Climate solutions

Throughout British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, companies, governments and individuals are taking action to address climate change. They’re learning that energy conservation and efficiency save money and create new industries and jobs.

Mole Hill housing project: The non-profit housing project included preserving heritage housing slated for demolition while incorporating new technologies such as ground source heating. Vancouver's Mole Hill homes use the natural heating and cooling ability of the earth. The process involves burying a series of pipes in the ground. Water or antifreeze flows through the pipes, absorbing heat from the earth. The warm liquid is piped to a heat pump in the home and releases warm air. In the summer, the process is reversed with the system pulling heat out of the building and distributing it back into the earth. Although it requires electricity, geothermal heating is very efficient. For every watt of electricity used, the system provides three to four watts of heating or cooling power. That reduces operating costs by 50 to 75 per cent over conventional systems.

Alberni School District: Comprehensive energy retrofits and lighting overhauls were performed on 20 buildings from 1996 to 1998. As a result, the annual electricity use was reduced by 40 per cent with annual savings of more than $3 million.

District of Maple Ridge: The District of Maple Ridge, B.C., is retrofitting its operations centre. The facility’s annual operating energy budget of $42,000 will be reduced by approximately 25 per cent. In addition, these eco-efficient measures will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 78,876 kilograms per year. At a project cost of about $53,000, more than $10,000 in annual energy and maintenance cost savings are anticipated. The simple payback on investment is approximately five years.

Greater Vancouver Regional District: The GVRD wants their head office to stand as an example of an energy efficient building to other businesses in Vancouver. The 19-storey building is already about 18 per cent more efficient than a typical high-rise office building in the Lower Mainland. The proposed energy retrofit project has a projected payback period of 8.3 years based on a retrofit cost of $565,000. The annual cost saving is expected to be $67,555, nearly 28 per cent of 2001 costs. Some of the recommended energy management initiatives include: lighting retrofit, reduced vending machine energy, transformer replacement and retrofit of toilet and urinal flush valves.

District of Mission: After more than 30 years of use, the District of Mission’s ice arena, curling rink and swimming pool were in need of major upgrades. Instead of spending more than $3 million to build a new leisure centre, Mission replaced the refrigeration plant and hot water boiler systems and installed energy efficient lighting systems among other measures. As a result, Mission will enjoy annual energy savings of $74,000.

City of Portland: In 1993, Portland, Oregon, became the first U.S. municipality to adopt a strategy to address climate change. Since then, local per capita greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by seven per cent, while the local economy has grown by more than 60 per cent. The city’s internal energy management program has saved $11 million since 1991 through efficiency improvements. A biogas-powered fuel cell at the wastewater treatment plant generates enough electricity to power 120 homes, and solar cells on maintenance vehicles run power tools without leaving engines idling.

Seattle City Light: Seattle’s first contract for reducing its contribution to global warming is waiting approval from City Council. When approved, the contract will begin putting City Light on track to becoming the first major utility in the country to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. City Light’s first project promotes the use of industrial waste products such as fly ash and furnace slag as replacements for traditional materials used in cement. Processing raw materials for cement creates huge amounts of greenhouse gases that by some estimates account for 7 per cent of worldwide human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. By substituting waste materials that would otherwise go to landfills, cement producers and users can gain nearly a pound-for-pound reduction in emissions.

Ledalite Architectural Products: Based in Langley, B.C., Ledalite's office lighting technology, Ergolight, incorporates sensors and computer-based dimming controls to provide significant savings in energy costs. Customers using the Ergolight system have experienced major decreases in energy consumption, in some cases up to 80 per cent. Ergolight has been installed in more than 2.5 million square feet of office space throughout North America.

Smart city planning: A recent study by Northwest Watch found that Greater Vancouver residents use 33 per cent less motor fuel than their Seattle counterparts. The biggest difference is more compact development. Greater Vancouver drivers don’t travel as far to work or shop. Transit improvements and environmentally conscious municipal planning are required to extend this trend as pressures for urban sprawl grow throughout B.C.

 

Learn more:

• B.C. Hydro’s PowerSmart program is already delivering direct financial benefits of energy efficiency of over $1 billion to consumers.
• The Vancouver airport has saved over $2 million as a result of installing more efficient electrical appliances and reducing its consumption of electricity.
• Find out what you can do to help make a difference!