What is a Home Tune-Up?

The eMERGE Home Tune-up is a one-hour consultation that provides easy-to-use information, resources, and practical recommendations to help participants save money by reducing their impact on the environment. By integrating energy and water use with other important sustainability topics, eMERGE is able to deepen and broaden uptake of action in multiple program areas. The in-home consultation is led by a trained eMERGE advisor and is customized to the circumstances of the individual, their home, and behaviours. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions and explore measures they can take within their home. The resident is provided with an Action Plan of measures that can be taken that will reduce energy and water consumption. Book a Home Tune-Up.

Why should Guelph commit to 100% Renewable Energy (100RE)?

Transitioning to 100% Renewable Energy will fight climate change in a way that will yield results immediately. While simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions, committing to 100RE has the added benefits of making Guelph healthier and our economy more robust through job creation in the sustainability sector. Additionally, the technology and know-how exists to get Guelph to 100% Renewable Energy today. As the costs of renewables are constantly dropping and becoming more widely available, renewable energy has never been more accessible. However, Guelph must first cut its energy use in half. For more information on how to do this within your residence, read about our Home Tune-Up.

Aren’t renewables still a far-off energy choice?

No. Financial analysts acknowledge that, thanks to rapid innovation in both technology and the scaling up of renewable energy efforts, we have entered the era of renewable energy technologies. Even Citibank recently declared that the world has entered the “age of renewables”. Among many other businesses, the Bank of America and General Motors have both recently committed to go 100% renewable. With the amount of commitments constantly increasing, the associated costs for renewable energy continue to drop.

So, what’s preventing Guelph from moving to 100% renewable energy?

First and foremost, we need to acknowledge that shifting to 100% renewables is a feasible option that we should be planning for. There already is some support amongst Guelph’s politicians and electricity planners, however, there needs to be much more! Additionally, we need to turn our current top-down energy policies on their head. Instead of supporting big dirty power plants, energy policy needs to empower everyone from citizens, co-ops and schools to municipalities and small businesses to become energy producers: Electrifying Everything.

What can an individual do to shift Guelph to 100% renewable energy?

The best place to start your energy transition is to reduce the amount of energy you need, rather than looking for new systems to use in an inefficient home. Commonly, assumptions about sustainability lead to purchases of solar panels on our roof, electric cars, heat pumps in our homes. While these do yield benefits, by focusing on efficiency and conservation first, the amount of energy required by renewables drastically decreases, making them far more feasible. Additionally, several cost effective ways of reducing energy and water consumption exist for students, renters, and others. For more information, visit our Start Here page to learn about countless ways you can help reduce use.

Where can I learn more?

About eMERGE.

Why is Guelph ready for 100% Renewable Energy?

eMERGE Guelph Sustainability, in partnership with the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI-University of Guelph) and Transition Guelph, heard from over 120 people at two community meetings that Guelph is ready for an achievable 100% Renewable Energy target. While there is significant appetite for the vision, participants noted key barriers and challenges:

•   Building community knowledge and participation in 100RE
•   Justifying economic growth and its costs and benefits
•   Addressing conflicts and diverse views
•   Building current infrastructure capacity
•   Engaging different levels of government
•   Benefits and challenges of the role of technology

We found the community mindset on 100RE is not ‘whether’ we should do it, but ‘how quickly can it be done?’. Building broad community support is critical. 100RE will engage not only individuals working toward reduction commitments, but work with industrial, commercial, and institutional partners to achieve measurable success. By integrating communications between these sectors, eMERGE will change public opinions and gain community commitment and action! If you may be interested in helping this cause, please visit our volunteers page.