories the existing energy use and

greenhouse (GHG) emissions, for both the community and the corporation, and identifies future trends

in energy and GHG emissions based on population, land-use, technology and other factors. It also

identifies opportunities to reduce energy consumption and emissions through policy and other

municipal mechanisms.

On October 15, 2014 Council adopted the CAEP Implementation and Monitoring Framework. The CAEP

Implementation and Monitoring Framework provides a summary of the actions and initiatives required,

broad time frames for their delivery and the associated delivery mechanisms to ensure successful

implementation of the CAEP.

On February 4, 2015, Council adopted the Community Energy Manager’s (CEM) 2014 update report and

2015 work plan. This workplan identified that an energy incentive rebate program would be explored in

2015.

The Community Energy Manager (CEM) position was established in 2014 and is partially funded by BC

Hydro. This position has enabled dedicated staff time to begin implementing the CAEP. Some of these

activities have to date included:

developing the CAEP Implementation and Monitoring Framework;

developing the CAEP Reserve Fund Terms of Reference;

completing energy policy and energy mapping for the UVLAP and Crofton LAP;

securing $80,000 in grant funds for UVLAP;

acting as staff resource to the Environment Advisory Committee,

managing a co-op student;

preparing the OCP Baseline Monitoring report (draft) and Sustainability Checklist (draft);

providing input on the Zoning Bylaw (draft);

establishing and implementing the BETTER OFF North Cowichan home energy conservation

program;

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reporting to FCM’s Partners for Climate Protection program to receive the Milestone 4 for both

community initiatives and corporate operations, establishing a loan program for electric meters

in the Duncan branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, and general program

promotion; and

successfully applying for a Community Energy Association Award for the UVLAP.

BC Hydro considers the Municipality of North Cowichan a ‘champion’ community as part of its

Sustainable Communities Program and has indicated preliminary support for the proposed work plan

and continued funding of 50% of the CEM Position. The majority of local governments involved in this

program are larger municipalities from the Lower Mainland and Capital Region therefore North

Cowichan provides an important mid-sized perspective to the program and for similar local

governments across the province.

Discussion

Workplan Summary

The 2016 workplan (attached as Schedule 1) proposes to continue the BETTER OFF North Cowichan

program to incent low density homes to undertake energy efficiency upgrades, develop energy related

policies in consultation with the Building Department and local developers, update the CAEP modelling

to provide the Municipality with metrics to understand if we are on the right path for achieving the

adopted CAEP GHG and energy reduction targets, and to work with the Building Manager and Building

Department to improve understanding of the energy elements of the BC Building Code for both staff

and developers and to increase compliance of the same.

The proposed budget is $50,000 (plus potential carry over funds from 2015). The majority of the

budget is dedicated to the BETTER OFF program to continue the following:

further incent energy efficient upgrades for low density homes and ‘piggy back’ on BC Hydro

and Fortis rebate programs,

distribution of water and energy saving kits,

engage realtors in the Real Estate Energy Efficiency Program (REEP),

organise and promote events to inform home owners/renters about the program.

The current program was launched in May and runs until the end of April. At the time of this report 14

North Cowichan residents have received a pre-retrofit home energy evaluation, 20 have received free

energy and water savings kits, and four washing machine rebates. One homeowner has completed

their improvements and received their post-retrofit evaluation.

Marketing of this program is ongoing and research of similar home energy conservation programs

indicates that uptake increases in the second and subsequent years of the program as it gains

recognition. In early 2016 staff will prepare a summary of 2015 activities including energy and GHG

savings where possible. This summary will also include corporate initiatives undertaken by different

departments as well.

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At the beginning of September, 2015 the Province announced the Oil to Heat Pump Incentive Program,

funded by the Ministry of Energy and Mines’ Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund. As this program

dovetails well with the BETTER OFF program it is being actively marketed to North Cowichan residents.

It is anticipated that as a result of this new incentive program BETTER OFF NC will see an increase in

participation.

Other non-CEM related initiatives are also outlined in the workplan. These tasks involve continuing

existing work and implementing OCP and CAEP actions.

Policy development

As mentioned above there is a network of local government Community Energy Managers (CEMs), most

of which are located in the Lower Mainland. This network has been developing energy and GHG related

policy and regulation that is being adopted by their respective local governments and used as examples

for other local governments who are not part of the network. North Cowichan and the East Kootenay

region are the two small town/rural jurisdictions within the network and provide an important

perspective.

