City of Courtenay Official Community Plan - 2026 update

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Analogous to the multiple “R’s” of waste management—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle—which prioritize preventing waste at its source, the most effective approach to reducing carbon emissions is to limit energy demand through deliberate, upstream decision-making. This energy hierarchy emphasizes the following sequence of actions: 1. First, avoid or reduce energy demand as much as possible, 2. Second, improve energy efficiency, and 3. Third, switch energy supplies to low-carbon sources. This approach prioritises reducing energy demand by avoiding energy-intensive activities and adopting conservation measures wherever possible. Examples include reducing waste generation, thereby limiting the energy required for its collection and processing, and replacing single occupancy vehicle trips with carpooling, walking, cycling, or public transit. These benefits apply even in systems with widespread recycling or vehicle electrification, as waste management and the production of electric vehicles remain energy- and resource-intensive, and electric vehicles are not universally affordable or equitable. The next priority is to improve the efficiency of energy-using systems, such as through high performance building retrofits or upgrades to municipal infrastructure. The final step is to supply remaining energy demand with low-carbon and renewable sources, including heat pumps and electric vehicles. This sequencing is essential: by reducing energy demand first, the scale of efficiency upgrades and renewable energy infrastructure required is minimised, while also delivering co benefits such as reduced material use, lower costs, and protection of natural resources.

The energy hierarchy provides a structured framework for intentional design and decision-making in carbon reduction. While it establishes a clear order of priority, the practical application of this hierarchy may vary depending on context and constraints. For existing buildings heated by gas or oil, switching to low-carbon heating systems can represent the most immediate and effective opportunity to reduce emissions, even where comprehensive building envelope retrofits are not yet feasible. Nonetheless, measures to reduce demand and improve efficiency remain essential over the longer term, as they reduce operating costs, enhance building performance, and limit the scale of low carbon energy infrastructure required.

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan