Zero emissions.
That’s Shediac’s goal and you can help get us there.
Greater Shediac is working toward becoming Canada's first Net Zero community. We're not waiting for someone else to figure it out. We're building a plan right here, right now and we need your voice to do it.
So… what exactly is "doing nothing"?
In this case,
nothing is everything.
Net Zero means balancing the greenhouse gases we produce — from our homes, vehicles, businesses, and services — with what we can eliminate or absorb. When emissions reach zero, we stop adding to the problem. That's doing nothing. And it's a very big deal.
It doesn't mean shutting down. It means making smart, practical transitions over time: switching to heat pumps, electric vehicles, solar energy, and more efficient buildings — in ways that work for real people in Shediac.
ZERO EMISSIONS.
THAT'S THE GOAL.
500+ local homes
are already doing nothing.
From 2019 to 2024, Greater Shediac was home to one of Canada's most ambitious smart energy research projects. In partnership with the National Research Council of Canada and NB Power, over 500 local households quietly got to work doing nothing — testing:
The plan will look at five key areas where we can do nothing:
- Rooftop solar panels with battery storage — generating clean local power
- Cold-climate heat pumps — efficient, low-emission heating
- Smart thermostats — giving residents control and reducing strain on the grid
- Time-of-day electricity pricing — rewarding flexibility with lower bills
- A community solar farm — one of the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada
Two public buildings — the Shediac Multipurpose Centre and the Government of Canada Pension Centre — were upgraded to Net Zero energy standards.
The results showed that doing nothing is real, achievable, and something Shediac is already good at.
Now it's time to scale it up.
Now we’re building the full plan together..
Phase 2 is about going community-wide. Working with researchers at the National Research Council of Canada, the Town of Shediac has engaged Portfolio Strategic Action to lead a broad consultation — the foundation for a full Net Zero Transition Plan for Greater Shediac.
The plan will look at five key areas where we can do nothing:
- Homes & Buildings — insulation, heat pumps, solar, smart thermostats
- Getting Around — electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, walking more, idling less
- Local Business & Industry — commercial energy transition, green industry growth
- Energy & Services — renewable generation, the grid, waste reduction,
- LED streetlighting Land & Nature — forestry, green space, carbon offsetting
This isn’t a plan being handed down from above. It’s a plan for your community built with your input. Help us Do Nothing right.
Ways to Get Involved
Ready to do nothing? Here’s how.
Take the Survey
Our short community questionnaire is open to all residents, seasonal visitors, and local businesses. Five minutes. Completely anonymous. Your answers directly shape the plan.
Stay in the Loop Sign up for updates on events, engagement opportunities, and plan milestones.
FAQ’s
Questions about doing nothing?
We’ve got answers.
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Yes. The questionnaire is completely anonymous — no identifying information is collected. Responses are analyzed in aggregate only, used solely to inform the Net Zero Transition Plan.
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Yes. All surveys, materials, and events are fully bilingual.
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This project is led by the Town of Shediac in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) through the Smart Green Infrastructure Network (SGIN). Community engagement is led by Portfolio Strategic Action.
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More insulation. Heat pumps. Smart thermostats. Cold water washing. Walking more, driving less. Stop idling. Install solar. Small things add up to a whole lot of nothing — and that's exactly the point.
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Yes. The Shediac Net Zero Transition Plan builds directly on the 2019–2024 smart energy pilot, which tested innovative technologies in over 500 local homes. Phase 2 takes those lessons community-wide.
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No. This is a planning and engagement process. We're here to listen — not to install anything or require any changes. Any future programs that emerge from this plan will always be voluntary.
That’s the goal
Shediac has always been a community that leads — on the water, in the community centre, at the kitchen table. This is no different.
Come to a Community Event Drop-in
Becoming Canada's first Net Zero community isn't just an environmental milestone. It's an economic opportunity, a quality-of-life investment, and a legacy for the next generation of families who will call this place home.
