Reducing energy starts with the leadership of Municipal Council and staff. Without the support of the community and municipality, the early adopters who bike to work, install solar panels and grow their own vegetables will not be able to make a significant difference. Only when those energy reducing measures are accepted, encouraged and emulated, can a community’s environmental impact be notably reduced.
When the entire community is involved with reducing energy consumption, everyone feels a part of the process. If every resident has a stake in helping a community meet its energy reduction targets, the odds of achieving them grow.
Creating a Community Energy Plan (CEP) is the first step in the reducing energy consumption. Setting goals and involving the entire community is vital.