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Paris 2024 Olympics: Setting a New Standard for Sustainability
The Olympic Games have long been a symbol of global unity and athletic excellence, but their environmental impact, particularly in terms of CO2 emissions, often goes unnoticed. Host cities face the challenge of balancing the grandeur of the Games with the need for sustainability.
The article Olympics 2024: Going Green Instead of Gold published by BOMA BEST early this month gathers historic data from previous Games.
“The London 2012 Olympics generated an estimated 3.3 million tonnes of CO2, nearly equivalent to the annual emissions of a coal plant, with construction accounting for 50% and energy use for 25% (Gold and Gold, 2015). The Rio 2016 Olympics had a carbon footprint of about 3.6 million tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the annual emissions of roughly 800,000 people (Rowberg and Rincker, 2019). Of Rio’s emissions, 30-40% came from energy consumption at venues, and 25-30% was from transporting athletes, officials, and spectators (Trendafilova et al., 2017).”
The Paris 2024 Olympics organizing committee has established a new model for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, aimed at delivering a more responsible, sustainable, and inclusive event.
The Legacy and Sustainability Plan for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games initiatives include:
Climate Action and Carbon Reduction: Paris 2024 aimed to be the first Olympic Games aligned with the Paris Agreement on climate change by using existing or temporary venues to minimize construction emissions, implementing renewable energy solutions, and offsetting unavoidable emissions through certified carbon offset projects to achieve carbon neutrality.
Circular Economy and Waste Management: Paris 2024 focused on reducing waste and promoting a circular economy by minimizing single-use plastics, designing a comprehensive waste management plan, and repurposing materials from temporary facilities to create a more sustainable event.
Biodiversity Preservation: The Games prioritized protecting and enhancing biodiversity through the restoration of green spaces, planting trees, creating urban forests, and ensuring all construction projects meet stringent environmental standards to safeguard local ecosystems.
Sustainable Mobility: To reduce transportation-related emissions, Paris 2024 emphasizes sustainable transport options such as public transport, cycling, and walking.
Legacy of Sustainable Innovation: Paris 2024 seeks to leave a lasting impact by showcasing sustainable innovations, supporting long-term urban development, and encouraging practices that will benefit host communities and set new standards for future events.
We hope this positive trend extends across industries. The significance of making meaningful changes is clear, and as the Paris 2024 Olympics have shown, achieving a substantial impact is entirely possible.
Vertical Solar Panels: A Groundbreaking Approach to Sustainable Building Design
In a groundbreaking move toward sustainability, a 1960s Downsview apartment building has turned a routine balcony upgrade into an opportunity to embrace renewable energy. Instead of conventional glass railings, the building’s owners installed solar panels that double as balcony railings. This initiative not only enhances the building's facade but also reflects a forward-thinking approach to energy efficiency.
The project involves specially designed solar panels manufactured locally in Etobicoke, marking a new era of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Unlike traditional solar panels that are typically confined to rooftops, BIPV panels can be seamlessly integrated into various parts of a building, including walls, cladding, and as in this case, balcony railings. The panels on this apartment building capture sunlight from multiple angles without needing to directly face the sun, making them a versatile solution in urban settings where rooftop space is limited.
This project exemplifies how mandatory upgrades—like replacing balcony railings every 20 years for safety reasons—can be leveraged to implement sustainable solutions. While the initial cost of installing solar panels was slightly higher than traditional materials, the long-term benefits in terms of energy savings and environmental impact make it a worthwhile investment. The solar panels come with a 25-year performance warranty, ensuring the investment pays for itself multiple times over.
With over 1,200 linear meters of BIPV installed on this building alone, the solar balcony railings are expected to produce approximately 100 megawatt-hours of power per year.
This initiative demonstrates how urban developments can be both practical and visionary. It exemplifies how innovative thinking and sustainable technology can transform aging structures into environmentally friendly assets that benefit both the planet and the bottom line.
Read more about it here.
Energy Efficiency: A Key Focus in Real Estate’s Evolving ESG Landscape
Energy efficiency will take center stage in the 2025 GRESB assessment, as the global benchmark for ESG performance in commercial real estate enhances its energy performance metrics. GRESB will introduce a new approach by assigning energy efficiency scores to individual assets within participants’ portfolios. The updated methodology highlights the importance of operational performance data, covering energy consumption, metering, renewable supply, and efficiency improvements.
Energy@Work welcomes this focus on energy efficiency as a key component of ESG performance. We have long emphasized that energy efficiency should be prioritized before investing in costly equipment upgrades or audits. Measures such as optimized HVAC scheduling, turning off equipment when not in use, and ongoing monitoring can yield significant energy savings and reduce carbon footprints.
Our E-MAP (Energy Management Action Plan) service exemplifies this approach, as it encompasses operational performance as a core concept and continual monitoring ensure energy is not being wasted. We believe that highlighting energy efficiency within ESG frameworks is essential for driving real progress towards sustainability goals and look forward to seeing more companies adopt this approach.
