Get Energized About Energy Conservation

Make it a plan to save energy in the workplace

Governments across Canada are rethinking their approach to the production and use of energy. Canada's industrial sectors emit half of the nation's greenhouse gases and all businesses use energy and produce waste. Developing a comprehensive workplace climate change strategy will make it easier to meet current and future regulatory requirements.

Does your workplace have a plan to reduce its impact on the climate? Creating an energy management plan reduces costs and softens the impact of rising energy prices. Improving energy efficiency and reducing waste is good for the bottom line. Energy conservation also benefits workers' health and safety. Artificial lighting accounts for 44 percent of the electricity used in office buildings.

Encouraging use of natural light in a workspace is not only economical but can also result in happier and more productive workers. Regular maintenance and upgrades on equipment, such as HVAC systems, improve their efficiency and promote a clean and healthy work environment.

What is the right mix for your workplace?
With so many different regulations and programs across Canada, there is no set prescription for success.  Each organization must find the mix of practices that best achieve their compliance, environmental and financials goals. 

Some options that may be available to your organization include:

• Targeted emission reductions through energy conservation and use of green energy
• Abatements for investing in energy efficient capital and vehicle fleets
• Emission Credits acquired through a recognized emissions trading system, investments in or donations to green technology funds, or funding off-set programs
• Green energy supply development for internal use and sale to the public grid

What programs are available to help you meet your goals?
Provincial, territorial and municipal governments also offer incentives in their jurisdictions to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution. The federal Office of Energy Efficiency's ecoENERGY Retrofit Incentive Program helps small to medium size businesses undertake energy-saving projects. Across Canada there are a variety of programs and foundations that grant funding for projects that can be demonstrated to conserve energy, limit greenhouse gas emissions or develop renewable energy sources.

So how do you go about getting support for an Energy Management Plan?

Have the law on your side
Your industry or sector may be required to meet emission or pollution reduction targets. If so, the success of an Energy Management Plan will be determined by its ability to maintain your compliance over time.  Understand and communicate your organization's responsiblities, and explain how an Energy Management Plan would ensure compliance with the law.
 
Set a specific cost savings goal
Lowering operating costs and improving profitability are goals that will encourage the involvement of management and staff.
 
Focus on the life cycle of the plan
Identify the lifetime or lifecycle costs of your plan.  How long will it take to realize the savings versus the initial investment that will be required? By focusing on the plan's whole lifespan, you can compare your plan to other intiatives and show that energy conservation is a good investment. 
 
Explain the goal in terms of risk management
Energy management plans lessen the impact of unpredictable energy prices, in addition to lowering costs overall.
 
Share success stories
Examples of similar organizations who have succeeded with their plans are a great way to assure management and staff that energy management plans are achievable and realistic.

For access to legislation and government policies on climate change from CCOHS, please visit our Climate Change Legislation topic page, part of our Canadian enviroOSH Legislation plus Standards service.

Webinars Anytime

Watch our NAOSH Week webinars

Envision a healthier and safer workplace - from your computer. Once again, CCOHS continued its North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week tradition of offering free webinars.

Missed out? Or want to watch again? We've archived them so you can view them anytime.

Evaluating MSDS First Aid Advice
Jessie Callaghan, Senior Technical Specialist at CCOHS
Sometimes the first aid advice given can seem inconsistent and confusing for people to apply in the workplace. Examine real first aid advice given on current MSDSs and find out if today's science supports the recommendations.

Mentally Healthy Workplaces: Strategies for Success
Donna Hardaker, Specialist, Workplace Mental Health, Canadian Mental Health Association
Learn about mental health protective factors and on how to take care of both yourself and others in the workplace. Recognize risk factors including conflicting tasks, work overload and unreasonable work pace.

Rescheduled for Wednesday June 17, 2009, 1pm - 2pm ET
Preventing and Enforcing Musculoskeletal Hazards in the Workplace
Anne Duffy, Provincial Ergonomist, Ontario Ministry of Labour
Focusing on Ontario's experience at enforcing MSD hazards through its health and safety legislation, this presentation will help you gain an understanding of the vast array of MSD prevention resources that are available.
Register Now

Save the Date for Forum

CCOHS' Forum set for March 8 & 9, 2010 in Gatineau, PQ

The CCOHS Forum aims to foster an atmosphere where Canadians can engage and exchange creative solutions about leading positive workplace change.

Forum III will be held March 8-9, 2010, in Gatineau, Quebec. More details will be released in the upcoming weeks on the Forum III website, including topics, speakers, registration, and exhibiting information.

"This forum is one of the best ways to exchange information and ideas. The Centre is very successful with this format. Thanks - great conference."
-- Past CCOHS Forum Participant

Check out CanOSH

Completely redesigned and updated website

Find workplace health and safety information from the Canadian federal, provincial and territorial governments, easier than ever before. The popular CanOSH Website has undergone a major revamp. Sporting a more effective navigation design as well as new and updated content, CanOSH will continue to provide the fast track to the Candian workplace health and safety information you need. CCOHS will be continuing to refine the site in the coming weeks. Visit the new CanOSH website now.

Follow CCOHS

on Twitter, Facebook and SlideShare

There's even more ways to stay connected with CCOHS. If you're on Twitter, we invite you to follow us.

We tweet about the latest CCOHS happenings and respond to your @replies and direct messages.

We're also on Facebook. Visit our page and become a fan!

Plus we've shared some workplace health and safety presentations over on SlideShare. If you haven't heard of SlideShare, it's like a YouTube for PowerPoints. We've recently added a presentation on an integrated approach to healthy workplaces, delivered by CCOHS Vice-President P.K. Abeytunga. Check us out on SlideShare today.