Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan

In June 2019, Brampton City Council declared a climate emergency. Brampton’s Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP) is an evidence-based, comprehensive plan to drive innovation, employment and economic development while achieving the City’s environmental and climate change goals, along with its associated social benefits.

CEERP creates a roadmap that will improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create economic advantage, ensure energy security, and increase Brampton’s resilience to climate change.

CEERP is a call to action for all parts of our community to take steps that reduce our contributions to global climate change and build a better future.

In September 2020, Council endorsed the CEERP and its priority projects. One of the priority projects is establishing a system to deliver standardized home energy renovations to Brampton homeowners within the next five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

The CEERP will create a roadmap to help Brampton achieve world-class energy performance and make a positive contribution to fighting climate change by:

Improving energy efficiency and savings
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Increasing resilience to climate change
Ensuring energy security – the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price (e.g. solar power)

The current energy transition refers to the global shift in the energy sector from fossil-based systems of energy production and consumption — including oil, natural gas and coal — to localized, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, district energy, energy storage, etc.

Brampton City Council declared a climate emergency last year and set a target of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 80 per cent by 2050. CEERP is a climate mitigation plan and is a call to action for all parts of our community to take steps that reduce our contributions to global climate change.

All levels of government in Canada, including the City of Brampton and the Region of Peel, are implementing actions to mitigate climate change. The global energy sector is undergoing an energy transition in part because of the need to address climate change. We are living in a Climate Emergency and need an urgent response to climate change now.

As transportation and homes produce the most GHG’s and use the most energy, they will be part of Brampton’s first focus through the Priority Projects.

Climate change is affecting cities worldwide. Impacts include an increase in air temperatures and extreme weather events such as flooding, snow dumps, ice storms, heat waves, droughts and windstorms. Brampton has already seen these effects and impacts come at a significant cost to residents, municipalities and businesses. In order to reduce impacts, we have to make changes in our daily habits and lifestyles.

Brampton’s Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan is an evidence-based, comprehensive plan to drive innovation, employment and economic development while at the same time achieve the City’s environmental and climate change goals, along with associated social benefits such as more comfortable homes and buildings, better designed communities, cleaner air and more connected neighbourhoods.

The City partnered with Sheridan College and worked in collaboration with a community task force that included Brampton residents, businesses, institutions and community organizations.

Today, as a community, Brampton spends over $1.8 billion on energy, 80% of which leaves Brampton with no direct benefits to local economic development.

The current energy transition offers untapped economic, social and environmental benefits.

The global clean technology market is estimated to grow to $2.2 trillion by 2022.

Brampton’s local economy stands to benefit from increased investment and jobs in local energy generation and distribution, manufacturing of energy technologies and infrastructure, and retrofitting of buildings.

Lowered energy costs and more comfortable homes and buildings for residents and businesses.

Communities will be better designed with cleaner air and more connected neighbourhoods.

We use energy every day. GHG emissions come from a variety of human activities but are primarily a result of burning fossil fuels (e.g. natural gas, gasoline, diesel etc.) for energy to heat our homes, drive ourscars, and run our factories. Carbon-based emissions from fossil fuels contribute to global warming temperatures that worsen climate change.

Some Brampton facts:

Transportation accounts for half of our energy costs and emissions
Our homes and buildings are half as efficient as global benchmarks
Annual greenhouse gas emissions per person in Brampton, are 5.6 tonnes – twice the global best practice and 10x the Government of Canada goals for 205

CEERP Benefits by Sector

Buildings are one of Brampton's biggest users of energy and account for about a quarter of Brampton's total emissions. Additionally, how we plan and build our communities plays a significant role in how individuals use energy such as their transportation choices, which currently accounts for over 50% of Brampton's GHG emissions. This makes builders, contractors, and developers one of the biggest partners in achieving our CEERP emissions and energy goals, as well as a sector well placed to significantly benefit from Brampton's energy transition.

CEERP Benefits to Builders, Development and Allies

Increase in Demand
Attract Talent
Increase Resiliency
Managing Long and Short Term Risk

How Can You Help?

Upgrade training and skills to include energy efficient construction and practices to deliver high-energy building performance renovations and construction of new nearly net zero buildings
Commit to building near net zero communities and buildings
Build high energy performance buildings such as net zero or passive house
Install smart technologies and energy efficient appliances such as Energy Star approved product
Reduce embedded emissions of products by working with suppliers to help reduce GHG emissions in the product's manufacturing and support as well as from transportation and logistics
Use and offer reusable or low emission products, materials, and services to customers
Educate clients by offering energy efficient alternatives and tips, as well as notify them of local rebates available for home and buildings

Additional Resources

NRCAN - Energy Star in the Workplace

Many businesses have taken actions to reduce their energy consumption and GHG emissions for a variety of reasons, (e.g. consumer interest, high and volatile energy prices, and brand image/public relations). Some of the biggest opportunities to be realized in this energy transition is in Brampton's business sector. Achieving Brampton’s Community Energy and Emission Reduction Goals and opportunities will be a collective effort from all sectors.

CEERP Benefits to Businesses

Lower Energy Costs and Expenses
Attract Talent, Investment and Customers
Increase Community and Economic Resiliency
More Competitive Products and Services

How Can I Help?

Work with suppliers to reduced embedded emissions in products
Adopt circular economy business models
Build Net Zero buildings and increase energy efficiency in buildings through energy retrofits
Use energy efficiency appliances and electronics such as Energy Star certified products
Install smart systems into buildings
Use and offer reusable or low emission products, materials, and services to customers
Educate consumers on how they can reduce their carbon footprint through product labelling and tips
Provide internal programs that encourage employees to adopt energy and carbon reducing practices such as access to bike racks and showers, carpooling incentives, subsidizing transit costs, and turning off office lights
Share best practices and successes with other businesses
Join Partners in Project Green

Additional Resources

NRCAN - Energy Star in the Workplace
Tips and Tricks for Smart Business (coming soon)
Partners in Project Green
Brampton Business Climate Action Program

Brampton residents play a critical role in improving Brampton’s energy efficiency and reducing overall GHG emissions. Transportation accounts for 60% of Brampton's GHG emissions and energy costs and homes and building account for around 20%. Many of the changes needed to meet our Community Energy and Emission Reduction Goals rely on the everyday decisions made by residents. To achieve success, changes in our daily habits and everyday decisions needs to be championed and implemented.

CEERP Benefits to Residents

Lower Energy Costs
Protecting Your Family's Future
Cleaner Air
Better Homes and Communities

How Can I Help?

Change your transportation habits: walk, cycle, transit or carpool to work and for daily errands.
Invest in fuel efficient, low carbon or electric vehicles
Purchase energy efficient appliances such as those certified with Energy Star
Arrange for your EnerGuide Home Evaluation
Undertake home energy retrofits
Make smart decisions: unplug unused electronics, hang your laundry to dry, grow your own food or buy local etc..
Buy local and “green” products and support environmentally sustainable businesses

Energy Rebates, Financing and Opportunities

Additional Resources

Arrange for your EnerGuide Home Evaluation
Canada Greener Homes Grant
Making Smart Energy decisions: Everyday actions to reduce your emissions and energy use (coming soon)
NRCAN - Energy Efficiency for Homes
Save on Energy – Energy saving advice, tips & resources for Ontario Homes

Institutions and community organizations within the GTA offer partnership opportunities and vital information to assist Brampton in achieving its CEERP objectives and targets. Transportation accounts for 60% of Brampton's GHG emissions and energy costs, and homes and buildings accounts for about 20%. Community organizations can help by assisting in communicating to individuals, families, and businesses on the importance of the CEERP and educating them on the actions they can take towards helping achieve our CEERP goals.