CULTIVATING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ENERGY INVESTMENTS
Cross-sector collaboration for energy investment requires a common understanding of energy solutions, enabling policies and partner roles.
By improving energy literacy in our community we can increase energy-first planning decisions, improve advocacy efforts and ensure our community is equipped to support the energy transition.
WR Community Energy focuses on:
We are involved in projects around energy generation and sharing, housing and affordability, efficiency in new builds, and renewable energy opportunities. What these projects have in common is an approach that integrates industry, community, and policy. With each step forward, we are transforming our future for the better.
Directed by our partners, we facilitate research into energy investment opportunities in Waterloo Region and deliver strategic advise based on its findings.
We deliver presentations on our Priority Areas to conferences and groups to provide accessible information on energy topics and to raise awareness of our work.
Where are our energy dollars going? In 2014, Waterloo Region spent $2.1 billion on energy, $1.8 billion of which left our community. Improving energy literacy can ensure we’re investing wisely in community energy investments.
Our energy literacy Work
WR Community Energy supports municipalities, industry and communities to improve their energy literacy by facilitating and disseminating research, delivering public presentations and providing strategic advice.
Waterloo Region Group Leading Effort to Require Greener Buildings
The WR Community Energy team spoke to the Waterloo Region Record about our work exploring Green Development Standards, a municipal tool for building better buildings in Waterloo Region.
Energy Retrofits for Multi-Family Housing Master Class
On May 4 & 5, 2022, WR Community Energy partnered with Efficiency Capital and Durham Region on a two-part workshop series designed to prepare multi-family housing for energy efficiency retrofit projects. Watch recordings now.
Waterloo Region’s Clean Economy Ecosystem
WR Community Energy, in partnership with Sustainable Waterloo Region, the Region of Waterloo and WaterlooEDC have launched a map of Waterloo Region’s Clean Economy Ecosystem featuring over 125 companies, research labs and community groups contributing to the clean economy in our community and beyond.
WR Community Energy at the AMO Municipal Energy Symposium
On April 1, 2022, WR Community Energy presented a panel at the AMO Municipal Energy Symposium. Using examples from WR Community Energy’s work to date, the panel explored the viability and value of municipal collaboration with utilities and community groups.
Clean Economy Cluster Map Launch Event
On March 23, 2022 WR Community Energy, Sustainable Waterloo Region, the Region of Waterloo and Waterloo EDC hosted a launch event for the Clean Economy Cluster Map.
WR Community Energy at the Southern Ontario Growth Conference
On February 18, 2022 WR Community Energy spoke at the Southern Ontario Growth Conference on the topic of Green Development Standards.
Community Energy Considerations for Municipal Climate Change Policy Development on New Buildings
In 2021, WR Community Energy was invited to provide comments on the Region of Waterloo’s Policy Direction Paper on Climate Change as a part of their ROP review. This report provides a summary of the key themes that emerged from three years of community energy work in Waterloo Region and interviews with industry leaders.
WR Community Energy Launches Term 1 Report
WR Community Energy has been working since 2019 to implement Waterloo Region’s Community Energy Investment Strategy. Released today, the Term 1 Report highlights the accomplishments
Waterloo Region is Uniquely Situated to Locally Source Much More of its Power
Leah Gerber of The Waterloo Region Record spoke to WR Community Energy’s Program Manager Matthew Day about energy consumption in Waterloo Region and the potential
WR Community Energy Presents to All Councils Meeting
Rene Gatien, President and CEO of Waterloo North Hydro and member of WR Community Energy’s Governance Committee and Matthew Day, Community Energy Program Manager of
Wastewater Heat Recovery in Waterloo Region
This report includes a preliminary investigation of the trunk sewer heat recovery opportunities based on data collected from City of Cambridge, City of Kitchener, and City of Waterloo.
Community Energy’s Time Has Come in Waterloo Region
Susan Koswan, opinion writer for The Waterloo Region Record, explores WR Community Energy’s role in supporting cities to play an active role in energy production and conservation
Mapping Opportunities for Renewable Energy Development in Waterloo Region
In 2019, The Region of Waterloo and WR Community Energy partnered with the Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy (AIRE) team to map renewable energy opportunities from solar, wind and biomass, in Waterloo Region.
WR Community Energy Featured on IESO’s Powering Tomorrow Podcast
In this episode of IESO’s Powering Tomorrow podcast, Terry Young, IESO Interim CEO, interviews Matthew Day, Program Manager at WR Community Energy and Tonja Leach, Executive
Community Energy Efficiency Financing Program
In 2020, WR Community Energy partnered with local environmental charity, Reep Green Solutions, to support a preliminary study on community efficiency financing.
