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Executive Director's Statement

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Canadian communities of all sizes require practical, cost effective and imp'lemental solutions to meet their infrastructure and energy needs. How we have designed and built our communities, while well intentioned, is now having a direct impact on the economic viability and quality of life experienced within Canada's communities. It is about how resources are used, products are produced, land is developed, buildings and infrastructure constructed, services are supplied and how places are connected. I believe that QUEST - Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow - presents Canadians with the most concrete, practical, and immediately implementable solutions for responding to their community's infrastructure and energy needs.

Knowing what we know today, we need to build a new process, one where Canadian communities are designed in a way that integrates energy supply and distribution with its use on land, in buildings, in transportation, in water and from waste. By integrating these systems, communities can begin to support an increasingly sustainable and prosperous lifestyle. For communities to meet continuing population and employment growth, a significant financial challenge exists. Canada faces major costs for energy and infrastructure renewal and expansion. Energy systems, transportation, and water infrastructure are all critical services that are the foundation of our communities and local economies.

QUEST is responding to this energy infrastructure and investment challenge by advancing integrated community energy systems and solutions (ICES). ICES can involve taking advantage of opportunities to improve energy efficiency beyond individual buildings and houses to encompass whole communities. In fact, QUEST's recent national modelling and policy work has demonstrated that an ICES approach can result in energy systems that are more efficient, less emitting, more reliable and secure and would increase the flexibility of delivery systems and fuel (thermal and electrical) choices.

QUEST has identified six principles that are needed to help guide Canada to achieving the energy and emission reductions that can transform our energy systems.

1. First and foremost - reduce energy needed to run and operate all systems (from the pumping of water, to transportation to the heating and cooling of buildings to the operation of computers).
2. Second - avoid using high-quality energy in low-quality applications - electricity for space heating, generated by burning natural gas hundreds of kilometres away from where it is used is an example of an inefficient use of energy.
3. Capture all thermal energy and re-use it. Hot water from showers and other types of industrial processing activities is sent directly into sewer systems - this heat can be captured and reused to provide domestic hot water and heating
4. Use all available energy sources, starting with local sources - landfill gas, municipal, agricultural, industrial and forestry waste are all sources of real energy and can be used rather than transported and stored in landfills.
5. Renewable resources need to be tapped into and used - geothermal, solar, wind, biogas, biomass - determining which is the most prevalent and useful to any given community is critical for overall system efficiency.
6. Smart and flexible energy networks, capable of intermixing fuels, electricity and heating and cooling services is another important way to improve efficiency.

Highlights of 2011 - Where we are today

2011 was full of success and important firsts, including QUEST incorporating as a national non-profit organization; the formation of a formal governance structure with an independent Board of Directors led by Michael Harcourt, Chair and CEO, Ken Ogilvie, Vice Chair and Mike Cleland, Secretary and Treasurer; and, the formation of a dedicated and committed team including Tonja Leach, Director Communications and Engagement and Richard Laszlo, Director, Education and Research; the launch of QUEST's first Business Case Series featuring ICES initiatives; and the hosting of a successful national conference in Calgary that focused on Integrated Community Energy Solutions: Building for Tomorrow's Communities.

Going forward in 2012 - Where we're headed

For 2012, QUEST is gearing up to launch activities in three areas of focus that include:

• Research and Education: QUEST serves a useful and recognizable role in addressing the knowledge gaps related to ICES. For example, QUEST is undertaking the creation of Business Cases, which showcase Canadian examples of integrated communities.
• Partnerships and Engagement: QUEST is building partnerships based on positive collaboration across sectors, regions and stakeholder groups and by actively working to establish and support QUEST Caucuses in provinces and territories across Canada. QUEST is working to engage associations and other organizations that work with and represent community builders to accelerate opportunities for integrated energy planning and development.
• Programs: QUEST plays an active role in disseminating information, building capacity and mobilizing players to address local energy issues. QUEST will be hosting the first International Conference & Tradeshow devoted to Integrated Community Energy Systems & Solutions in Canada this fall.

More details on the activities of QUEST in 2012 can be found here.

On behalf of the entire QUEST team, I am looking forward to working with our many supporters, partners and affiliate organizations in advancing ICES in 2012.