The City of Courtenay’s Corporate Facilities Energy Management Plan (CFEMP) is a strategic roadmap that identifies building upgrades and retrofits required to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets in City-owned buildings. It presents a multi-year plan to meet provincially legislated GHG reduction targets, and City of Courtenay Official Community plan emission targets, while improving City facilities.
The CFEMP will guide energy retrofits and upgrades through 2050, with a focus on projects needed to meet 2030 targets. The following approach is recommended:
- Start with buildings that use the most natural gas.
- Align replacements and upgrades with end of the equipment’s service life.
- Work with BC Hydro to ensure there is enough electricity supply for planned upgrades.
- Consult building occupants to understand how they use the facilities and identify ways to improve comfort.
- Apply for grants and other external funding for each project.
- Track progress, measure and verify building performance and update infrastructure plans every three to five years.
Overview summary
- City of Courtenay Corporate Facilities Energy Management Plan Summary [PDF/324KB]
- Presentation – Corporate Facility Energy Management
Background
To develop the CFEMP, the City analyzed utility data, completed building energy and emissions audits, reviewed existing documents, visited sites and consulted City staff and building occupants. The plan covers 29 City-owned and operated facilities.
Eighteen simple buildings, such as park buildings, public washrooms and storage facilities, received basic ASHRAE Level 1 energy assessments (high-level building assessments that identify potential low-cost energy-saving opportunities) because they have simpler energy systems. This work was funded by BC Hydro through its Integrated Energy Audit program. More detailed results are available in the City of Courtenay Integrated Energy Audit report below.
Eleven large buildings with more complex energy systems received detailed ASHRAE Level 2 energy assessments (detailed evaluation of building energy systems to identify, quantify and prioritize energy conservation opportunities). This study was funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities through its Green Municipal Fund Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative. The City of Courtenay GHG Reduction Pathway report outlines the findings and compares two ways of prioritizing projects to help meet the City’s goals.
Courtenay City Council adopted the CFEMP in January 2026 and directed staff to complete energy upgrades aligned with Pathway 2, identified in the GHG Reduction Pathway report as the most affordable approach to achieving emission targets. This approach is cost-effective because it aligns equipment replacements with the end of their expected service lives. Recommended building upgrades will be completed in the coming years.