Choosing energy efficiency and renewable energy for building clusters in Emerson-Franklin (feasibility study)

Continuing down the path set with the Climate Change Local Action Plans it completed in partnership with the Green Municipal Fund in 2016 (GMF12032), the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin will conduct a study to determine the technical and financial feasibility of proven energy-efficiency measures, biomass district heating that would serve key clusters of municipal buildings, and a micro-utility power generation system. The proposed feasibility study will assess current operations; look for opportunities to improve energy efficiency; identify appropriate district heating and micro-grid technologies; estimate a triple bottom line return-on-investment; and create implementation guidelines. Fourteen aging municipal buildings divided into two clusters have been selected to be part of the study. Emerson-Franklin hopes to confirm that the initiative could generate a reduction of up to 40% in total hydrocarbon energy use, with at least 20% of that coming from energy-efficiency measures. The primary expected environmental benefit is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that would come from lowering energy consumption and displacing natural gas used for heating with renewable alternatives. If biomass-based district heating proves feasible, further greenhouse gas emission reductions could be achieved through fewer kilometres being travelled to dispose of biomass in landfill and less waste going to landfill in the first place. Other benefits of this initiative include the following: reducing the municipality’s reliance on fossil fuel prices through advancing community-owned renewable energy generation; using the capital saved to provide better municipal services; and stimulating rural economic development by creating an emerging biomass market. Innovative aspect(s): The financial analysis will use both conventional and triple bottom line analysis to determine when and how the municipality should complement its energy-efficiency investments with district heating and a micro-utility system, given the best available cost projections for energy efficiency, grid electricity, natural gas and local renewable energy. This approach is fairly new to Manitoba, especially in a rural community the size of Emerson-Franklin. Few communities of this size are engaged in reducing municipal energy consumption, especially in recreational facilities, which are often very energy intensive. Replicability: The use of a centralized biomass heater that serves multiple municipal buildings could be a model for other small communities where municipal buildings are relatively close to one another and residual biomass is available locally. The financial analysis could help other municipalities in Manitoba identify when to invest in renewable energy technologies on the basis of current and projected energy purchase prices in the province. (Project description from original funding application)