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Sustainability

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Bold Climate Action

As one of North America’s first conversion of a large public district energy network from a steam/high-temperature to a low-temperature hot water electrical system with electric chillers for cooling, the Energy Services Acquisition Program (ESAP) represents one of the Government of Canada’s most impactful climate change initiatives when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its own operations. It significantly advances Canada’s efforts to meet its own greening targets well in advance of 2050.

ESAP also sets an important precedent that can be replicated in other jurisdictions globally, positioning Canada as a leading innovator in carbon-neutral buildings and leading-edge green technology.

The Government of Canada is greening government operations to support Canada’s sustainability goals established under the Paris Agreement on climate change. The Greening Government Strategy is consistent with the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

As part of these commitments, the Government of Canada has set a goal of reducing GHG emissions by 40 per cent by 2025 and by at least 90 per cent below 2005 levels by 2050 – this includes federal buildings and fleets of vehicles.

In keeping with this, ESAP’s modernization of the NCR DES is fundamentally redefining how heating and cooling is delivered in large-scale networks.

Already, GHGs emitted from the heating and cooling of the 80 buildings connected to the National Capital Region District Energy System (NCR DES) have decreased by approximately 30 per cent due to efficiencies and smart building technology. Once the new energy centres are in operation in 2026, the modernized NCR DES will see a 92 per cent reduction in GHG emissions from its 2005 baseline operations, and plans are underway to make the entire district energy system in position to be carbon-neutral by 2030.

Road Map to Carbon Neutral by 2030 This graphic is a downward pointing arrow that has 4 blocks that transition from light green to dark green. This is to symbolize deeper greening and how ESAP will achieve carbon neutrality. The first block shows a 30% reduction in GHGs; The second block shows a 33% reduction in GHGs; The third block shows a 29% reduction in GHGs; The fourth block shows an 8% reduction; The end of the arrow indicates: Carbon Neutral. To the left of the arrow, there are indicators of when each of the reductions will take place within ESAP. There are four main title blocks that align with the 4 boxes in the arrow: First Title: Achieved. Efficiency, Smart buildings; Second title: Stage 1 target. Energy System Modernization; Third title: Stage 2.1 Target. Deeper Greening; Fourth title: Stage 2.2 Target. RNG, Energy Storage. Eliminate Carbon. Between the four titles, it indicates the percentage of GHG reductions: Between the Achieved title and Stage 1 Target title it indicates 70% of emissions remaining; Between the Stage 1 title and Stage 2.1 title it indicates 37% of emissions remaining; Between 2.1 target title and 2.2 target title, it indicates 8% of emissions remaining.

ESAP also has a number of other benefits. It will:

  • Reduce the costs of heating and cooling operations (generating almost half a billion dollars in savings from the time the modernized DES will be in operation to 2055).
  • Increase safety and reliability of heating and cooling operations.
  • Leverage the private sector’s innovation, capacity, and expertise.
  • Promote environmental awareness and education.
  • Enable the deployment of other low-carbon or net-zero carbon energy solutions to all DES connected users.
Studies are also underway to explore whether the NCR DES can be expanded to offer its clean power services to more federal buildings and those from other levels of government and the private sector.
In keeping with Canada’s role as a global leader in clean technology and renewable energy use, ESAP can serve as a future case study for how other jurisdictions worldwide can decarbonize their building operations.
Road Map to Carbon Neutral by 2030 This graphic is a downward pointing arrow that has 4 blocks that transition from light green to dark green. This is to symbolize deeper greening and how ESAP will achieve carbon neutrality. The first block shows a 30% reduction in GHGs; The second block shows a 33% reduction in GHGs; The third block shows a 29% reduction in GHGs; The fourth block shows an 8% reduction; The end of the arrow indicates: Carbon Neutral. To the left of the arrow, there are indicators of when each of the reductions will take place within ESAP. There are four main title blocks that align with the 4 boxes in the arrow: First Title: Achieved. Efficiency, Smart buildings; Second title: Stage 1 target. Energy System Modernization; Third title: Stage 2.1 Target. Deeper Greening; Fourth title: Stage 2.2 Target. RNG, Energy Storage. Eliminate Carbon. Between the four titles, it indicates the percentage of GHG reductions: Between the Achieved title and Stage 1 Target title it indicates 70% of emissions remaining; Between the Stage 1 title and Stage 2.1 title it indicates 37% of emissions remaining; Between 2.1 target title and 2.2 target title, it indicates 8% of emissions remaining.