The workplan includes developing some energy and GHG related policies and regulations to be

considered by Council that is more relevant to our small town/rural slow growth context. The proposed

policies are aligned with the UBCM resolutions that North Cowichan championed in 2014: home energy

labelling and the notion of opt-in regulation through the use of stretch codes, i.e. beyond the BC

Building Code. Any policy will have to be developed within the context of the recently adopted Bill 3,

Building Act and related forthcoming Regulations. Members of the CEM network are actively working

with the Provincial Building Safety Standards Branch to inform policy and regulation development and

to understand the implications of the Bill 3 for developing energy and emissions related policies. Any

proposed policy would be vetted through this group in addition to any necessary legal review to ensure

that it is lawful.

Code Compliance

The BC Hydro CEM network has identified that compliance with the new energy related elements of the

BC Building Code is lacking due in large part because of limited knowledge of the detailed

requirements from the building community and building inspectors themselves. Educational

opportunities are being made available for building officials and the building community is still trying to

fully understand the requirements.

Unlike other areas in the Province there is no builders association in the Cowichan region. Through BC

Hydro’s co-op student offer it is possible to hire a qualified student to work with the Building

Department to assist with increasing knowledge on the subject for both building inspectors and local

area builders. Detailed terms of reference would be developed and funding from BC Hydro would be

sought for this proposed task.

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Service Contract

City Green Solutions is the service provider for the water and energy savings kit distribution, home

energy evaluations, energy coaching, workshop presentations, and BETTER OFF program support. This

contract ends on April 29, 2016. This Victoria based non-profit organization has worked with numerous

local governments to design and deliver similar programs across the Province with much success. City

Green Solutions is also the organization responsible for coordinating and delivering the recently

introduced Provincial Oil to Heat Pump Incentive Program. Should the work program and budget be

approved staff propose to continue using City Green Solutions services due their ability to provide this

wide range of services and the lack of other agencies/consultants able to provide this full range of

services.

CAEP Reserve Fund

The CAEP Reserve Fund Terms of Reference establishes three categories of funding: non-interest

bearing loans and grants to North Cowichan corporate activities, and grants to individuals and not-for-

profit organizations. Eligible projects are required to address one or more of the priority actions listed

in the CAEP Implementation and Monitoring Framework and be economically beneficial, highly visible,

innovative and collaborative. The proposed initiatives meet these criteria.

Options

The following options are associated with this report:

Option 1 (Recommended by staff) - That Council support the proposed workplan and CAEP Reserve

Fund request.

Option 2 - That Council direct staff to modify the workplan and CAEP Reserve Fund request

Option 3 - Reject the proposed workplan and CAEP Reserve Fund request.

Implications

Staff are supportive of the proposed workplan as it is consistent with the CAEP and the Implementation

and Monitoring Framework. The proposed budget request is also consistent with the CAEP Reserve

Fund Terms of Reference. Undertaking these initiatives continues to move North Cowichan towards

achieving its community GHG emission and energy reduction targets outlined in the CAEP. These

initiatives will also facilitate community energy conservation that will result in energy cost savings to the

participating households. The 2016 program will cost an estimated $50,000 and is being requested

from the CAEP Reserve Fund.

Recommendation


1. approve the proposed Community Energy Manager’s 2016 work plan, and

2. budget $50,000 in 2016 to fund these initiatives from the Climate Action and Energy Plan

reserve fund.

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Attachment(s):

Schedule 1 CEM 2016 Workplan

35

1

CEM/Senior Planner

2016 Workplan

November 2, 2016

Activity Description Annual Goal/Deliverable Time frame

Budget Estimated Electricity

Savings (GWH/Year)

Real Estate Energy Efficiency Program

(REEP)

Partner with City of Nanaimo, RDN, VI Real Estate Board (VIREB) and others to organize and host REEP training sessions in the Cowichan region. This group has been hosting these sessions in the Nanaimo and Comox regions with some success and this is an opportunity to expand this initiative in the Cowichan region ideally in partnership with other local governments.

Collaborate with other Cowichan local governments

Host a minimum of two REEP trainings in NC.

Q2 $4,000

BETTER OFF North Cowichan

Continue to target low density homes to complete home energy evaluations and energy coaching with subsidized evaluations to direct participants to BC Hydro’s HERO, Provincial oil to heat pump programs and match BC Hydro’s washing machine rebates.

