Earth Hour Tour: Integrating Energy Efficiency

On March 21, 2014 WWF’s David Miller moderated a panel discussion with a variety of experts, hosted by Dalhousie University. The topic: visions for a future where climate change is no longer a threat. We know that future is possible, and that the solutions are all around us – including in Halifax. And we want all of Canada to learn from their successes. We asked panelists to answer a critical question: what is the one thing we need to do today to achieve that vision? Here is one of the answers we received.
Written by Donald Dodge, Lead Advisor for Communications and Development at Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation.
I have worked in, I think, every facet of the energy business in my career. I started out as a draftsman and geophysical technician in Alberta, I worked in sales for one of the largest oil companies in Canada for a few years, and I have been involved in residential energy efficiency for about 15 years. This is to say that I think I have an understanding of the energy business from exploration, through marketing and efficiency.
I began my career working in Alberta. As such, I have a lot of friends who still make their living in the oil patch. When discussing climate change they are often quick to point out that everyone needs energy – often the source of which is oil and gas products – to enjoy the wonderful standard of living we have in this country. My friends like to point out that they are only producing the energy demanded by users. And so that leads to my response to the question, “What is the one thing we need to do today to create a world where climate change is no longer a threat?”
Not surprisingly my response is to find ways to reduce our demand for energy by integrating energy efficiency into all aspects of our lives. This seems such an obvious statement and yet we know how difficult this can be. You think energy is a difficult and complex topic? At least we can see the energy that we use every time we turn on a switch. Energy efficiency is a lot tougher because it’s essentially about energy you don’t use and that you’ll never see. Because it is so complex, we all need help through education and empowerment to truly understand energy efficiency.
Nova Scotians live with some of the highest energy prices in Canada and yet we still struggle with finding the right steps to reduce those bills, and in so doing reduce our environmental footprint. And the key word in that last sentence is steps. Plural! This is not just about changing light bulbs. It is about being aware that energy efficiency is a series of steps and behavior changes that cumulate to reduce your energy costs – and footprint.  A partial list would include turning things off when not in use, insulating and air sealing your home, purchasing EnergyStar appliances, driving less and more wisely , using public and active transportation, turning your workstation off at the end of the day,  and on and on.  It has been estimated that Canadians waste as much as 40% of the energy we consume. You want to reduce the threat of climate change? Get educated and get busy being as energy efficient as possible today and every day.
Interested in participating in the Earth Hour Tour: Out of the Dark, Into the Future? We’re coming to Toronto on Tuesday, March 25.
Celebrate Earth Hour, 8:30-9:30 p.m. on March 29, and let us know what you’ll be thinking about during your #momentofdarkness at wwf.ca/earthhour.