Environment alumnus helps write blueprint for our energy future

What if somebody laid out a plan to make global energy use sustainable, while improving access to energy for the world’s poorest and maintaining a high-tech, convenient lifestyle for the more affluent?

Well, somebody – a group of the world’s top scientists, industry leaders, policy makers, and young leaders, including an Environment alumnus – has done just that.

The Equinox Blueprint, released Feb. 19, is a fulsome articulation of the ideas that came out of the Equinox Summit, hosted last June by the Waterloo Global Science Initiative, a partnership between the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute.

Ted Sherk (centre), a recent Master of Environmental Studies graduate, led an international group of young leaders in drafting the Smart Urbanization chapter, which lays out a vision for the sustainable development of cities.

Smart urbanization is one of five main points in the plan, which also calls for the development of large-scale storage for renewable energy, major geothermal projects, next-generation nuclear energy, and off-grid electricity access for underserviced rural areas.

Sherk is particularly excited by the “smart grid” electricity systems being developed. Traditionally, the only response to high power use has been to produce more electricity. A better way, says Sherk, is to conserve energy equivalent to the extra power needed.

For instance, Peaksaver enables utilities, at peak demand times, to slightly turn down the air conditioners of homeowners and businesses that have signed up for the program. The difference is too slight to be noticed, but collectively, the power saved adds up to a lot. Other programs, such as Low Foot, use incentives and smart meter technology to encourage people to consciously save energy.

“The blueprint identifies schemes that could potentially save hundreds of millions in infrastructure costs by helping homeowners and businesses use electricity more efficiently,” says Sherk. “These schemes already exist in North America, but what they lack is policy support and funding to realize their full potential.”

Now that the blueprint has been released, it means summit participants, including Sherk, begin the work of “generating policy support and funding to implement the pathways.”

Thomas Homer-Dixon, who among many other titles, is Director of the Faculty of Environment’s Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation, spoke at the summit and was involved in initial planning for the blueprint. He likes the overall thrust of the plan, especially the emphasis on geothermal energy and better batteries.

But the challenge to the world doesn’t stop there, he says.

“Technical issues are important but we can be fairly confident there’s no technological silver bullet, and in the absence of a technological silver bullet, the challenge is really political and social.”