Conserving and Using Energy Efficiently

Goal
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by transforming how we use energy, applying energy efficient solutions, and conserving energy.

Projected Reductions - 24 Megatonnes per year by 2050

This goal is designed to engage all Albertans and all sectors of our society and our economy in conserving and reducing energy. Important steps can be taken by all of us, starting immediately, to reduce our energy use:

• In our homes and daily lives
• In our businesses and workplace
• In our transportation system and how we travel
• In municipalities, health regions and educational institutions

This goal reflects the reality that all of us contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and all of us have a role to play in reducing those emissions and conserving energy.

Strategic Actions

• Develop an Energy Efficiency Act.
• Establish an incentive program to promote the use of energy efficient appliances and home improvements.
• Implement energy efficiency standards in building codes for homes and commercial buildings.
• Provide capacity building support to municipalities and other climate change partners to identify emission reduction strategies, including land use planning and sustainable development initiatives for inclusion in appropriate municipal plans and bylaws.
• Implement strategies to enable reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture and forestry sectors and facilitate development of offset and sequestration opportunities.
• Develop the protocols for requiring all facilities that emit over 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases (typically gas plants, smaller power plants, and pulp and paper/wood products facilities) to report their emissions.
• Continue to foster the carbon offset market in Alberta.
• Provide government leadership to introduce energy efficiency standards for government buildings, purchase more energy efficient vehicles and buy more environmentally friendly products.
• Create a team to raise public awareness of energy efficiency and conservation across the province.