Letter: It's time to turn away from fossil fuels to power new builds

Reader Letters - 
Leader Post

We’re way behind on electrification in Regina when it has advantages that would benefit us while helping to fight the climate crisis. Building right with all electric the first time will save money on energy costs for buildings with the costs of operating high-efficiency electric appliances being lower with savings over time. A study by Inclusive Economics and UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation found that there could be significant job growth from electrifying new and existing buildings. Most of the new jobs would be in construction, with opportunities for job growth in other sectors as well, including manufacturing.


Solar panels on a row of townhouses.© Provided by Leader Post

Building electrification (also known as beneficial electrification or building decarbonization) involves the shift to electricity rather than burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal for heating and cooking. We need to be going to all-electric buildings powered by solar, wind and other sources of zero-carbon electricity. Electrification is an effective decarbonization strategy that can be rolled out on a municipal basis because the electricity used can be generated with clean resources.

So why are we building backwards with buildings that are not highly energy efficient or electrified? It’s developers nickel and diming with no accountability to the City of Regina or the province to build with a focus on decarbonization. We need to stop looking for the cheapest shortcuts in buildings in our province and city and look for the solutions that have the best long term benefit environmentally and economically. If we’re serious about sustainability then it’s time to get serious about electrification.

Larry Neufeld, Regina