When it comes to energy, conservation is one side of the equation; finding ways to meet persistent, rising demand is the other
ENERGY CONSERVATION
AT NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA, encouraging businesses to embrace energy efficiency is a well-practiced exercise. In 2005, the department celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC), an effort perhaps even more vital now than when it was originally formed in response to the 1970s energy crisis.
Today, the drivers for energy efficiency span concerns over energy security, economic prosperity and the environment. CIPEC provides a suite of services to help companies explore and employ energy efficiency solutions.
The concept is simple, yet the results remarkable, says NRCan assistant director Philip Jago, who has been involved in CIPEC for almost 14 of his 27 years with NRCan. “Every day, we link companies seeking to improve their energy efficiency with people who can help them. It all begins with a meeting.”
Jago says companies often approach with questions like, “What does it mean to ‘limit my environmental footprint?’ and, ‘Will it hurt my business?’” In fact, energy conservation nearly universally drives long-term savings, not to mention emissions reductions.
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, for example, reports that between 1990 and 2003, manufacturers achieved a 41% improvement in energy efficiency through investments in technology, fuel switching and process improvements.
While production volumes increased 48% during that period, manufacturers consumed only 5% more energy in 2003 than in 1990, while at the same time driving down emissions by 7.4%.
Alcan is among many major Canadian companies that have shown that energy conservation pays. While the aluminum giant has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, between 1999 to 2005, Alcan’s energy consumption decreased from 15.8% to 14.5% per kWh/kg aluminum produced, a result primarily due to asset mix changes and improvements at a number of Alcan sites.
Alcan’s investments in innovation have also paid through its development of energy efficient AP smelting technologies, which produce aluminum with less energy intensity. Alcan not only profits from its use of AP systems, it franchises the innovative technology to other aluminum producers worldwide.
Such action isn’t just for big business. In addition to assistance offered by CIPEC, small and medium-sized enterprises can also tap into NRCan’s ecoENERGY Retrofit program, which encourages energy improvements for buildings and industry and is expected to soon include financial incentives.
“Companies from coast to coast have found win-win solutions,” says Jago. “It isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. In the end, the benefits are huge.”
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