The BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership is British Columbia's plan to make our province energy self-sufficient while taking responsibility for our natural environment and climate. The world has turned its attention to the critical issue of global warming. This plan sets ambitious targets. We will pursue them relentlessly as we build a brighter future for B.C.
- Premier Gordon Campbell

The BC Energy Plan supports reducing electricity consumption by raising awareness and enhancing the efforts of utilities, local governments and building industry partners in British Columbia toward conservation and energy efficiency. The following policy actions are of particular interest to the building sector and to ESP:

• Policy action 2:  Ensure a coordinated approach to conservation and efficiency is actively pursued in British Columbia.
• Policy action 5:  Implement Energy Efficiency Standards for Buildings for 2010
• Policy action 6:  Undertake a pilot project for energy performance labeling of homes and buildings in coordination with local and federal governments, First Nations, and industry associations.
• Policy action 7:  New provincial public sector buildings will be required to integrate environmental design to achieve the highest standards for greenhouse gas emission reductions, water conservation and other building performance results such as a certified standard.
• Policy action 9:  Increase participation of local governments in the Community Action on Energy Efficiency Program and expand the First Nations and Remote Community Clean Energy Program



> > Read the plan - www.energyplan.gov.bc.ca

Energy Efficient Buildings: A Plan for BC

In the 2002 Energy Plan, the Province set out to update and expand its Energy Efficiency Act and work with the building industry, governments and others to improve energy efficiency in new and existing buildings. In September 2005, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (MEMPR) released its strategy, Energy Efficient Buildings: A Plan for BC. This strategy will lower energy costs for new and existing buildings by $127 million in 2010 and $474 million in 2020, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.3 million tonnes in 2020.

The Province initiated ten policy and market measures in partnership with the building industry, energy consumer groups, utilities, non-governmental organizations, and the federal government to address barriers, including:

• Information, education and capacity building;
• Energy pricing and incentives;
• Voluntary measures; and,
• Energy Efficiency Act amendments for building components and equipment.

The strategy sets targets for increased energy efficiency in new and existing buildings across the province and aims to complement and expand upon local, provincial and federal energy efficiency programs.

2010 Energy Targets

The strategy raised $15 million from the federal Opportunities Envelope over two years (until March 31, 2007). Instrumental in MEMPR's successful bid for federal funding was the leadership demonstrated by utilities and industry and the provincial government in the form of energy efficiency expenditures and provincial sales tax exemptions of $85 million. Also, $20 million was invested for clean energy in First Nations and remote communities.

MEMPR programs resulting from the strategy include the following:

• Community Action on Energy Efficiency Program (policy support and information for 31 local governments);
• Market transformation program for windows (targeting Energy Star levels by 2009);
• Market transformation program for residential heating systems (Energy Star levels by 2008);
• First Nation and Remote Community Clean Energy program (10 communities);
• Energy Savings Plan (information and incentive program for homeowners, low-income households, strata councils and small commercial buildings);
• Energy Performance Design Assistance for New Building Construction (for institutional, commercial, industrial and multi-unit residential buildings);
• Built Green BC and EnerGuide for New Homes Program (for new low-rise residential buildings);
• BOMA Green Buildings Foundation (for existing commercial and institutional buildings);
• Expansion of Green Buildings BC program (for government, education and health care buildings); and
• A number of industry training programs.

In partnership with over 70 public and private sector organizations, the strategy implemented a “market transformation” approach for achieving energy efficiency targets to create a permanent social shift toward an energy conserver culture. The strategy will have the following impacts on the community:

• Reduce consumer energy costs by up to $127 million in 2010 and $474 million in 2020;
• Address energy costs in remote and First Nations communities;
• Create up to 52,000 person-years of skilled employment in BC between 2005 and 2020;
• Inject about $2.5 billion into the economy in 2020 ($660 million in 2010), with energy savings exceeding those investments by $1.2 billion in 2020;
• Reduce electricity demand by up to 3,400 gigawatt-hours in 2020, equivalent to the demand of 340,000 homes;
• Reduce natural gas and fuel oil demand by up to 22 million gigajoules in 2020, equivalent to the demand of 200,000 homes; and,
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 2.3 million tonnes in 2020, equivalent to the emissions created by 450,000 minivans.

The strategy has established many formal and informal relationships to extend the energy efficiency message to a very wide audience based on a partnership model.

For example, within one year of activity, over 38 home builders are now engaged in the EnerGuide for New Homes Program and 76 builders are considering participation. MEMPR’s goal is to support construction of 2,200 homes that meet the target by 2007. In addition to this, 468 home builders have installed over 1,000 high efficiency Energy Star furnaces in new homes, 62 window manufacturers from across the Province have been approached to design and produce products that meet the Energy Star standard, and 2,000 homes have installed Energy Star windows.

The Energy Efficiency and Community Energy Solutions Team won the Finalist Premier's Award for Partnerships 2006/07 and is comprised of the following:

• Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources – Andrew Pape-Salmon, Liz Kelly, Christina Ianniciello and Keith Veerman, Dan Green, Sharon Jorgensen - Victoria
• BC Hydro – Patrick Mathot – Burnaby
• Building Owners and Managers Association of BC – Paul LaBranche – Vancouver
• Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC – M.J. