Energy & Greenhouse Gas Management

The City reports annually on its energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions by facility, per Ontario Regulation 25/23. For more information on energy consumption reports, please contact the Manager of Energy Management at adam.mcmullin@barrie.ca or 705-739-4220 x 5097.

Ontario Regulation 25/23 also requires municipalities to update their energy conservation and demand management plan every five years. Please refer to the City's current Conservation & Demand Management Plan.

The City’s Corporate Net-Zero Strategy, a roadmap that supports departments across the organization in reducing emissions and achieving net-zero corporate operations by 2050.

The City's Energy Management Branch provides Council with annual updates on GHG emissions across the City's corporate operations. 

One of the City’s most impactful and successful GHG reduction measures has been the installation of the landfill biogas capture system and flare. While the system does not capture all landfill gas, it has significantly reduced emissions. Since its installation, biogas-related GHG emissions at the site have been reduced by an average of 36% annually, amounting to over 180,000 tonnes of CO₂e avoided. This represents a major achievement in Barrie’s efforts to mitigate climate change and demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted infrastructure investments in reducing municipal emissions.

The City of Barrie operates a diverse fleet supporting essential services, including light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles such as SUVs, pickup trucks, fire response vehicles, snowplows, and road maintenance machinery. Currently, about 60% of the fleet is gasoline-powered, with the rest using diesel. Over the next decade, light-duty vehicles will be replaced with electric vehicles (EVs), and heavy-duty vehicles will follow when suitable technology is available. In 2022, the fleet consumed approximately 990,000 litres of fuel, generating 2,470 tonnes CO₂e emissions and costing $1.6 million.

The Wastewater Optimization group was established in September 2017. This group is a combination of staff from wastewater operations, vertical infrastructure planning, energy management... and more! 

Highlights of the Wastewater Optimzation Group to date

• reduced utility costs (water/electrical) by $2.94 million dollars.
• reduced water consumption by 400,000 m3 (equal to 1000 pools)
• reduced electrical consumption by 1.4 million kilo-watt hours (kWh)
• avoided emitting 96 tonnes of GHG emissions​​

The City was awarded by the Mayor’s Megawatt Challenge (MMC) Program in November 2018. The award recognizes municipalities that reduce energy consumption by 10% year over year. City Hall exceeded this threshold by achieving an energy reduction of 16%.

Water Operations and Energy Management staff launched an optimization team that works to identify conservation opportunities at the Water Treatment Facilities. The latest project reduced electricity consumption by 20% through January and February 2019, realizing a cost avoidance of $20,000.

Operational efficiency at the East Bayfield Community Centre (80 Livingstone St. E.)  was significantly improved by replacing the building automation system. The team optimized the original ground source geothermal system to significantly improve energy efficiency. This has reduced electricity consumption 8% from 2017, generating a $43,000 cost avoidance. 

In 2015 the City converted over 10,000 streetlights to LEDs (light emitting diodes), the energy conservation initiative cost $4.8 million to complete and the City received an incentive for $969,000 from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). In 2016 there was a 45% (3,000,000+ kWh) reduction in electricity consumption resulting in $575,000 of avoided energy cost; this savings has continued annually.

• 2022–2023: Ice Resurfacer Electrification Pilot
  The City replaced two natural gas ice resurfacing units with the City’s first electric ones.
• 2023: Net-Zero Feasibility Studies
  Completion of net-zero feasibility studies for 11 of the City’s largest buildings.
• 2024: Fleet Electrification
  Phased conversion of the City’s fleet reached a new milestone as the City added seven Ford Lightning pickup trucks to be used by Wastewater Operations, Water Operations, Roads Operations, and Parks Planning teams.
   

• 2025: Corporate Net-Zero Strategy
  Target set to achieve GHG emission reductions across all City operations.
• 2025 – Battery Electric Bus Pilot
  Two electric buses began servicing Barrie Transit routes in summer 2025. 
• 2025 – Fleet Electrification Continued
  The City’s transition to an electric fleet continues with the addition of four new EV pickup trucks, expanding the use of zero-emission vehicles across multiple departments.
• 2025 – 2026 Electric Ice Resurfacers & Cold Water Flooding
  The City is adding eight additional electric ice resurfacers with cold water flooding capabilities to replace the remaining gas units.

Replace devices with ones that use less energy by switching to a smaller, more efficient devices:

• energy star appliances
• high-efficiency furnaces or water heaters
• low flow toilets
• CFL lights

• turn devices off when not in use (lights, TV, computers etc.
• Use a programmable thermostat to lower temperatures when a home is unoccupied
• reduce heat loss by insulating or caulking and weather-stripping (furnace, A/C will run less)
• maintain your appliances properly (clean filters, and coils, yearly tune ups by professionals)

Appliances use approximately 15% of the energy consumed in our homes and are responsible for approximately 7.5% of the green-house gas emissions for each Canadian.

• Generally, the larger the appliance, the more energy it uses so ensure you buy the right sized appliances for your needs.
• Maintain your appliances properly (clean filters, and coils, yearly tune ups by professionals).
• Turn off your appliances when they’re not in use and ensure you buy the most energy efficient type. Energy star-rated appliances are your guarantee that the product is energy efficient.
• Some small appliances such as TVs, DVD players, Satellite decoders, and computer monitors continue to consume power even when turned off and should be shut-off with a power bar (if recommended by manufacturer).
• Save up to $125 a year on your electricity costs by getting rid of your old, energy guzzling fridge or freezer. Alectra offers free fridge and freezer pickup (conditions apply).

You can purchase green, non-polluting power from various electrical re-sellers including Bullfrog Power, Direct Energy and Ontario Power Generation.

The Provincial Government began a small scale residential renewable energy purchase program in 2009 called the Micro-fit Program. This program allows residents and organizations to install renewable power systems up to 10 kW in size and generate revenue!