Complete an analysis of the results of the 2015 BETTER OFF program for Council’s consideration.

Increase participation in the BETTER OFF reduced rate home energy evaluations by 20%.

Increase participation in the washing machine rebate program by 20%

Q1 Complete

2015 review

Ongoing

$30,000 TBD based on 2014 results

A NRCan evaluation of energy

reductions for

participating homes

between 2007 to

2012 reported

actual

Schedule 1

36

2

energy savings of 52 GJ/BC

household

Low density residential

dwelling stretch code policy.

2014 energy efficiency amendments to the BC Building Code are intended to result in new homes meeting an approximate Energuide Rating (ERS) of 76 for electrically heated SFDs and 77 for natural gas heated homes in the Lower Mainland. BC Hydro has a financial incentive of up to $2,000 to encourage new homes to be constructed to an Energy Star® standard that is modelled to be 20 % more efficient than the Building Code. The modelled results1 show the benefit cost ratio for achieving ERS 80 as being positive. The proposed policy is intended to be aligned with BC Hydro’s New Homes Incentive program such that should the program be discontinued the policy would be repealed. Anecdotally some local area builders are taking advantage of this program. This proposed initiative would include engaged with these builders to develop the policy and understand how the higher efficiency homes are being received in the market place. This initiative would be tied with the

In consultation with Building Department staff prepare a draft policy.

Undertake consultation with the development community. Target developers who are already using the program, Charlie Webb, Chris Clement, for example, to promote the initiative.

Refine the policy as necessary.

Provide a final draft policy for Council’s consideration.

Q2 $1,250 TBD

1 BC Building Code (2014) & New Homes Program, prepared by Ken Cooper and Jack Habart, October 31, 2013

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3

proposed home energy labelling policy initiative below.

New Home Energy Labelling policy

North Cowichan’s Council advanced the notion of home energy labelling at the 2014 UBCM convention. As noted above MNC will partner with other VI local governments to offer a Realtor Energy Efficiency program (REEP) training session this fall and again in 2016. Part of this training includes promoting home energy labelling at the time of sale. Through the energy network it has been suggested that the Province is considering home energy labelling as a requirement for new buildings and possibly moving towards it becoming mandatory. The City of Victoria has a legal decision stating that local governments can require building permit applicants to obtain and share the results of energy audits provided it is done by bylaw. Developing a draft regulation will be undertaken in consultation with the Building Manager, realtors and development community.

Prepare draft regulation.

Undertake consultation with the development community to refine the regulation.


Q2 $1,250

Commercial building stretch

code/Merton rule type policy

The Coriolis report states that there is more opportunity to secure greater energy efficiency standards for commercial buildings as these costs can be transferred to a lessee. BC Hydro has expressed interest in the

As part of the DP Guidelines review, prepare a draft policy.

Undertake consultation with the development community.


Q1 TBD

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4

development of policy for the small town context that could inform other similar local governments across the Province. This is part of my 2015 workplan and will be continued in 2016.

Update GHG Proof The CAEP scenarios and subsequent actions were based upon the GHG proof (land use modelling tool) results. The 2007 CEEI was the base data for GHG proof model. The model can be updated using 2010 and the soon to be released 2012 CEEI data to measure changes to community emissions from 2007 and assist in determining if the Municipality is on the trajectory to meeting the GHG emissions targets established in the CAEP. This project will require some GIS analysis.

Hire SSG to complete a 2012 GHG Proof analysis by the end of Q1.

Prepare and present a report to Council and public.

Q2 $7,000

Code Compliance Work with MNC Building Inspectors to improve compliance with energy elements of the BC Building Code. Link Building Inspectors with BC Hydro’s Code Compliance working group to learn about opportunities for implementing some type of verification checklist.

Connect Building Inspectors with BC Hydro’s Working Group and facilitate internal meetings to explore opportunities for enhancing code compliance.

Building energy intern.

Develop a scope of work for a term position in the Building Department to increase internal and external knowledge of the energy elements in the BC Building Code with a goal to

Develop a scope of work

Secure BC Hydro funding

Hire a student and co-manage

Q1 scope of work

Q2

Hire

$6,350 MNC

portion assuming BC Hydro

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5

increase code compliance. Responsibilities to include: Data gathering and analysis Research assistance Communication and outreach

student for the

summer

contribution of

50% of the salary (up to a max of

$7000 for 4

months)

CAEP progress report

In consultation with other departments prepare a 2015 CAEP progress report.

