MECO was established in 2005, with funding support from the City of Markham and PowerStream with a vision to position the City of Markham as a leader and municipal champion in energy conservation.

MECO is an important sustainability initiative that demonstrates the City of Markham’s commitment to conservation demand management and energy efficiency. MECO recognizes that energy conservation will save money, decrease demand, enhance the local energy supply by reducing its dependency on the grid, and best of all reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

MECO is responsible for leading, developing and implementing energy conservation programs that deliver realistic demand shedding and cost avoidance results and are in line with the Provincial goals of creating a ‘culture of conservation.’  

MECO’s portfolio of programs is broad-based and includes initiatives that are focused on improving internal operations by implementing retrofit projects in existing facilities as well as working to ensure new facilities are built to a higher, more efficient standard.  In addition, MECO provides an employee awareness program on energy conservation for City staff.

MECO also delivers programs with other partners, geared towards improving the energy efficiency of small-to-medium sized commercial businesses and to raising awareness about energy conservation within the local community.

In 2009 MECO joined the newly formed Sustainability Office.  MECO is now positioned to play a key role in the preparation and implementation of the Greenprint, Markham’s Sustainability Plan and to handle expanded responsibilities, including Climate Change.  MECO will be working on a corporate energy plan, to help all departments at the City conserve energy, explore green energy options and understand their greenhouse gas emissions.  MECO will continue to partnering with businesses and the community to deliver energy conservation programs and incentives to residents, businesses and developers.