Guelph is working on ways to use energy more wisely and reduce our carbon emissions in order to fight climate change.
Guelph’s plan to Race to Zero and become a net zero carbon community by 2050
The City of Guelph is committed to the United Nations Race-to-Zero campaign and has set targets for the whole community to reduce carbon emissions:
- Reduce our community carbon emissions by 63 per cent against the 2018 baseline by 2030**
- Work together to become a net zero carbon community by 2050
We encourage people and organizations in the community to help implement Guelph’s Community Energy Initiative and race to zero and become a net zero carbon community by 2050.
Community greenhouse gas (GHG) tracking
Yearly community GHG emissions
Guelph’s Community Race to Zero carbon emissions target is
- Reduce our community carbon emissions by 63 per cent against the 2018 baseline (or down to 344,048 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) by 2030
Guelph’s 2020 Community GHG emissions were 775,887 tonnes of CO2e. This equates to 5.35 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per person in Guelph. Past years’ Community GHG emissions were:
- 2019: 775,887 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
- 2018: 929,859 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
How different sector GHG emissions contribute to the total community GHG emissions
This is how different sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribute to the total community GHG emissions:
- Residential buildings (Includes fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas systems): 174,284 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent CO2e; 22.5%
- Institutional/Commercial buildings (Includes fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas systems): 186,772 tonnes of CO2e; 24.1%
- Industrial buildings (Includes fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas systems): 189,305 tonnes of CO2e; 24.4%
- Transportation: 204,000 tonnes of CO2e; 26.3%
- Waste and wastewater: 21,526 tonnes of CO2e; 2.8%
City facilities, fleet and operations to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050 (100RE Target)
Currently, a quarter of all the energy used by the City comes from renewable sources. By further conserving energy and choosing cleaner sources, we’re planning to reduce our carbon emissions and use 100 per cent renewable energy for all our facilities, fleet and operations by 2050.
100RE status
- In 2018, 23.5% of all the energy used by the City facilities, fleet and operations was from renewable sources.
- In 2019, 24.5% of all the energy used by the City facilities, fleet and operations was from renewable sources.
- In 2020, 25.4% of all the energy used by the City facilities, fleet and operations was from renewable sources.
- In 2021, 24.7% of all the energy used by the City facilities, fleet and operations was from renewable sources.
Corporate energy consumption
In 2020, total corporate energy consumption was 136,886,150 kilowatt hour equivalent. This works out to 978 kilowatt hour equivalent per person in the community. The composition of the total corporate energy consumption is:
| Energy type | Consumption |
|---|---|
| Vehicles propane | 0.1% |
| Facilities propane | 0.0% |
| Facilities district energy | 1.5% |
| Vehicles gasoline | 5.7% |
| Facilities digestor gas | 12.0% |
| Facilities natural gas | 22.4% |
| Vehicles diesel | 25.2% |
| Facilities electricity | 33.0% |
In 2018 the total corporate energy consumption was 159,433,798 kilowatt hour equivalent.
In 2019 the total corporate energy consumption was 156,905,357 kilowatt hour equivalent.
In 2020 the total corporate energy consumption was 136,886,150 kilowatt hour equivalent.
In 2021 the total corporate energy consumption was 138,554,299 kilowatt hour equivalent.
Corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- Fleet – 59.4% or 10,430 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
- Facilities – 40.6% or 7,144 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
In 2018 the total GHG emissions were 19,501 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
In 2019 the total GHG emissions were 19,644 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
In 2020 the total GHG emissions were 16,966 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
In 2021 the total GGHG emissions were 17,574 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
City of Guelph Environmental Sustainability Report
City of Guelph energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission (2011 to 2019)
More ways Guelph is responding to climate change
In addition to using less fuel and energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Guelph is working to ensure our community is prepared to withstand and recover from the effects of climate change.
Learn more and get involved at guelph.ca/environment.
Recent news
City adding four electric buses to Guelph Transit routes by summer 2022
October 27, 2021
Guelph receives $200,000 to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases
July 27, 2021
Council unanimously approves urban design plan for Baker District redevelopment
July 21, 2021
For more information
Energy and Climate Change
519-822-1260 extension 2672
[email protected]