Under a credible set of assumptions, can a business case be made for the City of Windsor Community Energy Plan (CEP) home energy retrofit strategy that meets reasonable community, market and economic goals?

The study report and the consultant’s detailed business case is included in Appendix A. It should be noted that presentation of this report to Council fulfills one of the requirements of the MCIP funding.

Similar Development in Europe

The need for radically improving the energy efficiency of the existing home and building stock has been a focus of many members of the EU for many years. Germany, among others, made deep changes in the efficiency standards building codes in the mid-1980s. These standards have been regularly updated since and extended to include some renovation. In Windsor’s sister city Mannheim, this has resulted in an average housing stock that is half as energy intensive as in Windsor.

The focus on home efficiency continues, though obviously from a different starting point, and in a very different context. Mannheim for example, has an Entity - Klimaschutzagentur Mannheim – (Climate Protection Agency) which is jointly owned by the City, the municipal utility group MVV, and the community housing corporation. It acts as a resource channel for targeted efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction programs, including financing.

In the Ruhr Area, the city of Bottrop has established itself as the Innovation City Ruhr, with the goal to a national example of innovation in its transition from a coal-mining community to a more diverse future. A major focus has been on increasing the energy efficiency of individual homes and entire neighborhoods. The city established a municipal corporation, Innovation City Management GmbH, which provides a wide range of information and counselling services, aimed at residential energy efficiency and greenhouse reduction. This entity is partnered with significant industrial partners and local contractors. It is widely seen a cost effective public/private teaming. The initial focus was very much focused on energy retrofits, over time it had broadened its scope. It is housed in a downtown facility that acts as both a “storefront” for the community, and as a meeting point for business, political and other meeting purposes.

Business Case Highlights

The work of the Consultants, along with Project Working Team members, focused on a number of aspects of a R-DEER program, touching in particular on the following key components that were seen as critical to the success of program goals: