About The Project:
In 2022, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band started the Community Energy Planning Project, a project funded by Natural Resources Canada under the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways (SREP) Program. The SREP program aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the replacement of fossil-fuel generated electricity with renewables. This supports Canada’s equitable transition to an electrified economy and creates clean jobs in the process, while at the same time contributes to advancing the 2030 agenda to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Through this project, LLRIB aims to create one Community Energy Plan (CEP) for each of the 6 communities of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band to address the communities’ current and future energy needs. The CEP will set the basis for any future energy projects in the communities. This requires participation and input from community members to shape their energy future.
What is a Community Energy Plan?
A Community Energy Plan (CEP) addresses the supply and use of all forms of energy in a city, town, or community. It is a broad plan for concentrating on the communities’ energy needs, challenges, and opportunities. As a goal, it commends options for energy efficiency and clean energy projects to address those needs and opportunities found. Sometimes, a CEP could include recommendations related to utility services (like electricity or heating fuels) and it can also include recommendations related to clean transportation and housing. Community Energy Plans support communities’ efforts to better understand and manage their local energy needs, identify opportunities for energy efficiency and clean energy integration, and develop strong plans to meet realistic goals.
Why Develop a Community Energy Plan?
A Community Energy Plan provides actions on how to best improve energy efficiency and reduce electricity consumption at the community level. It also lays out suitable opportunities for renewable energy solutions for the community to consider, and can promote a greater interest, awareness and understanding about energy usage and planning.
Community Energy Plans also contribute towards improving energy independence, energy savings, and ensuring secure and sustainable energy supply
Energy planning helps in creating a picture of the current energy situation and estimated future changes based on expected or likely plans and patterns of population growth, resource availability, industrialisation, agricultural energy requirement, etc.
Ways to make your home more energy efficient:
Natural Resources Canada has put out a guide to educate on basic principles of building science and to provide guidance in home retrofit projects such as insulation and air sealing improvements.
Retrofitting refers to the process of upgrading or renovating a house so it will keep the heat in during the colder seasons and keep it cooler during the summer. This means adding insulation, caulking and weatherstripping, improving or replacing windows and doors, and improving the mechanical systems.
The following link contains information on building science and ways to make your home more energy efficient:
Keeping the Heat In (nrcan.gc.ca)
Products that Save Energy in your Home:
Ecofitt is a company that promotes energy conservation and energy efficiency with their products and programs. They sell products that can be used in your home to reduce the amount of energy you are consuming. The following links take you to the Ecofitt website and catalogue.
Energy Conservation Products | Energy Efficiency Products (ecofitt.ca)
Ecofitt-ProductCatalogue-2018.pdf
For more information about events and energy related news, follow us in our Facebook page:
LLRIB Community Energy Planning Project | La Ronge SK | Facebook
Contact Us:
If you want to reach us, you can contact us on the phone at 306-425-1019 or come and visit us at our office – the white and green trailer beside Jimmy Roberts Road, located close to the Visitor Centre in Air Ronge.