Corporate Energy

Markham Energy Conservation Office

History

The Markham Energy Conservation Office (MECO) was established in 2005 using funding support from the City of Markham and Alectra (formerly PowerStream) with a vision to position the City of Markham as a leader and municipal champion in energy conservation.
Its portfolio of programs is broad-based and includes initiatives that are focused on:

• Leading, developing, and implementing energy conservation programs that deliver target-exceeding energy reduction and cost avoidance results;
   
• Supporting the Provincial and Federal goals of creating a ‘culture of conservation’, which encourages and empowers staff to be informed, engaged, and supportive of energy conservation;
   
• Improving internal operations by implementing retrofit projects in existing facilities;
   
• Designing and constructing new facilities to a higher, more efficient standard (minimum LEED Silver);
   
• Investing in renewable energy to expand on community resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions,  and generate revenue, and that revenue is the primary funding source for our corporate energy initiatives;
   
• Providing energy conservation awareness and tools for City staff;
   
• Raising awareness about energy conservation within the local community.

In 2009, MECO joined the newly formed Sustainability Office and played a key role in the preparation and implementation of the Greenprint, Markham’s Community Sustainability Plan [PDF].

Mission

MECO recognizes that energy conservation will save money, decrease demand, enhance the local energy supply be reducing its dependency on the grid, and best of all reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Energy Management Results

In 2012, Markham was one of the first clients, and first Municipality, to participate in the Energy Manager program. From 2012 to 2017, Markham has implemented almost 200 energy-efficiency projects that reduces our energy costs by over $2 million annually, has received over $1 million in utility incentives, developed a comprehensive Corporate Energy Management Plan (CEMP), and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 14% per resident.

Contributions to energy savings were seen by all departments, most notably the Recreation and Asset Management Departments. A special thanks to all staff that helped make this program so successful!  Those utility savings have allowed us to maintain the lowest tax rate increases in the GTA.

Additionally, Markham is generating over $300,000 per year in revenue from its solar assets and Demand Response program.
Check out the Corporate Energy Management Plan to view our roadmap to manage energy consumption and demand in the upcoming years.
 

Awards