Efficiency gains depend on using ambitious techniques, experts say

Recent energy efficiency developments in Ontario were reviewed. Meetings between the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as well as the Ministry of Energy and the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) were outlined, as well as conferences and consultations organized by the Sierra Club. It was suggested that the OPA's planning assumption of a 5 per cent reduction in demand through conservation over the next 20 years is too modest, and a range of 20 to 30 per cent efficiency was recommended. Proposed amendments to Ontario's Building Code to increase energy efficiency requirements for homes, commercial buildings and large residential buildings were reviewed. It was suggested that an informed building industry can achieve 75 per cent energy reductions, and that Ontario needs to dedicate the same degree and quantity of expertise and funding to energy efficiency that it expects to apply when building a nuclear power plant, in proportion to delivered energy results. Details of demand side management programs in California were outlined. In was noted that California decoupled utility profits from sales in 1985, which has allowed utilities to profit from conservation. In addition to these programs, California utilities are now installing smart meters that will provide information on water and natural gas consumption. The meters will have a programmable thermostat to allow room temperature to rise by 2 degrees C during normal afternoons and 4 degrees C on critical peak days. The utilities will be able to dump the entire air conditioning load for the state during emergencies. It was concluded that there is a great deal of room to improve the way compensation is made available in both supply and efficiency in Ontario. 4 figs