Christina E. Hoicka

Associate Professor in Sustainable Energy Economics

Senior Faculty Associate,
Robarts' Centre for Canadian Studies

Credentials

PhD Geography, University of Waterloo
MES Environmental Studies, York University
B.Eng Chemical Engineering, McGill University

Research Keywords

Energy Advocacy & Energy Justice; Participation & Planning In Energy Transitions; Community Energy; Innovation In Energy Services & Systems; Renewables Integration Into Electricity Grid.

Contact Information

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3

416 736 2100

cehoicka@yorku.ca

http://cehoicka.lab.yorku.ca/ | https://wseresearch.com/

Research Interests

My research and teaching are about developing a better understanding of how communities adopt low carbon technologies and energy transitions. I take an interdisciplinary approach to research by combining my knowledge of human geography, ecological economics and engineering and I like to collaborate with political scientists, geographers, engineers, and ecological economists. The focus of my research is community based work. It is international in scope, but grounded in understanding practices used in Canada as well. I mentor students through their participation in my research group. My current research interests include: Indigenous community energy projects; how citizens, households, organizations, universities, and municipalities participate in community energy and low-carbon energy transitions; how green entrepreneurs, policy entrepreneurs and innovation intermediaries are involved in regime destruction to establish a more sustainable energy system; whether and how communities are benefiting from community energy programs and energy innovations; planning for energy transitions; how diversity and inclusion accelerates energy transitions.

Research Projects

2020 – Smart Prosperity Grant (with Katarina Savic) on Post COVID-19 Indigenous Economic Recovery: Reconciliation in the Energy Transition.

2020 – Economics and Environmental Policy Research Network (EEPRN)/Smart Prosperity Grant (with Yuxu Zhao and Maria-Louise McMaster) on Diffusion of Multiple Demand-Side Low-Carbon Innovations in a 1.5C Energy Transition.

2017-2018 - MITACS Accelerate (with Susan Wyse) on Evaluating Low Carbon Technologies and Best Practices.

2016-2019 - SSHRC Insight Development Grant (with Travis Gliedt) on Sustainable Energy Transitions on Linking Pro-environmental Behaviour to System Innovation, Project Investigator.

2014 - Metcalf Green Prosperity Challenge Project (with Judith Lipp), “From Community Power to Community Conservation: Motivating and Measuring Conservation Actions of a Captive Audience,” Nominated Principal Investigator.

2013-2017 - PowerStream Chair in Sustainable Energy Economics, 2013-2017.

Research Output

Hoicka, C.E. & Das, R. (2020). Ambitious deep energy retrofits of buildings to accelerate the 1.5°C energy transition in Canada. The Canadian Geographer. https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.12637

MacArthur, J, Hoicka, C.E., Castleden, H. Das, R. Lieu, J. (2020). Perspective: Forging Canada’s Green New Deal: The Social Foundations of Climate Resilient Infrastructure. Energy Research and Social Science. 65. 101442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101442

Lowitzsch J, Hoicka C.E., van Tulder F. (2020). “Renewable Energy Communities under the 2019 European Clean Energy Package – Governance Model for the Energy Clusters of the Future?” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 122, 109489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109489

Wyse, S. M., and C. E. Hoicka (2019). ‘By and For Local People’: Assessing the connection between Local Energy Plans and Community Energy. Local Environment 24(9). Taylor & Francis: 883–900. https://doi.org/10.1080 /13549839.2019.1652802

Hoicka, C. E., & MacArthur, J. L. (2019). The Infrastructure for Electricity: A Technical Overview In K. Hancock & J. Allison (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics. Oxford University Press.

Hoicka, C. E., & MacArthur, J. L. (2018). From Tip to Toes: Mapping Community Energy Models in Canada and New Zealand. Energy Policy, 121, 162–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.06.002

Hoicka, C. E., & Parker, P. (2018). Assessing the adoption of the house as a system approach to residential energy efficiency programs. Energy Efficiency, 11(2), 295–313. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-017-9564 -x

Gliedt, T., Hoicka, C. E., & Jackson, N. (2018). Innovation intermediaries accelerating environmental sustainability transitions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 174(10), 1247–1261. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.054

Gliedt, T., & Hoicka, C. E. (2015). Energy upgrades as financial or strategic investment? Energy Star property owners and managers improving building energy performance. Applied Energy, 147, 430–443. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.02.028

Hoicka, C. E., Parker, P., & Andrey, J. (2014). Residential energy efficiency retrofits: How program design affects participation and outcomes. Energy Policy, 65, 594–607. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.053

Hoicka, C. E., & Rowlands, I. H. (2011). Solar and wind resource complementarity: Advancing options for renewable electricity integration in Ontario, Canada. Renewable Energy, 36(1), 97–107. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2010.06.004

Recognition & Awards

York University Research Leader Award
Dean’s Research Excellence Award, Faculty of Environmental Studies
Judge, Crowdsourcing Contest, Helping Small Business Go Low-Carbon MIT Climate Co-lab, Government of Ontario, Centre for Social Innovation
PowerStream Chair in Sustainable Energy Economics
MITACS Accelerate (with Susan Wyse)
SSHRC Insight Development Grant (with Travis Gliedt) on Sustainable Energy Transitions on Linking Pro-environmental Behaviour to System Innovation
Metcalf Green Prosperity Challenge Project (with Judith Lipp) • “From Community Power to Community Conservation: Motivating and Measuring Conservation Actions of a Captive Audience”
SSHRC Connections Grant (with Peter Victor and Ellie Perkins) on Sustaining the Commons: Ideas and Actions for a Green Economy