Energy Planning Tool (EPT)

Section 6 of the Green Energy Act requires broader public sector (BPS) organizations to develop and make public energy efficiency plans and targets.

Municipal energy plans are expected to include: A summary of annual energy consumption for each of the public agency's operations. A description and a forecast of the expected results of current and proposed activities and measures to conserve the energy consumed by the public agency's operations and to otherwise reduce the amount of energy consumed by the public agency, including by employing such energy conservation and demand management methods as may be prescribed. A summary of the progress and achievements in energy conservation and other reductions described in paragraph 2 since the previous plan. Such additional information as may be prescribed.   LAS is working with provincial staff to ensure that the Energy Planning Tool (EPT) will produce plans and reports that are in compliance with the regulation.

The Ministry of Energy has finalized the  Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plans (Reg 397/11) Regulation which specifies what information is required in both the annual reports and the 5 year strategic plan..

The first report would be due on July 1, 2013 and would require designated agencies to complete the proposed Energy Consumption and GHG Emission Template. In addition, agencies would have the opportunity to report on previous energy conservation initiatives.

Gross square footage (gsf) includes conditioned underground parking (heated and lit).

Where a bulk meter is used for a number of buildings, energy use and GHG emissions would be determined by allocating total energy or GHG emissions by the associated buildings area.

The second report would be due on July 1, 2014 and would require public agencies to develop energy conservation and demand management plans as outlined in the Conservation Plan section.

The EPT will allow municipalities the opportunity to create integrated energy management plans that include the following:

• Manage Energy Activities and Projects - List all your energy activities/initiatives and projects in one place and add in costs, targets, and expected outcomes.  Classify each of them as “Pending”, “Active” or “Completed” and designate key personnel. You may even choose to attach them to specific Energy Consuming Assets.  All activities and projects are automatically included in the detailed report to show the status and effectiveness of all your ongoing initiatives.
• Report Generator - Reporting and compliance is a costly, time-consuming process, and living process. The Report Generator presents a full compliance checklist grouped by functional area. Users select those they wish to use and either input a current policy or attach the relevant document, picture, or spreadsheet. Attached samples and templates offer assistance along the way. Reporting areas can be added, removed, and modified to allow a report to evolve to meet any changing requirements.
• Manage Energy Consuming Assets - Create a simple profile for each of your energy consuming assets.  Define their basic energy profile and add in annual consumption data. Changes in annual consumption will automatically be included when you generate the detailed compliance report.

The Energy Planning Tool (EPT) is compatible with the Energy Management Tool (EMT) and other ongoing energy management applications. Municipalities will be able to access the EPT from an individually tailored and secure website for a very minimal annual hosting fee (approximately $200).

Simply return the Expression of Interest Form to Energy Services Coordinator Scott Vokey (svokey@amo.on.ca) if you would like to learn more about the EPT.