Leading by doing is at the heart of the climate change challenge. Understanding what is possible and building the empirical evidence that low energy solutions are available and effective is critical. Canada’s Town Hall Challenge, an initiative of the Mayors’ Megawatt Challenge managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), is motivated by this precept. TRCA released the 2010 top 15 energy efficient town/city halls in Canada. The goal of this challenge is to demonstrate that the hub of every community - the town hall, can reduce energy intensity per square foot and save money.
BC’s Ladysmith was ranked number one, using only 11.5 energy kilo-watt hours per square foot (ekWh/sq.ft.), with 3 other BC town halls ranking in the top 15. Considerable town hall reductions provide a model to businesses and citizens alike of the great impact that retrofits and/or green buildings can have on our energy landscape. The challenge for many communities is to develop an initial baseline of energy use in buildings, to identify energy targets and then commit to energy management plans targeting both technical and behavioural aspects to reduce energy use in buildings. Of note, the top performing buildings in Canada had engagement from Council and senior management, indicative of what it takes to save energy and money over the short and long-term.