Canadian Urban Institute

Integrated Energy Mapping for Ontario Communities (IEMOC) was an initiative with the cities of Guelph, Hamilton, Barrie, and London to analyze and visualize the impact that land-use decisions have on energy consumption.

IEMOC was supported by of the Ontario Power Authority, CanmetENERGY of Natural Resources Canada, the Ontario Centres of Excellence, Union Gas, Enbridge, Guelph Hydro, Horizon Utilities, PowerStream, London Hydro and the communities of Guelph, Hamilton, Barrie and London.

The energy mapping process contains the following four components:
• Baseline energy maps show where and how much energy is being
    consumed in the city today.
• Future energy maps show where and how much energy will be
    consumed in the future as a result of a business as usual approach to
    land use development.
• Alternative energy efficiency scenarios show how much energy can be
    saved if alternative energy efficiency strategies are implemented across
    the city.
• Transportation energy maps show energy consumption associated with
    current and future transportation.

As the inaugural community to participate in the initiative, the City of Guelph was interested in evaluating how the concept of integrated energy mapping could contribute to achieving Guelph’s Community Energy Initiative goals of reducing energy use per capita by 50 percent and greenhouse gases per capita by 60 percent, while simultaneously supporting sustained economic and population growth over the next 25 years. The City of Guelph is applying the analysis to help evaluate the potential for demand side management testing and to support daily decision-making.

Download the report and presentation.

City of Hamilton

In continuation of the city’s leadership in energy and clean air issues—Hamilton’s participation in IEMOC focused on understanding how to respond to the challenge of peak oil, while maintaining a resilient, competitive and inviting community to live, grow and work. Hamilton is using the analysis to support the Hamilton Community Energy Collaborative—comprised of city staff, councillors, utilities, local community groups—to develop an energy efficiency action plan. 

Download the stakeholder workshop, the final report and presentation.

City of Barrie

The City of Barrie participated in the IEMOC initiative to develop an updated energy consumption baseline and to identify better opportunities for integrating community energy systems based on detailed population and employment growth information.  The analysis is being applied by the City to actively address energy efficiency for the built environment and for transportation. Barrie is in proceeding with the recommended next steps in the strategy to prepare an action plan to implement energy efficiency strategies and is exploring partnership opportunities with local utilitiles to advance energy efficiency opportunities.

Download the stakeholder workshop, final report, and presentation.

City of London

In 2009, the City of London launched a City wide initiative to better understand the directions and options for reducing the use of fossil fuel – RETHINK Energy London.  The IEMOC initiative was identified by the City of London as providing an opportunity to gain an understanding of how London's longer-term greenhouse gas reduction goals (2020 and 2050) could best be achieved with the current understanding of future land use forms and energy sources, and whether these longer-term goals are feasible.

Download the stakeholder workshop, final report, appendicies, and presentation.

Lessons Learned Report

The Integrated Energy Mapping for Ontario Communities - Lessons Learned Report was prepared to identify the value of energy mapping activities, document the processes that were used on the IEMOC project, outline challenges encountered during the processes, and to provide lessons learned so that Ontario communities can repeat and improve the process. The report describes lessons learned from creating baseline building energy maps, future building energy maps, energy efficiency and alternative generation scenarios, and transportation energy maps.

Download the final report.
 

Click here for information on our IEMOC Webinars.
Click here for additional IEMOC publications.

Contact Information:  

Please contact Jeff Evenson, Principal, Connector, for more information about energy mapping.