Checking in: Federal economic response plan, our top tips for remote work, online training opportunities, and more.
Dear friend, we’re here to help.
During these truly unique times, your health and well-being is the number one priority. Please take care of yourself and the people around you. Together, we can make it through.
Yesterday, the Government of Canada released a COVID-19 Economic Response plan. Check to see if you or your business are eligible for relief, and check with your provincial authorities as well.
When this public health crisis ends, many people will be thinking about the ways their homes and businesses use energy, and how to change and adapt to new economic and climate realities: our sector will have to be ready to offer solutions. That is why we continue to work on the energy efficiency agenda, including projects like the provincial policy scorecard. We have also begun engaging with policymakers across the country on the role of energy efficiency in economic stimulus strategies.
We are working from home: in fact, we work from home most of the time, when we aren’t at our core centre of operations at Carleton in Ottawa. When Efficiency Canada was created at the end of 2018, we set a goal of becoming the truly national voice for energy efficiency, which means that sometimes we have to work nimbly and — of course — efficiently across six time zones.
We’ve compiled some tips for those of you who have just been thrown into the remote workplace this past week:
OUR TOP 5 TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME
The rest of this not-as-scheduled news blast contains things to do while social distancing measures are in effect: “discovery sessions” with us, webinars, professional development opportunities, and other spaces for our sector to connect while we are physically apart.
But, it can’t all be about work in times like these. Need a break from the news cycle? Here are some relaxing live webcam feeds from Banff and Lake Louise in Alberta. Have kids at home? Green Schools Nova Scotia has a bunch of activities for K-12 students. Remember to share resources, make time to relax, and check-in with each other.
Good health to you and yours.
Sincerely,
Please join us every FRIDAY for an online “Discovery Session” while social distancing measures are enacted across Canada.
Each week, you’ll learn something new from leaders in the energy efficiency sector.
SIGN UP HERE
Looking for more ways to learn? Here is a quick round-up of online energy efficiency education for Canadians.
- Guides has an array of resources for all kinds of energy efficiency trades: insulation, ventilation, construction, lighting, and more!
- Coursera and EDx both have a number of courses from top universities around the word that touch on energy efficiency.
- Dalhousie University has a 100% online certificate in energy engineering and conservation.
- The BCIT school of Construction and the Environment has an online/distance Sustainable Energy Management Advanced Certificate (SEMAC) program, a partnership between BC Hydro, FortisBC with initial funding support from the Natural Resources Canada – Office of Energy Efficiency.
- Both Passive House Institute and Passive House Canada have e-learning courses at a variety of different levels.
- Natural Resources Canada has a e-learning modules for energy and GHG management.
Want to connect with other energy efficiency professionals while you learn? Join our networking and discussion groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.
EDX | INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY | ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDICATORS COURSE
The courses have been developed from the two IEA manuals on energy efficiency indicators, which have already been successfully used to build capacity within governments and enable action on energy efficiency around the world. Building upon this success, this new e-learning format walks users through a series of interactive, self-paced lessons, as IEA experts take users step-by-step and sector-by-sector through the fundamental aspects and theories of energy efficiency indicators.
WORLD BANK | ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN CITIES COURSE (SELF-PACED)
This program provides a series of learning courses to support city leaders enhance the energy efficiency and sustainability of cities around the world.
Now is a great time to catch up on what’s going on across Canada. Here are some resources to get you started:
- Our national database of provincial energy efficiency policies
- The Government of Canada’s market transformation roadmap for windows, space heating and water heating technologies
- Everything you need to know about Canada’s new building codes, and a crossword puzzle to test your knowledge afterwards
ONTARIO | OPEN LETTER FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
While our number one priority is responding to COVID-19, the work of our government continues… and so must ours. Perhaps now more then usual, a signal of continuity around energy efficiency programs, from the Ontario government, is needed.
Last year the government introduced an Interim Framework that significantly reduced the annual budget for electric energy efficiency. Yet, this framework runs out in 2020 and the future of electricity conservation and demand management is uncertain.
We need to send a message to the government that energy efficiency program delivery capacity must be maintained and that a strategic approach to efficiency and demand management can be designed that alleviates the electricity system’s new challenges and fits this government’s agenda.
We have prepared an open letter to Ontario’s Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, Minister Rickford, which your business can sign on to today.
SIGN THE LETTER
There are 436,000 Canadians working in energy efficiency, it’s time for us to unite. Join Efficiency Canada in celebrating #OurHumanEnergy
Know someone who would enjoy this newsletter? Anyone can sign up here!
