Municipal Energy Plan | Township of Bonfield

In 2021, the Township of Bonfield commissioned the consulting firm J. L Richards to produce a Municipal Energy Plan (MEP), which was adopted in 2024.

The Municipal Energy Plan:

Contains analysis of the Townships’ buildings in their current state from an energy management perspective.
Provides a snapshot of the Township’s Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in 2019 - recalibrated to 2005, as the base year for emissions reporting.
Includes reference to both short-term and long-term investment programs
Outlines potential policies and regulations which could assist the Township in its transition to a low carbon future; and
Introduces guidance on the measures required to increase clean energy production, reduce GHG emissions, and improve environmental quality within the Township.

In this context, the MEP provides recommendations as to how the Township of Bonfield can realize cost savings and achieve enhanced environmental performance, through targeted investments in municipal buildings, fleet, and community-wide infrastructure in the years and decades to come.

In summary, the report notes that:

Minimizing the dependence on fossil fuels as a method of heating the Townships’ buildings would be the biggest single emission reducing measure that can be implemented.
It proposes existing fossil fuel-consuming furnaces be replaced with Air Source Heat Pumps, which can reduce a buildings’ emissions by more than 60%; and notes
Energy retrofits of each buildings’ envelope could further reduce the energy required for heating by another 10%.

The report also identifies:

A large portion of energy is consumed through transportation.
It refers to technological advancements and market growth in Electric Vehicles (EVs) and notes how their increased viability is increasing their uptake.

From a Community-perspective, the MEP advocates for:

More educational initiatives to inform Bonfield Residents about the benefits of our low carbon transition; and
Financing arrangements as a way to assist that transition.

Municipal Energy Audits

The Municipal Energy Plan is supplemented by energy audits of the following Five (5) Township-owned and maintained buildings which were completed in 2021. These are summarized as follows:

1. Municipal Fire Station No. 1 which includes the Fire station, Post Office, and associated offices and facilities at 107 Railway Street, Bonfield, P0H 1E0.

2. Municipal Fire Station No. 2 which includes the Fire station and associated offices and facilities at 440 Rutherglen Line, Rutherglen, P0H 2E0.

3. The Medical Center, including the Exam Rooms, Ambulance Station, and associated offices and facilities located at 105 Landon Street, Bonfield, P0H 1E0.

4. The Township of Bonfield’s Municipal Offices which includes the Administrative Offices, Council Chambers, and Public Library located at 365 Highway 531, Bonfield, P0H 1E0; and

5. The Township of Bonfield’s Public Works Building which includes the Garage, Equipment, and associated offices and facilities, located at 256 Line 3 South, Bonfield, POH 1E0.

Copies of these reports are available to view at the Township of Bonfield for those interested.

The Township also submits annual reports on the Township’s Corporate Emissions each July.

The Township is in the process of commissioning a lighting audit of its facilities; and in due course plans to replace ageing light fixtures and fittings with enhanced energy and environmental performance standards.