to the GEDO 2015 report

Green Energy Doors Open
Saturday, October 3rd, 2015
POST-EVENT REPORT
www.gedo.ca
Background
Alberta has a great sustainable energy story to tell. Costs of renewable energy technologies
have dropped dramatically over the past few years, Alberta has regulations that allow home
owners to generate their own energy, and the price on carbon has led to greater adoption of
decentralised energy at commercial and industrial sites. As a result, green energy capacity has
been developed in Alberta and we are becoming leaders in several markets:
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Solar – In 2015 the province is approaching 10 MW installed, a monumental jump from
1.3 MW in 2012. (Howell Mayhew Engineering)
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) - Alberta has the largest capacity of CHP at 4.3 GWe,
ahead of Ontario at 2.4 GWe. Together, the two provinces account for 70% of total CHP
capacity in Canada. (CIEEDAC Cogeneration Facilities in Canada 2014)
Green Buildings - In 2014, Alberta claimed #2 ranking in North America for feet of LEED
certified space per resident. We achieved 3.18 ft.2 of LEED certified space for each
Albertan. (Alberta Chapter, Canada Green Building Council)
As such, Alberta is an important contributor to Canada’s private investment into the lowcarbon, green and sustainable energy economy. Indeed, $25-billion was invested in Canada's
clean-energy sector between 1999 and 2014; the sector now employs more than 23,700
people.
Green Energy Doors Open (GEDO) 2015 is the result of a partnership between Decentralised
Energy Canada (DEC) and the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA). This is the second
year that GEDO is running parallel in Alberta and Ontario! GEDO is an annual, single-day,
province-wide showcase providing access to sustainable and decentralised energy projects,
businesses, manufacturing sites, education programs and other related initiatives. GEDO
showcases the most pioneering projects in Alberta.
GEDO encourages users, producers and advocates of sustainable and decentralised energy to
open their doors in order to raise awareness, understanding and support for sustainable energy
by providing people with the opportunity to visit, see, touch and talk about the projects in their
backyard. This initiative has significant impacts on environmental stewardship and education by
event hosts opening their doors to the public to showcase their success.
Our goal is to raise awareness, understanding and support for decentralised energy by
providing people with the opportunity to visit, see, touch and talk about the projects in their
own backyard.
Decentralised Energy Canada (DEC) is a registered, national, non-profit technology accelerator.
DEC builds the competitive advantages of our members by supporting the commercialisation of
Decentralised Energy (DE) technologies, bringing policy issues to the table, attracting capital
and new entrants to this key industry sector.
For more information about DEC click here.
ALBERTA’S GREEN ENERGY DOORS OPEN
Saturday, October 3rd, 2015
Decentralised Energy Canada (DEC) is proud to report that we have exceeded last year’s GEDO
achievements in Alberta with:
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17 hosts
17 sponsors and organisational partners
7 communities
500+ attendees
We would like to thank our hosts, sponsors and partners for supporting this initiative, enabling
us to organise it in the first place and spreading the word. This support was vital to making the
second Alberta’s Green Energy Doors Open a huge success with more than 500 attendees in 7
communities across the province.
www.gedo.ca
EEEL, University of Calgary
Spo’pi House, University of Calgary
SAIT, Solar Lab
ENMAX Solar
GEDO TEAM 2015
Anouk Kendall, President, Decentralised Energy Canada
Anouk is the founding President of Decentralised Energy Canada (DEC) and is
one of North America's leading authorities on decentralised energy. She has
helmed DEC through two transformational phases in 2007 and 2013 in
response to the changing needs of members. Anouk’s dedication to DEC has
positively impacted the growth of Canada’s DE markets and her continuous
engagement with members and industry partners has contributed to the
development of a national network of over 6,000 DE practitioners.
She was proud to establish a partnership with OSEA in 2014 bringing GEDO to Alberta and looks
forwards to many more years of success and collaboration with OSEA.
Nicole Risse, Executive Director, Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
(OSEA)
Nicole has played an integral role in running the day-to-day core business of
the OSEA leading its finance and operations. OSEA established Green Energy
Doors Open in 2011 and in 2014 partnered with DEC to expand GEDO into
Alberta.
Nicole is a specialist on sustainable energy, with a particular focus on the Ontario energy sector.
She was instrumental in driving forward the Ontario Green Energy Act Campaign, and the
development of the 20/20 Roadmap framework that currently drives OSEA's policy work.
Samantha Heigl, Intern, Decentralised Energy Canada
Samantha joined the Decentralised Energy Canada (DEC) team this past
summer where she helped to coordinate Alberta’s second Green Energy Doors
Open event. With Samantha’s help DEC was able to exceed last year’s targets
and set new goals for future events. While Samantha finishes her last year at
the University of Victoria where she is completing her B.A. Political Science she
continues to work collaboratively with DEC on sustainable development
projects and reports.
