International District Energy Association Announces Canadian Counterpart of Publication Supporting Community Energy Planning Initiatives
Boston, MA (PRWEB) November 14, 2013 -- The International District Energy Association (IDEA) announced the release of its newest publication for the Canadian market, Community Energy: Planning, Development and Delivery – Strategies for Thermal Networks, which aims to support mayors, planners, community leaders, and private developers who are interested in planning, designing and deploying district energy systems for more efficient and resilient infrastructure in their cities, communities and towns.
The new guidebook is designed to provide Canadian city-builders with experience-based insight to the energy project development process to help them in making informed decisions regarding the analysis, planning, development and delivery of district energy systems. The work builds on previously released UK and US Community Energy Guides, this time with a Canadian focus on provincial and municipal policies and market conditions.
IDEA, a 104-year old non-profit industry association based outside of Boston, MA, engaged UK-based district energy specialist Michael King, author of the UK and US guidebooks by the same name, to collaborate with IDEA’s own Brad Bradford. King is a principal with District Energy Development LTD in the UK and a board member of Aberdeen Heat & Power of Scotland, a recent IEA District Energy Climate Award Winner. Bradford is IDEA’s Community Energy Planner and holds a Masters of Planning degree from the University of Waterloo. Together with industry leaders, King and Bradford updated the guide for the Canadian market to reflect provincial policies, the specific nuances and drivers of system deployment, and leverage the emerging momentum around the community energy planning process and integration of community-based energy systems within broader planning frameworks.
The Canadian edition of the guidebook is designed to equip key decision makers with the knowledge and understanding to make informed decisions on energy, environmental and economic matters relevant to local energy implementation. IDEA will disseminate this best practice approach across Canada in conjunction with partner organizations and agencies to better inform the marketplace, build greater awareness of the advantages of district energy, CHP and waste energy recovery, and engage public/private partnerships in industry growth.
Brad Bradford, coauthor of the guidebook states, “We are in the midst of a paradigm shift where cities and municipalities are looking to strengthen local energy security and reduce reliance on a centralized electricity generation model where power supplies are distant and remote from the customer base. Canadian urban centers are experiencing tremendous growth and district energy systems are being deployed to ensure the delivery of efficient, robust and resilient heating, cooling, and power. The Community Energy Guide for Canada will help city builders champion this important transformation in their communities.”
On Monday, November 11, IDEA hosted a workshop titled “Community Energy: Planning, Development and Delivery” in conjunction with the QUEST annual conference in Markham, Ontario. This one day workshop featured: Pernille M. Overbye, Market Manager at Ramboll Group; Richard Damecour, President at FVB Energy; Robert Thornton, President & CEO of IDEA; and coauthors of the guide, Michael King and Brad Bradford. Panelists included: Bruce Ander, President & CEO of Markham District Energy; Dennis Fotinos, President & CEO of Enwave Energy Corporation; and Pat Bohan, Director of Business Development for District Energy at ENMAX. The workshop discussed best practices and reviewed a step-by-step approach to develop a successful community energy plan and deploy district energy. You can view the workshop program here for more detailed information.
IDEA gratefully acknowledges the sponsoring companies who provided financial and technical support and editorial contributions to the Canadian Guide: Ramboll Group; FVB Energy Inc.; Dalkia Canada; DIALOG; ENMAX; Golder Associates; Kerr Wood Leidal; Markham District Energy Inc.; QUEST; Rovanco Piping Systems; Solar Turbines; and Urecon.
A free on-line version of the guide is available here.
The International District Energy Association (IDEA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) industry trade association founded in 1909 and governed by a 22-member Board of Directors. IDEA represents approximately 1600 members who are district heating and cooling executives, managers, engineers, consultants and equipment suppliers from 26 countries. Association members operate district energy systems owned by utilities, municipalities, hospitals, military bases and airports throughout North America and around the world. Visit http://www.districtenergy.org for more information.
Robert Thornton, International District Energy Association, http://www.districtenergy.org/, +1 (508) 366-9339, [email protected]
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