Climate change
Understanding that climate change represents environmental, economic and social risks,
the utility created and adopted a Climate Change Policy in 2007.
As part of our commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment, EWEB is taking a close
look at our operations and service delivery and is introducing a variety of new initiatives.
Learn what steps EWEB is taking to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
EWEB has completed two greenhouse gas inventories of internal operations and
power resources compliant with The Climate Registry Electric
Power Sector Protocol. In 2011, EWEB operations greenhouse gas emission reduction goals were
developed to set a target for reductions within our own operations. The goals are:
- By 2020 achieve greenhouse gas levels 25% below 2009 levels in all EWEB operations
- By 2030, reduce fossil fuel use by 50% (compared to 2009 levels)
- By 2050, EWEB operations will be carbon-neutral (i.e. reduce net carbon to zero)
An operations climate action plan is being created to chart our way to achieving the reduction goals.
Climate adaptation for utility operations are also being researched.
One of the first changes we made was to set a new target for the performance of our vehicle fleet.
EWEB set a utility-wide goal to reduce fossil fuel use by 10% in 2010 (compared to fuel use in 2009).
We made excellent progress on this goal in the first year and reduced fossil fuel by 9.7%. We have
continued the
same goal for 2011—to reduce fossil fuel use by 10% (compared to fuel use in 2009).
The fuel reduction is expected to:
- Save approximately $46,000 in fuel purchases in 2010
- Prevent 165 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere in 2010
- Improve air quality
- Reduce noise pollution
- Reduce the wear and service needs on vehicles and equipment
One of the ways to decrease fuel use is to reduce vehicle idling. EWEB adopted idle reduction guidelines in April 2010.
To help reach the reduction goal, EWEB has also:
- Removed underutilized vehicles from the fleet
- Right-sized vehicles for specific duties
- Made plans to install idling reduction mechanism on the large diesel trucks
