Energy Conservation and Efficiency

Ambitious Energy Conservation and Efficiency Targets

The more energy that is conserved, the fewer new sources of supply we will require in the future. That is why British Columbia is setting new conservation targets to reduce growth in electricity demand.

Inefficient use of energy leads to higher costs and many environmental and security of supply problems.

Conservation Target

The BC Energy Plan sets an ambitious conservation target, to acquire 50 per cent of BC Hydro's incremental resource needs through conservation by 2020. This will require building on the "culture of conservation" that British Columbians have embraced in recent years.

The plan confirms action on the part of government to complement these conservation targets by working closely with BC Hydro and other utilities to research, develop, and implement best practices in conservation and energy efficiency and to increase public awareness. In addition, the plan supports utilities in British Columbia and the BC Utilities Commission pursuing all cost effective and competitive demand side management programs. Utilities are also encouraged to explore and develop rate designs to encourage efficiency, conservation and the development of renewable energy.

Future energy efficiency and conservation initiatives will include:

• Continuing to remove barriers that prevent customers from reducing their consumption.
• Building upon efforts to educate customers about the choices they can make today with respect to the amount of electricity they consume.
• Exploring new rate structures to identify opportunities to use rates as a mechanism to motivate customers either to use less electricity or use less at specific times.
• Employing new rate structures to help customers implement new energy-efficient products and technologies and provide them with useful information about their electricity consumption to allow them to make informed choices.
• Advancing ongoing efforts to develop energy-efficient products and practices through regulations, codes and standards.

Implement Energy Efficiency Standards for Buildings by 2010

British Columbia implemented Energy Efficient Buildings: A Plan for BC in 2005 to address specific barriers to energy efficiency in our building stock through a number of voluntary policy and market measures. This plan has seen a variety of successes including smart metering pilot projects, energy performance measurement and labelling, and increased use of Energy Star appliances. In 2005, B.C. received a two year, $11 million federal contribution from the Climate Change Opportunities Envelope to support implementation of this plan.

Working together industry, local governments, other stakeholders and the provincial government will determine and implement cost effective energy efficiency standards for new buildings by 2010. Regulated standards for buildings are a central component of energy efficiency programs in leading jurisdictions throughout the world.

The BC Energy Plan supports reducing consumption by raising awareness and enhancing the efforts of utilities, local governments and building industry partners in British Columbia toward conservation and energy efficiency.

Aggressive Public Sector Building Plan

The design and retrofit of buildings and their surrounding landscapes offer us an important means to achieve our goal of making the government of British Columbia carbon neutral by 2010, and promoting Pacific Green universities, colleges, hospitals, schools, prisons, ferries, ports and airports.

British Columbia communities are already recognized leaders in innovative design practices. We know how to build smarter, faster and smaller. We know how to increase densities, reduce building costs and create new positive benefits for our environment. We know how to improve air quality, reduce energy consumption and make wise use of other resources, and how to make our landscapes and buildings healthy places for living, working and learning. We know how to make it affordable.

Government will set the following ambitious goals for all publicly funded buildings and landscapes and ask the Climate Action Team to determine the most credible, aggressive and economically viable options for achieving them:

• Require integrated environmental design to achieve the highest standards for greenhouse gas emission reductions, water conservation and other building performance results such as a certified standard.
• Supply green, healthy workspaces for all public service employees.
• Capture the productivity benefits for people who live and work in publicly funded buildings such as reduced illnesses, less absenteeism, and a better learning environment.
• Aim not only for the lowest impact, but also for restoration of the ecological features of the surrounding landscapes.

Community Action on Energy Efficiency

British Columbia is working in partnership with local governments to encourage energy conservation at the community level through the Community Action on Energy Efficiency Program. The program promotes energy efficiency and community energy planning projects, providing direct policy and technical support to local governments through a partnership with the Fraser Basin Council. A total of 29 communities are participating in the program and this plan calls for an increase in the level of participation and expansion of the program to include transportation actions. The Community Action on Energy Efficiency Program is a collaboration among the provincial ministries of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Environment, and Community Services, Natural Resources Canada, the Fraser Basin Council, Community Energy Association, BC Hydro, FortisBC, Terasen Gas, and the Union of BC Municipalities.

Leading the Way to a Future with Green Buildings and Green Cities

British Columbia has taken a leadership role in the development of green buildings. Through the Green Buildings BC Program, the province is working to reduce the environmental impact of government buildings by increasing energy and water efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Through this program, and the Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy that establishes energy efficiency targets for all types of buildings, the province is inviting businesses, local governments and all British Columbians to do their part to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Green Cities Project sets a number of strategies to make our communities greener, healthier and more vibrant places to live. British Columbia communities are already recognized leaders in innovative sustainability practices, and the Green Cities Project will provide them with additional resources to improve air quality, reduce energy consumption and encourage British Columbians to get out and enjoy the outdoors. With the Green Cities Project, the provincial government will:

• Provide $10 million a year over four years for the new LocalMotion Fund, which will cost share capital projects on a 50/50 basis with municipal governments to build bike paths, walkways, greenways and improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
• Establish a new Green City Awards program to encourage the development and exchange of best practices by communities, with the awards presented annually at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention.
• Set new financial incentives to help local governments shift to hybrid vehicle fleets and help retrofit diesel vehicles.
• Commit to making new investments in expanded rapid transit, support for fuel cell vehicles and other innovations.

Industrial Energy Efficiency Program

Government will establish an Industrial Energy Efficiency Program for British Columbia to address challenges and issues faced by the B.C. industrial sector and support the Canada wide industrial energy efficiency initiatives. The program will encourage industry driven investments in energy efficient technologies and processes; reduce emissions and greenhouse gases; promote self generation of power; and reduce funding barriers that discourage energy efficiency in the industrial sector. Some specific strategies include developing a results based pilot program with industry to improve energy efficiency and reduce overall power consumption and promote the generation of renewable energy within the industrial sector.

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Sustainability in Action

In 2010 Vancouver and Whistler will host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 2010 Olympic Games are the first that have been organized based on the principles of sustainability.

All new buildings for the Olympics will be designed and built to conserve both water and materials, minimize waste, maximize air quality, protect surrounding areas and continue to provide environmental and community benefits over their lifetimes. Existing venues will be upgraded to showcase energy conservation and efficiency and demonstrate the use of alternative heating/cooling technologies. Wherever possible, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, micro hydro, and geothermal energy will be used to power and heat all Games facilities.

Transportation for the 2010 Games will be based on public transit. This system — which will tie event tickets to transit use — will help reduce traffic congestion, minimize local air pollution and limit greenhouse gas emissions.