Chapter 5, "Energy," tells the story of energy systems at the Olympic Village, where athletes will live during the Winter Olympics in February, 2010.

The innovation of the systems themselves may fade as technologies improve, but the chapter's story of shared problem-solving, learning, patience and cooperation hold lasting lessons for future generations.

"The story begins at the end, with the closed-loop concept of energy being drawn from what has already been thrown out. The Southeast False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility will produce from sewage much of the energy required by the Olympic Village and adjacent neighbourhoods yet to come. The chapter moves on into radiant energy and energy design, and includes stories of implementation. Finally we detail the behavioural supports – the how and why of measuring energy use and the hoped-for results of providing that information to residents." -- from the Challenge Series, chapter 5.

Energy is the first priority in a shift to sustainability. Not only does energy efficiency correlate with reductions in costs and greenhouse gas emissions, it is also precisely and objectively measurable. If buildings save energy, owners or tenants save money. The City of Vancouver, designers and builders of the Olympic Village, has raised the bar in this area. Their contributions are critical to building momentum for energy efficiency.