Thunder Bay Business Community Can Reduce Energy Usage
by Scott A. Sumner
www.thunderbaybusiness.ca
Recently the launch of the Net Zero Business Guide was announced in Thunder Bay. It is part of the Earthwise Initiative to reduce green house gases and become more sustainable. The guide provides a resource to businesses about different programs and intiatives out there to reduce their energy use and green gas emissions. It will help them reduce their costs which always is a benefit as well as improve their energy efficiency. “ The booklet is a resource that isn't easily found in the community at large unless a business wants to go look around
everywhere. Larger organizations like the Bombardier’s or Lakehead University’s have entire departments on the area. This book is trying to provide information to smaller businesses.” said Charles Campbell, Chair of the Earthwise Energy working group and former chair of
Earthwise Thunder Bay. In his day job he is CFO of Superior Credit Union.
The goal of the Earthwise plan adopted by council last October is for the community at large to reduce its green house gases emissions by 10% predominantly through the reduction of energy use. “ It will have a significant impact on the business cost. Energy is something we have to buy from elsewhere. With the exception of the power plant locally all of our fuels come from somewhere else. There are some spin off jobs delivering the fuel but the money people are spending goes out of the community for the most part. It is an opportunity to keep the money in the community. Energy is a significant component of the cost of businesses. The economic benefit is enough and we are interested in twinning that with the environmental benefit.”said Campbell.
Examples of those that might help reduce energy costs for business are Union Gas or Thunder Bay Hydro. “ The Thunder Bay Hydro Retrofit program for small businesses is available. If a business wants to reduce their energy use they can get on the list with Thunder Bay Hydro and a representative there will visit their business and at the same time provide ideas on how to cut their costs and perhaps provide some financing to help do it. They might look at things like improving air circulation or automatic shut offs for lights,” noted Campbell. “ We are planning to have copies at the Library’s, the Chamber and members of Earthwise. It will also be online.”
“ I got involved in this because I think it is the right thing to do from an environmental and economic point of view. We have a lot of opportunities in Thunder Bay but no matter how you cut it we are 8 or 9 hours a way from any major centre. So being able to look at energy and
reduce it from outside is money we can use to develop our community. At the end of the day it is the driver of this,” said Campbell. “ Right now it may not be as easy to find some of the products that are out there say in Southern Ontario because we are remote. I am not sure if
all of our businesses are aware of the new products. For example renovating a building creates more jobs than building a new one. Retrofitting can save energy and create jobs. Reducing green house gases is an exciting area in which to be involved.”
