ASSOCIATIONS
 

• Association of Major Power Consumers of OntarioPromotes the global competitiveness of Ontario industry through an efficient electric sector that produces competitive electric rates and provides an economic, open, reliable transmission and distribution network.
• Association of Power Producers of Ontario A non-profit organization representing more than 100 companies involved in the generation of electricity in Ontario, including generators and suppliers of services, equipment and consulting services
• Canadian Electricity Association National voice of the evolving electricity business in Canada, which contributes to the regional, national and international success of its members through the delivery of quality value-added services.
• Canadian GeoExchange Coalition  CGC can provide municipalities  with information on geothermal technology through presentations, webcasts, trade shows, and the CGC website, etc. It also conducts studies in areas such as geoexchange’s environmental impact and municipal road-mapping.
• Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) works to increase the use of solar energy in Canada and to ensure that the solar industry provides systems and services that meet Canadians expectations of value, performance, and safety.
• Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)  is a non-profit trade association that promotes the appropriate development and application of all aspects of wind energy in Canada, including the creation of a suitable policy environment.
• Electrical and Utilities Safety Association
• Electricity Distributors Association The Electricity Distributors Association (EDA) is the voice of Ontario’s local electricity distributors.
• International Energy Association &>in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens
• International Renewable Energy Alliance (IREA)  The IREA enhances policy and information on renewable energy and provides a combined voice for the renewable energy community research, business and industry. The goal of IREA is to foster policies which favour the increased deployment and use of renewable energy by fostering collaboration, removing market barriers, identifying and promoting successful implementation strategies, enhancing business conditions and developing markets. 
• Ontario Energy Association Ontario’s premier energy trade organization, which represents firms involved in the transmission, distribution and marketing of natural gas, and the generation, transmission, distribution and marketing of electricity across Ontario
• Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA)  is a not-for-profit, volunteer-driven recreation organization with over 4,000 card-bearing members who operate and manage recreation facilities in municipalities and other sectors. ORFA provides training and development plus products and services for the benefit of the recreation facility profession.
• Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA)  is a province-wide, member-based, non-profit organization representing more than 1500 individuals including private citizens, cooperatives, farmers, First Nations, businesses, institutions and municipalities. OSEA members are engaged in or supporting Community Power projects and renewable energy.
   

CALCULATORS and DIRECTORIES
      

• Centre for Energy A non-profit organization created to meet an urgent need for information on all aspects of the Canadian energy system, as well as energy transmission and distribution systems, and energy end use.
• Energy Shop Provide an unbiased natural gas and energy price comparison service that helps users find the lowest rates and tariffs.
• Envirolink A grassroots online community that unites hundreds of organizations and volunteers around the world with millions of people in more than 150 countries and provides up to date environmental information and news.
• NrCan RETScreen Seeks to build the capacity of planners, decision-makers and industry to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
• Hydro One Appliance Calculator Helps you estimate how much power your appliances may be using — and how much they cost to operate monthly.
• Widgets Environmental tips widgets from the EPA.

CLIMATE CHANGE    

• Canadian Climate Action Network Committed to preventing dangerous levels of human interference with the global climate system, protecting environmental sustainability and public health, while upholding principles of just transition, equity and social justice
• Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network (C-CIARN) Promotes and encourages research on climate change impacts and adaptation, as well as promoting interaction between researchers and stakeholders.
• Environment Canada GHG Tracking Canada meets its United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Provides the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change.
• KyotoProtocol - An ambitious plan for our province to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
• Pew Centre Brings together business leaders, policy makers, scientists, and other experts to bring a new approach to a complex and often controversial issue
• Union of Concerned Scientists Leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world,

CONSERVATION

• Conservation Bureau Ontario Power Authority. Provides leadership in planning and coordinating electricity conservation.
• Conservation Council of Ontario Promotes “weconserve”, which is a united campaign to make Ontario a conserver society.
• EDA’s LDC Conservation Programs Local electricity distribution companies have implemented hundreds of conservation and demand management programs and activities across Ontario over the past four years.
• powerWise Six of Ontario’s largest local electricity distribution companies along with the Ontario Ministry of Energy are working cooperatively to deliver this multi-year, initiative designed to promote energy conservation to consumers and reduce the demand for electricity in their respective service areas

DISTRIBUTED GENERATION   

Distributed generation (DG), distributed resources (DR), distributed energy resources (DER) or dispersed power (DP) is the use of small-scale power generation technologies located close to the load being served. Also often referred to as district or community energy, DG reduces transmission losses, lowers costs, improves reliability, reduces emissions, or expands energy options. DG may add redundancy that increases grid security even while powering emergency lighting or other critical systems. Contemporary DG systems utilize sunlight, small water courses, wind, steam, and natural gas.

Distributed cogeneration sources use natural-gas fired micro-turbines to turn generators while the exhaust is used for space, water, and/or air heating and conditioning. Cogeneration is more efficient than traditional generation because it extracts more value from the fuel source and captures previously wasted energy.  Municipalities such as Markham  and Hamilton  have partnered with their local utilities to develop very innovative DG operations.