Complete the 2015 CAEP progress report for Committee and Council review.

Q1

NON-CEM WORK

Sea Level Rise (SLR) Adaptation

Strategy

Mapping has been completed by the CVRD and draft DP guidelines are included in the CAEP. The impacts of SLR for private property and corporate infrastructure have not been analyzed. An adaptation strategy for sea level would inform development policy and corporate asset management strategies. Neither the CVRD nor Town of Ladysmith have completed any analysis. MNC could partner with these LG to undertake this strategy to establish a more uniform regional approach.

Prepare an adaptation strategy for SLR for both private property and corporate infrastructure in partnership with CVRD and the Town of Ladysmith.

Q4

Secondary Suite Strategy and Promotional

There are many secondary suites in the Municipality that have been installed without any proper permits.

Develop a secondary suite promotional program for Council’s approval and begin implementation.

Q3

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6

Program With the exception of the R2 zone all single family residential zones permit suites. Many of these illegal suites could be regularized with minor improvements for health and safety. Regularizing as many of these units as possible would improve the rental housing stock. This program would be developed and coordinated jointly with the Building Manager and Bylaw Compliance Officer.

Affordable Housing

Continue to provide support to the Cowichan Housing Association (CHA). A recently incorporated non-profit housing association. This group has been functioning as a Social Planning Cowichan sub-committee for 8 years. The CHA undertakes research to understand the affordable housing needs of Cowichan residents and offers programs directed at preventing homelessness. The most recent initiative which is ongoing involves investigating the viability and process for establishing a regional housing trust fund.

Ongoing

Cowichan Estuary Environment

Management Plan

The CEEMP is jointly managed by a committee comprised of MFLNRO, CVRD, Cowichan Tribes, and MNC. Continue to act the MNC staff liaison to the committee.

Ongoing

Regional Integrated

The Plan is broken down by issue areas with the most recent being

Ongoing

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7

Sustainability Plan affordable housing, transportation, and projections for population, housing and employment. Participation on the intergovernmental advisory group includes reviewing and providing comments on process, RFPs, draft documents, and the general strategy.

Respond to internal referrals

as required.

Continue to respond to internal referrals related to development applications and other Planning Department processes, for example Zoning Bylaw review, Bonsall Creek Watershed Plan, local area plans, etc.

Ongoing

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Report



Date November 10, 2015 File: 5280-01

To Environmental Advisory Committee & Council

From Shaun Chadburn, Engineering Technologist (Environmental

Programs)

Endorsed:

Subject Corporate Energy Management Program Update & CAEP Reserve Fund Request

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on projects that have been completed under the

Corporate Energy Management Program in 2015, and update Council and the Environmental Advisory

Committee on projects scheduled for 2016 including a request for $211,000 from the Climate Action

and Energy Plan (CAEP) Reserve Fund.

Background

The Municipality of North Cowichan’s Corporate Energy Policy targets 3% reductions in electrical and

natural gas consumption and a 1% reduction in liquid fuel consumption annually.

Under North Cowichan’s Corporate Energy Manager Agreement with BC Hydro we are required to

target 300,000 kWh of electrical energy savings per year. The energy management team has scheduled

projects to achieve this requirement for the next two years.

The Energy Manager Agreement enables North Cowichan to receive $50,000/year for each of the next

two years to fund the energy manager position and should enable the Municipality to receive additional

incentives for completing energy efficiency projects. The additional project funding could be as much as

$100,000/year for each of the next two years. This funding is over and above the energy savings and

GHG reductions achieved by the projects.

Discussion

2015 Project Updates

Cowichan Aquatic Center and Fuller Lake Arena

A replacement of inefficient lighting with LED lighting and other energy savings measures was completed during the

annual shutdown of the Cowichan Aquatic Center. A summary of the project is provided in

Table 1 below.

Table 1 - Summary of Cowichan Aquatic Center projects (2015)

Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

185,000 39 6.7 25,000 13,000 219,000 48,000 8.8 4.5*

43



* Payback includes outside funding assistance.

