The Community Energy Association (CEA) is the first stop for local governments interested in energy.
The Community Energy Association (CEA) supports local governments throughout British Columbia in accelerating the application of energy efficiency and renewable energy in all aspects of community design, infrastructure and community engagement for sustainability.
Our vision is one where all local governments consider energy in their land use planning and development, infrastructure choices and daily decisions. A widespread ethic evolves that values the efficient use of energy and clean, renewable sources of energy supply. As a result, communities save money, have a stronger economy, enjoy cleaner air, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are more pleasant and vibrant places in which to live.
CEA's primary audience is elected officials and staff from municipalities, regional districts and First Nations in BC. Our materials are also of interest to developers, consultants and a range of energy stakeholders, as well as to communities across Canada and the rest of North America.
CEA's work encompasses a variety of activities related to planning and implementing energy sustainability. These include:
To find out how CEA can support your local government needs, or to arrange a consultation or presentation, please contact us.
CEA gratefully acknowledges a 3-year funding grant from Infrastructure Canada's Knowledge-Building, Outreach and Awareness program toward energy sustainability of community infrastructure in BC.
The project includes preparation of updated planning tools, a renewable energy guide, a funding guide, case studies, workshops, a display and this new website, as well as the provision of support and consultations for interested local governments.
Other project partners include:
Production of this website has been made possible through financial contributions from Infrastructure Canada and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Government of Canada nor of the Province of British Columbia.
As a non-profit organization, CEA relies on fundraising to conduct our work. The financial assistance we receive strongly influences the kinds of projects we can undertake; it is greatly appreciated
All financial contributions are eligible for charitable tax receipts. To donate, please make your cheque payable to "Community Energy Association" and mail it to:
Community Energy Association
Suite 1400, 333 Seymour St.
Vancouver, BC V6B 5A6
For more information, please see the contact page on this website
This multi-partner association originated in 1993 as an advisory group to the BC Energy Council. In 1995, a Memorandum of Understanding between the British Columbia Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and UBCM recognized the important role of local governments in creating energy efficient communities. Under the MOU, the advisory group was formalized into the BC Energy Aware Committee, with a mandate to raise local government awareness with respect to energy efficiency, community energy planning and relationship building.
In 2003, the committee incorporated as the Community Energy Association, whose board is constituted from member organizations, including governments, transit authorities, utilities and municipal planning organizations. CEA became a Canadian registered charity in 2004.
Build to Zero, a project of the Community Energy Association, aims to accelerate local government adoption of policy, planning and regulatory measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing buildings, community-wide. The current initiative is being piloted in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Please click here for information on Build to Zero Working Groups.
The Community Energy Association is grateful to the following organizations for providing generous financial and in-kind support for the overall Build to Zero initiative:
- Environment Canada
- Vancity
- Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia
- Natural Resources Canada
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
- Cascadia Region Green Building Council
- BC Hydro PowerSmart
- Terasen
- Province of British Columbia
- Union of BC Municipalities
- Metro Vancouver
- District of Maple Ridge
- District of North Vancouver
- City of North Vancouver
- City of Surrey
CEA has completed a report for CanmetENERGY (Natural Resources Canada) entitled Modelling High-Impact Local Government Measures to Reduce Energy Use and GHG Emissions for New and Existing Buildings in BC's Lower Mainland.
This study describes key policy measures and analytical approaches, such as emission inventories and modelling, which can help BC local governments estimate the impact of proposed GHG reduction actions from the Build to Zero initiative.
Welcome to the Kootenay Regional Carbon Neutral Action Strategy project. The regional districts of East Kootenay, Central Kootenay and Kootenay-Boundary in collaboration with the Columbia Basin Trust have worked together to make this exciting project happen.
Community Energy Association and Sheltair are assisting all local governments in the Kootenays with carbon-neutral planning. This includes ghg inventories for all local governments, action plans for the regional districts, and significant capacity building.
Stay tuned, we'll be posting regular updates as the project progresses. Also, don't miss the presentation at the 2009 Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments conference on this project.
To reduce regional emissions by 33% by 2020, communities in the CRD will collectively need to eliminate more than 500,000 tonnes of CO2e - in less than a decade. Intelligent land use and sustainable transportation systems are critical to achieving this target.
The Road to Zero Project links land use and transportation infrastructure to greenhouse gas emissions now and in the future.
Funded by Environment Canada, BC Transit, the Capital Regional District, and the Community Energy Association, Road to Zero will help local governments identify the most effective land use and transportation solutions and accelerate adoption of policy, planning and regulatory measures to reduce emissions. Road to Zero makes the case for both short-term transportation solutions and long-term land use planning.
Please click on the document link below for more information.