District energy plays key role in greening of Canadian communities

摘要

Canada's population reached 32.5 million people in 2013 and is projected to reach 52.6 million by 2061. In fact, this population growth rate of 1.2 percent is one of the highest of the G8 countries. As is standard, this population increase is expected to be overwhelmingly located in urban areas: In 2011 less than 20 percent of the Canadian population lived in rural areas, and this number is expected to decline as the population increases. Thus, Canada - a country known for long, cold winters - is experiencing a sharp increase in demand for heat and energy in densely populated areas. Along with this demand is the growing responsibility for Canadian municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the Paris Agreement Canada committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Various provinces are implementing carbon markets and cap-and-trade programs, thus extending the responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to industry.