After graduating this upcoming April, Samantha plans to return to her hometown of Calgary
and pursue a career in sustainable energy. Samantha also hopes to further her education, by
studying for her LSAT.
Arlene Merling, Director, Partnerships and Collaboration, Decentralised
Energy Canada
Arlene played a strong role in developing partnerships and promotion of
GEDO2015. Her experience in Alberta’s energy industry has been a valuable
contribution to the success of Green Energy Doors Open in Alberta.
THANK YOU
SPONSORS AND ORGANISATIONAL PARTNERS
CTV TWO partnered with GEDO 2015 in the production
and broadcast of promotional and educational
resources.
EVENTS
Calgary, Alberta
1 – CANADA’S 1ST NET POSITIVE RESIDENCE
2 – DIRTT TOUR
3 – ENMAX DISTRICT ENERGY CENTER
4 – ECCOL ELECTRIC
5 – EGUANA TECHNOLOGIES
6 – ENERGY ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (EEEL)
7 – CENOVUS SPO’PI SOLAR HOUSE
8 – SAIT SOLAR LAB
Okotoks, Alberta
9 – DRAKE LANDING SOLAR COMMUNITY ENERGY CENTER
Black Diamond, Alberta
10 – GREEN ENERGY WORKSHOP, OILFIELDS REGIONAL ARENA
Edmonton, Alberta
11 – Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC)
12 – MOSAIC CENTER FOR CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY AND COMMERCE
Red Deer, Alberta
13 – KERRY WOOD NATURE CENTER
14 – ENERGYMIZER
15 – Trimmed-Line Tree Services
Lacombe County
16 – Off the Grids in a Monolithic Dome
Town of Vermilion
17 – CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
MEDIA COVERAGE
CTV Two Alberta
A special thanks to CTV Two Alberta for providing substantial support by producing and
broadcasting a set of interstitial educational videos for GEDO 2015 in Alberta. These videos
increase public knowledge about – and engagement with – DE companies in Alberta. As part of
the partnership a 30 second public service announcement by DEC was produced and aired 85
times on CTV Two educational and primetime television (Click here to watch the video).
Four DEC members participated in the Conservation Connector video campaign. The campaign
included a 1-minute and a 2- minute professional produced videos to showcase sustainability
projects on CTV television.
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Click here to watch the ENMAX video
Click here to watch the Lakeland College video
Click here to watch the EPS AB Energy Canada video
Click here to watch the NAIT Alternative Energy video
CBC/Radio-Canada
Thank you to CBC/Radio-Canada for
interviewing DEC and showcasing
GEDO projects in Alberta.
Other Media Features
GEDO also had tremendous media
coverage from other sources:
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“I’d like to thank you for once again helping to promote
our local hosts and their decentralised energy projects or
initiatives - we had a great time promoting GEDO here in
the City again and had an opportunity to make it to most
of our event hosts here in Red Deer and surrounding area. I
had the chance to follow up with our hosts and it sounds
like everything was well received by the hosts themselves
and well attended by the public.”
City of Red Deer
Town of Black Diamond
Radio Advert
Town of Okotoks online event page
Radio Interview CJSW 90.9 FM, Calgary
Online publications from Calgary Economic Development
Social media blasts from tour hosts and partners
APPENDIX
1 – Canada’s 1st New Positive Residence | 1818 8 Street SE, Calgary
A net positive building is one that generates more energy than it uses. This new concept of urban building
was to design a structure that would provide a garage, person studio and much more with no electricity bills.
2 – DIRTT | 7303 30th Street SE, Calgary
DIRTT is a construction and design company that creates customizable, sustainable architectural interiors.
DIRTT helps business conserve energy through the efficient design of space and the energy choices they
make in running the business
3 – ENMAX District Energy Center | 4th Street and 9th Ave SE, Calgary
This unique center is the first of its kind in Calgary. It is more efficient, has fewer emissions, and is more costeffective than conventional heating systems. Underground hot water pipes connect to heat exchange
interface between the piping system and the customers heating system, creating a closed-loop system that
takes up much less space in the building and is more energy efficient than traditional commercial boilers.
4 – EECOL Electric | 11004-48 Street SE, Calgary
EECOL is a major electrical distributor with over 55 stocking locations in Western Canada. They supply quality
products and have also developed a renewable energy group to help service the wind and solar end of the
business. EECOL has a solar grid that has 189 250 watt solar panels. The power produced covers
approximately a third of the power required for the facility. The remainder is sold back to the grid under a
system.