Many municipalities interested in district energy systems are involved in Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow.  QUEST is a network of representatives from energy industry, environmental groups, governments, academia and consulting communities that believes an integrated, community-based approach is the best way to address energy end-use and reduce green house gas emissions.

An integrated, community-based approach is the best way to address energy end-use and reduce GHGs. This means: Encouraging mixed-use higher density urban development;  Reducing the energy input required for a given level of service;  Matching the type of energy with its use;  Managing surplus heat across applications and sectors;  Converting waste to energy;  Integrating on-site renewable sources of energy;  Optimize use of grid energy and as a resource to optimize the overall system and ensure reliability.

• Advanced Building Cogeneration Cogeneration is a highly efficient means of generating heat and electric power at the same time from the same source
• Hamilton Community Energy  A strategic business unit of Hamilton Utilities Corporation with a mandate to develop a district energy business in Hamilton 
• Markham District Energy  An energy company owned by the Town of Markham

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• Canadian Energy Efficiency Centre Helps facilitate and ease access to energy efficiency information and resources
• NrCan Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) Canada's centre of excellence for energy conservation, energy efficiency and alternative fuels information

FUNDING AND INCENTIVES

• OntarioPower Authority Conservation Fund  Provides assistance to replicable sector-specific conservation education and electricity reduction pilot projects that foster development of a culture of conservation across the many sectors of Ontario’s economy

GREEN BUILDINGS

Corporate Buildings 

• OPA’s High Performance New Construction Incentives
  The Ontario Power Authority's High Performance New Construction (HPNC) program makes it easy to go green. Builders and architects can be rewarded for achieving reduced kilowatt demand in excess of the Building Code when building commercial, industrial or agricultural structures. The financial incentive for Prescriptive Projects is $250 for every verified kilowatt saved, whereas those in the Custom Project Category can earn $250 for every verified kilowatt saved up to 25% above Code, $300 for every verified kilowatt saved for 25.5% – 50% above Code, or $400 for every verified kilowatt saved greater than 50% above Code.
• The Canada Green Building Council has embarked upon a multi-year development project to introduce the next generation of LEED in Canada through the LEED Canada Initiative. In parallel to this effort, the CaGBC also launched the Green Building Performance Initiative—a focused effort to develop an affordable and easily accessible tool for energy and environmental management for new and existing buildings. Both initiatives will enable large-scale reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings, and other environmental benefits for all building types and communities across Canada.
• Green Building Performance Initiative - In parallel with the technical adaptation and development of LEED Canada, national pilot projects are being conducted to engage market sectors in the performance management system in order to establish performance metrics and baselines, and put existing buildings on track towards LEED certification. With ever-increasing numbers of building owners and homeowners engaging in this initiative, and reporting their energy and water use and progress towards certification, the CaGBC is creating a large, dynamic building performance database and information system for entire building sectors. This will allow reporting on energy and emissions, conservation potential and trends, performance and design standards, and actual and planned investment in building improvements. For more information contact Kris Munden at kmunden@cagbc.org or by phone at 613-241-1184 ext.33, or toll free at 1-866-941-1184. 
• Sustainable Building Centre - An enterprising non-profit society dedicated to advancing and catalyzing sustainability in British Columbia's built environment.

Residential

• The Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition (NZEH)  is an incorporated, multi-stakeholder organization comprised of champions in advanced energy efficient residential construction and building products, the utility sector, research and development and, manufacturing and deployment of onsite renewable energy technologies. The objective of the Coalition is to advance the benefits of the more efficient use of zero or very low impact resources including cleaner air and healthier homes, climate protection and, economic development opportunities resulting from the expanded manufacturing and deployment of energy efficient technologies and appliances and onsite renewable energy generation in Canada's residential marketplace. 

MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS

• Cities for Climate Protection >Assists cities to adopt policies and implement quantifiable measures to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and enhance urban livability and sustainability
• Green Communities Canada  Non-profit organizations dedicated to conserving energy and helping the environment
• Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) >A network of 151 Canadian municipal governments who have committed to reducing greenhouse gases and acting on climate change

NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES (NGOs)

• Canadian Energy Research Institute Non-profit research institute committed to excellence in the analysis of energy economics and related environmental policy issues in the producing, transportation, and consuming sectors
• Non-profit research and education organization, whose mission is to provide leadership in the research and development of environmental law and policy.
• Clean Air Foundation Non-profit organization dedicated to developing, implementing and managing public engagement programs and other strategic approaches that lead to emissions reductions and protects the climate.
• Works with partners to achieve clean air, facilitate the exchange of ideas, advance change and promote and coordinate implementation of actions that improve local air quality
• David Suzuki Foundation Works to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us 
• Environmental Defence Works with Canadians, decision-makers and businesses to make the environment a top priority
• Friends of the Earth
• Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP)  Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP) is an independent, non-profit research organization, founded in 2000 by energy experts and climate change campaigners. ISEP focuses on promotion of renewable energy, improvement of energy efficiency, and restructuring energy market and includes an active database of municipal projects worldwide.