Additional energy saving projects were completed at Fuller Lake Arena in concert with regular

maintenance and end of service life replacement of some machinery. A flood water aerator was

installed allowing cold water to be used to flood the ice surface and upgrade of the Direct Digital

Control (DDC) system and the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system were also

completed. A summary of the project is outlined in Table 2 below.

Table 2 – Summary of Fuller Lake Arena projects (2015)

Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

18,000 917 48.9 19,000 0 240,700 0 12.7 12.7

The Environmental Advisory Committee approved a loan from the CAEP reserve fund for the HVAC

upgrade totaling $245,000. This project is still underway and come in under budget at $173,000 with

the remaining $72,000 potentially being returned to the CAEP fund, if it is not utilized for this project.

LED Streetlights

In 2015 the corporate energy management team coordinated a trial of Light Emitting Diode (LED)

streetlights and selected a fixture which will work for all North Cowichan’s ornamental street lighting

applications. We have received an incentive agreement from BC Hydro for the replacement of 117

streetlights in the Timbercrest Road and Kingsview Road subdivisions. A summary of the project is

outlined in Table 3 below.

Table 3 – Summary of LED Streetlight Project (2015)

Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

42,000 0 1.0 2,790 5,544 39,000 11,087 14 3.2*

* Payback includes outside funding assistance.

Fleet Vehicles

Operations staff members are currently inventorying the use of each fleet vehicle to determine if

vehicles can be removed from our fleet. Part of this involves removing 2 larger vehicles from the fleet in

order to facilitate the potential purchase of 2 electric vehicles for staff in 2015. The energy management

team is also working on incorporating fleet energy use into our project tracking system. Historically

there have been technological challenges with gathering fleet fuel consumption data.

44



Emergency Generators

Operations staff members are rescheduling the testing of our emergency backup generators. Instead of

testing generators every week for one hour, testing will take place monthly. This should result in

significant savings of diesel fuel with a resultant reduction in GHG emissions. This initiative is still in

progress and therefore fuel savings have not been calculated yet.

Salt Shack Area Lighting

The energy management team took advantage of a promotional offer through one of our lighting

suppliers which enabled us to receive 4 free LED flood lights (valued at $4,000) when we purchased 4

for use at our salt shacks. This will result in 7,761 kWh of electrical savings annually and North

Cowichan will avoid $990 in energy costs each year resulting in a payback of 4.9 years without O&M

savings included.

Emergency Services Buildings

The energy management team is currently working on an RFP for completing energy efficiency projects

identified in our energy audit of some of North Cowichan’s emergency services buildings. Passive

infrared sensors to control lighting and exhaust fans, programmable thermostats and plug-miser

retrofits will be completed at the Chemainus Tri-services Building, Crofton Fire hall and South End Fire

Hall. The lighting at the Crofton Fire hall will also be retrofitted with LED fixtures. A summary of the

project is outlined in Table 4 below.

Table 4 – Summary of Emergency Services Buildings Projects (2015)

Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

60,564 133 8.5 10,000 6,785 81,000* Pending 8.0 4.8

* Project cost includes a contingency.

2016 Projects and CAEP Reserve Fund Request

LED Streetlights

Replacing our current ornamental streetlights with LED fixtures has one of North Cowichan’s best business cases for

energy reduction projects. The corporate energy management team has expedited the original project timeline to

receive energy savings and other associated cost savings as soon as possible. The replacement of the remaining

ornamental streetlights will see approximately 540 High Pressure Sodium lights replaced with LED fixtures. A

summary of the project is outlined in

Table 5 below.

45



Table 5 – Summary of LED Streetlight Project (2016)

Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

174,960 0.0 4.3 11,891 25,000 219,668* Pending 18.5 4.6


Fuller Lake Projects

A plug-miser retrofit and domestic hot water return pump thermostat retrofit are scheduled for 2016.

These projects have an estimated cost of $2,071 (including a 28% contingency), 12,497 kWh electrical

savings, $1,633 of energy cost savings annually and a reduction of corporate emissions by 0.3 tonnes

CO2e. These projects have a combined payback of 1.3 years.

Municipal Hall and Emergency Services Buildings

A plug-miser retrofit is scheduled at the Municipal Hall for 2016. This project will result in a reduction

of 27,300 kWh in electrical consumption, $3,500 in avoided energy costs annually and a reduction of

corporate emissions by 0.7 tonnes of CO2e. The total project cost is estimated at $3,573 and has a

payback of 0.9 years. At the South End Fire Hall the corporate energy management team has scheduled

a replacement of the current lighting system with LED lights as well as the installation of programmable

thermostats. LED lighting fixtures will also be installed at the Chemainus Tri Services building. A

summary of the project is outlined in Table 6 below.

