Canada's Rural and Remote First Nation communities looking for paths to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings and identify renewable energy projects that will reduce costs, emissions and help the transition towards clean energy resources. This project is aimed to First Nation communities that are already -or planning to- actively engage in all development stages of energy projects.
The objective of the Online Platform is to improve the Community Energy Plan process by providing a system where energy information is updated and available to specified community members to ensure that capacity building activities and potential project assessments are based on the available most relevant information.
The Platform not only allows to update, visualize and assess information at the building and community level; it also provides a regional baseline where communities and Tribal Councils can compare buildings and take advantage of joint opportunities
Have accessible updated information of your community to help the making decisions
Project proposals require building and community energy and cost information
Integrate information from different sources & help with existing reporting requirements
Integrate generation data from renewable energy systems & other energy metering poitns
An accessible historical building & community baseline helps identify project opportunities
Compare buildings with similar use in your community, your region or across the country
Understanding the Community:
A key aspect of the process is to develop a relationship that will help better understand the community and its needs. What does the community want and/or need to see as an outcome? What helps better assess project opportunities?
Getting information:
Gathering the required building, energy and other information is not a standard process and varies among communities. Similar to the exiting Community Energy Plan process, this step requires active participation from key community members and energy suppliers to create an adequate process to obtain this information.
Work with us:
The only way the platform will be beneficial to communities is ensuring that the outcomes are identified collectively. Furthermore, the platform requires that related community updates are considered to maintain its relevance; hence a key person responsible at the community is indispensable
Plan ahead:
As different energy efficiency, renewable energy and other technologies are implemented in your community; it will be required to have an integrated view of what is going on. Furthermore, more opportunities to simplify, automate, and collect the required information will help communities make decision with the most relevant and up-to-date information
The pilot project will be delivered during Summer 2022 and we are planning to expand the service to communities across Canada. Your feedback, interest and participation is key to ensure that we can plan this undertaking and support the on-going energy transition and energy self-determination for First Nations communities across Canada.
Get in contact with us to get more information about the project and how your community can participate.
The Independent First Nation Alliance (IFNA) provides technical assistance to 5 rural and remote communities in northern Ontario. For the project, IFNA provides key community engagement and ensures that the outcomes of the platform are in line with community needs.
The Energy & Power Innovation Centre (EPIC) at Mohawk College has worked with First Nation communities for several year. The Centre provides the energy and software expertise required to develop the online platform.
With its strategic northern Ontario location, Lakehead University provides feedback and context to the potential outcomes and uses of the project.
under the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program.
The Independent First Nation Alliance (IFNA); based in Sioux Lookout & Thunder Bay, Ontario; has been leading the effort to involve their member communities into the platform. To date, IFNA has enrolled 4 First Nation communities in the pilot phase of the project.
Participating Communities: Whitesand First Nation & Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation.
Engaged Communities: Muskrat Dam First Nation & Lac Seul First Nation.
Existing Community Energy Plans do provide adequate buildings energy performance and potential opportunities. However since these plans are not updated regularly, sometimes for several years, it is difficult to assess further opportunities or verify that building projects have in fact reduced energy consumption in the building(s).
By updating regularly the energy and cost information, communities will be able to track better building performance and identify project priorities.
This information is also usually found in existing Community Energy Plans; yet, it has the same downfall the updating process is cumbersome and generally not done. By identifying a process to simplify the update, the community be able to have current updates on their energy overview; easily shared with Chief & Council.
As community-wide projects (renewable energy, transportation, etc.) are implemented, the generation information can be added to the platform so the community has a clear overview of the progress to date.
The Regional - provincial, territorial or national - perspective is the key differentiaor of the platform. The main idea is to have an up-to-date perspective of the joint challenges, opportunities, and progress. For example, top 10 energy intensive buildings in your Tribal Council.
As communities are able to share high-level** information about the performance of their buildings and projects, this can open opportunities to identify and quantify common challenges and propose solutions that benefit multiple communities.
*Communities decide the level of access granted.
How does your Band office, community centre, etc. perform energy-wise against other communities within your region? Can other communities benefit from the improvements you did to reduce energy intensity?
By comparing and providing a common energy intensity metric, communities will be able to identify opportunities, benchmark projects and quantify common challenges. For example, prioritize all buildings above the regional energy intensity average.
The need and desire to reduce fuel dependency from First Nation communities, supporting organizations and government agencies; will increase the need to report within the community and outside.
Having the relevant information in one location also allows to simplify reporting; usually required for grant application, verification of project performance or reporting back on specific outcomes. As the specific needs of First Nation communities are identified, reporting back on the collected information and analysis will play a major role.
*The information presented in the graphs and tables above is artificial data due to confidentiality and platform testing purposes.