Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

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)

What is an energy transition?

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.

Why do we need the CEERP?

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.

What are Brampton’s first priorities?

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.

How does climate change impact us?

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.

What is the Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP)?

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.

What are the economic and social benefits of an energy transition?

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.

How does energy use affect climate change?

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