Table 6 – Summary of Municipal Hall and Emergency Services Buildings Projects (2016)

Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

64,500 30 3.2 9,000 6,000 117,662* Pending 13.1 7.8


Cowichan Aquatic Center

Energy efficiency projects at the aquatic center scheduled for 2016 include a plug-miser retrofit,

domestic hot water return pump thermostat retrofit and optimization of the temperature on the hot

water heating system. The lights in the aquatic center which were not part of the LED retrofit in 2015

are scheduled to be upgraded to LED fixtures in 2016. A summary of the project is outlined in Table 7

below.

Table 7 – Summary of Cowichan Aquatic Center Projects (2016)

Electrical

Reduction

Natural Gas

Reduction

GHG

Reduction

Energy

Costs

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

Payback

(Energy

Payback

(Energy

46



(kWh) (GJ) (Tonnes

CO2e)

Savings ($) ($) Savings

Only)

and O&M)

72,633 0 1.8 9,493 13,200 145,584* pending 15.3 6.4


CAEP Fund Request

The Municipality completed an energy audit on the aquatic center in 2013 and has obtained two

estimated ranging between $140,000 and $246,000 for a solar hot water heating system at the aquatic

centre. At this time the estimates are being reviewed. Failures in the domestic hot water system were

found in 2015 and interest in the solar hot water heating project increased.

Staff are recommending that a CAEP grant be provided to buy down the payback on the project to 7.0

years. This will require a grant of $211,000.

A summary of the project is outlined in Table 8 below.

Table 8 – Summary of Cowichan Aquatic Center Solar Hot Water Project (2016- Based On 2013 Energy Audit)

Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

23,250 413 21.3 4,490 5,200 140,000*-

246,000

0 54.8 25.4

* Preliminary cost estimate provided in 2015.

A grant from the CAEP reserve fund is being requested for the solar hot water heating system. Solar

energy would be used to preheat the domestic hot water coming into the facility which would reduce

the facility’s natural gas consumption. This project meets the criteria for being eligible to receive

money from the CAEP Reserve Fund as the project is highly visible in the community, economically

beneficial, innovative and it addresses the priority actions in the CAEP by promoting the use of

renewable energy sources in the community. Further, given the payback for this project (25.4 years

based on energy and O/M savings) and the additional financial burden that this project represents to

the aquatic centre’s capital budget, this project could fall into the category of a project that would

otherwise not be undertaken without support from the CAEP fund.

In requesting funding from the CAEP fund, staff propose to go with the $240,000 cost estimate but will

be reviewing the scope of the lower estimate prior to awarding the work.

Summary

North Cowichan produced a gross total of 1,450 tonnes CO2e in 2014 meaning that we reduced our

gross GHG emissions by roughly 4.64% (67.2 Tonnes CO2e) through the implementation of energy

projects in 2015. The projects completed under the Corporate Energy Program in 2015 are summarized

in Table 9 below.

Table 9 – Summary of Projects Completed Through the Corporate Energy Program (2015)

47



Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

316,793 1128 67.3 58,274 25,592 584,277 107,000[1]

10.0 6.9*

[1] Additional outside funding agreements are still pending.

[2] Payback does not include outside funding.

A summary of energy projects scheduled for completion in 2016 are outlined in Table 10 below.

Table 10 – Summary of Projects Scheduled For Completion through the Corporate Energy Program (2016)

Electrical

Reduction

(kWh)

Natural Gas

Reduction

(GJ)

GHG

Reduction

(Tonnes

CO2e)

Energy

Costs

Savings ($)

O&M Cost

Savings ($)

Project

Cost ($)

Outside

Funding

($)

Payback

(Energy

Savings

Only)

Payback

(Energy

and O&M)

301,347 443 30.9 36,486 50,229 731,226* pending 20.0 8.4*

* Projects have a range of cost contingencies assigned to them (18-28%)

Recommendation


1. approve the proposed 2016 Corporate Energy Program 2016 work plan, and

2. budget $211,000 in 2016 to fund these initiatives from the Climate Action and Energy Plan

reserve fund.

48

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