5 – Eguana Technologies Inverter Manufacturing Lab | 6143 4th Street SE, Calgary
Eguana Technologies designs and manufactures intelligent power electronics for distributed smart grid and
micro-grid applications. Their proprietary inverters seamlessly integrate with storage devices and renewable
energy generators. This creates systems with uncompromised efficiency and reliability. Eguana can help
battery manufactures, and energy management software suppliers.
6 – Energy Environment Experiential Learning (EEEL) | 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary
The EEEL building showcases off-the-shelf cost-effective technologies melded with advance energy reduction
features. Advanced energy modeling software is used to simulate energy use and daylighting effectiveness,
and optimize the design of energy systems.
7 – Spo’pi House Tour | U of C Campus on 32nd Avenue, Calgary
Spo’pi House is a portable two-bedroom house that was designed and built by University of Calgary students
in 2011. It incorporates the traditions of Treaty 7 First Nations in Southern Alberta. Spo’pi House features 37
photovoltaic (PV) modules on the roof generating up to 7kW of power, which is fed into the electricity grid.
8 – SAIT Solar Lab | 14th Street and 16th Avenue NW, Calgary
SAIT Polytechnic has a number of programs and initiatives dedicated to renewable energy, from solar panel
installation to applied research in green building technologies. In 2008, SAIT’s Applied Research and
Innovation Services department established a Green Building Technologies initiative to encourage greenbuilding technology development and enhance commercialization of new green technologies for Canadian
industry.
9 – Drake Landing Solar Community | 15 Drake Landing Common Okotoks
The Drake Landing Solar Community (DLSC) is a master-planned neighbourhood that has successfully
integrated Canadian energy efficient technologies with a renewable, unlimited energy source – the sun. DLSC
is heated by a district heating system that is designed to store abundant solar energy underground during the
summer months and distribute the energy to each home for space heating needs during the winter months.
10 – Green Energy Workshop, Oilfields Regional Arena | 611 3 Street SW, Black Diamond
Les Quinton has installed not one but two renewable energy systems on the roof of the local arena, along
with numerous other energy-saving measures, including retrofitting lights, adding wall and roof insulation,
and installing night set-back thermostats, low-flow toilets and shower motion sensors. Because of these
changes, electricity consumption at the arena has dropped dramatically, despite increased usage.
11 – Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC) | 13111 Meridian Street NE, Edmonton
The EWMC features a unique collection of advanced waste processing and research facilities, including
composting, recycling, and conversion of municipal solid waste to biofuels. The world-famous EWMC coverts
old computers and garbage into compost of methanol.
12 – The Mosaic Centre | 2003 91 Street SW, Edmonton
The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce is the first commercial net-zero office building in
Canada. It achieves net-zero energy use through the use of solar panels, a high performance building
envelope integrated with mechanical/electrical systems, large insulating windows, heat-recovery ventilators
for heating, and numerous other energy-saving touches.
13 – Kerry Wood Nature Center | 6300 45 Ave, Red Deer
Kerry Wood Nature Centre ensures that their energy and water consumption is as low as possible by stealing
light to illuminate interior spaces. In addition, they conserve fuel while heating the building and the water.
14 – EnergyMizer | Stall 130 Red Deer Outdoor Public Market, Red Deer
Energy Management Systems (EMS) is a leading technology company dedicated to providing green energy
savings solutions to residential, commercial and industrial clients around the world. The power management
systems have helped thousands of residential and commercial consumers achieve documented energy
savings, as well as safer home and work environments with the reduction of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF).
15 – Trimmed-Line Tree Services | 4601-62 Street, Red Deer
Trimmed-Line is a local tree company actively participating in reducing their carbon footprint. They have
embraced full-circle tree practices. This means using end-of-life trees for beneficial purposes instead of
disposing of the wood in the landfill. When Trimmed-Line cuts trees down they salvage the lumber and mill t
on their saw mill and dry the lumber in their kiln using a wood-fired boiler that also uses the wood waste as
fuel. The boiler is also piped in to heat their shop.
16 – Off the Grids in a Monolithic Dome | 38425 Range Road 262, Lacombe County
This highly efficient, R60, tornado-proof FEMA-approved monolithic dome is the home to Michael Forsyth
and Lynn McCain. The energy system uses solar panels to store power in 32 batteries. They heat their home
with a wood-burning stove, and don’t have any power bills.
17 – Lakeland College Centre for Sustainable Innovation | 5707 College Drive, Vermillion
Lakeland College’s Centre for Sustainable Innovation (CSI) is a test-bed for innovations in energy, agriculture,
and environmental sciences. The Renewable Energy Learning Centre is the test-lab for Lakeland’s research
into combined renewable energy systems. It operates as a net-zero energy building – all of the energy
needed for heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water and electricity comes from renewable energy
generated on site.