The Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP) at the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia has developed an online platform – Community Energy Explorer (CEE) (www.energyexplorer.ca). This unique visual web-resource is designed to build energy literacy and capacity among citizens, decision-makers, and local government staff on community energy and related land-use issues.
CEE provides integrated and interactive information on the Metro Vancouver region, which allows users to explore key concepts of local energy, and see their implications for typical communities. CEE is intended to assist planners in their community engagement practice, by providing images and information to improve and streamline presentations, develop workshops, etc.
There is a pressing need to meet municipal and provincial targets for greenhouse gas reduction by transforming our energy systems. Enhanced digitally-aided processes and tools like CEE are needed to help build awareness, and inform decision-making at the local level. It is hoped that this effort to educate and engage young people in the field of the urban planning for community energy, will open up an innovative new pathway for much-needed civic discussions, and social learning on the energy choices that communities face.