Ontario’s Largest Energy Procurement Launch: Overlooking the Cost-Effective Solution of Energy Efficiency
The Ontario government has launched its largest competitive energy procurement initiative to date, aiming to generate up to 5,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to meet the rising demand from families and businesses.
This unprecedented action supports Ontario’s diverse energy mix, including nuclear, hydroelectric, renewables, natural gas, and biomass, and emphasizes community consent, agricultural protection, and economic opportunities for Indigenous and northern communities. Developers must secure municipal support for new projects, and the plan includes specific measures to protect agricultural lands while prioritizing projects that respect Indigenous territories and leverage Crown Lands. A technology-agnostic approach will ensure a broad range of energy resources, with a rapid procurement timeline designed to meet Ontario's growing energy needs.
However, while the plan addresses future energy generation, it raises an important question: where is energy efficiency in this strategy?
Energy efficiency often provides greater economic benefits compared to new energy generation but remains underemphasized. Prioritizing energy efficiency can offer substantial savings, job creation, and long-term financial benefits, positioning it as a compelling alternative to building new generation capacity. Here’s why energy efficiency should be at the forefront:
Lower Cost per Kilowatt-Hour Saved vs. Generated
Saving energy through efficiency measures costs significantly less—around $0.02 to $0.05 per kWh saved—compared to the $0.05 to $0.15 per kWh cost of generating new energy. Making energy efficiency a more cost-effective option, yet despite these, current Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) programs are ending this year with no new initiatives announced.Avoided Infrastructure Costs
Energy Efficiency reduces overall demand, potentially avoiding the need for costly new infrastructure like power plants and transmission lines.Job Creation and Economic Stimulus
Energy efficiency investments are labor-intensive, generating three times more jobs per dollar compared to traditional energy generation. This sector positively impacts trades, planners, engineers, and financial experts, creating a ripple effect that benefits consumers, the economy, and energy companies.Reduced Energy Bills for Consumers
Energy Efficiency directly lowers energy bills, delivering long-term savings, especially in residential and commercial sectors. In contrast, new generation addresses demand but doesn’t reduce consumption, often resulting in higher rates for consumers.Economic Multiplier Effect
Money saved through efficiency is often reinvested into the broader economy, stimulating growth across various sectors. In contrast, the higher costs associated with new generation can limit disposable income and, consequently, broader economic activity.Long-Term Financial Benefits
Energy Efficiency investments pay for themselves many times over, offering continuous financial benefits and contributing to economic stability. Our own verified savings of 16,000,000 kWh with Toronto Hydro highlight the potential of ongoing efficiency improvements, particularly in the commercial sector amid increasing urban electrification.
Ontario’s ambitious energy procurement plan is a step towards securing the province’s energy future, but energy efficiency must be integrated into this strategy. By investing in efficiency measures alongside new generation, Ontario can achieve more cost-effective, job-creating, and consumer-friendly energy solutions, ultimately enhancing the economic and environmental resilience of the province.
Energy@Work’s Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) has proven to be a reliable roadmap for many. By optimizing building performance without compromising safety, comfort, or equipment reliability, E-MAP is helping to achieve a 30% economic potential!
For more information email: Requests@Energy-Efficiency.com
July’s Global Adjustment Mechanism (GAM)e Cost: $0.74 Billion
In July 2024, the GA cost was $0.744 billion, which is a 5% decrease from the June 2024 GA cost ($0.783 billion).
If we compare July 2024 with July 2023, there was a 33% increase (it was $ 0.561 billion).
The Class B July GA rate was $63.71/MWh ($0.064/kWh). The Average HOEP for July was $37.7/MWh ($0.038/kWh)
With these drastic monthly swings in cost, Energy@Work continues to ask “why?”. We provide a monthly review of GAM costs, however, the reason for the cost as well as the vast cost fluctuation remains unclear.
Energy@Work’s services include a “GAM coach”. We maintain the importance of a GAM Strategy for Class A and Class B in order to win the (GAM)e. Our collective savings have exceeded $10 million, and we look forward to continuing to assist.
Monthly Feature: Energy@Work to Present Key Insights at the 19th SDEWES Conference in Rome
Energy@Work is proud to announce its participation in the 19th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES), taking place in Rome from September 8 to 12, 2024.
The SDEWES Conference is dedicated to advancing and sharing knowledge on methods, policies, and technologies that increase sustainability by decoupling growth from the use of natural resources and transitioning to a knowledge-based economy—all while considering the economic, environmental, and social pillars of sustainable development. The event will bring together researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss integrated solutions across energy, water, waste, transport, and other critical sectors. Learn more about the conference here.
Our Managing Partner, Scott Rouse, a seasoned expert in energy management, has been invited to present insights from Energy@Work's “28 Energy Management Action Plans that can lead the commercial sector’s path to Net Zero.” His presentation will highlight actionable strategies and lessons learned from these action plans, demonstrating how the commercial sector can effectively transition to Net Zero through integrated energy management and sustainability practices.
