At the Feb. 11 District of 100 Mile House council meeting, councillors learned there was an overall decrease in energy consumption for buildings, but an increase in fuel use for fleet vehicles.
Electricity was down 14 per cent over 2012 and natural gas was down eight per cent. However, gasoline and diesel use were up four and 13 per cent respectively. Factors such as summer and winter temperatures, snowfall amounts (and associated snow-clearing activities) and the volume of emergency callouts likely contributed to the variations in energy usages, District planner Joanne Doddridge suggested.
Meanwhile, the District’s fleet and equipment account for 49% of all emissions; buildings account for 44%; and utilities account for seven per cent of all emissions.
Consumption from all energy sources equalled 307 tonnes of Green House Gases, down slightly over 2012 levels.
Energy expenditures totalled $213,954 for 2013, which is down nearly four per cent over 2012. The carbon dioxide equivalent of 2013 consumption is $7,681, which would be the total cost of purchasing carbon offset credits to become carbon neutral.
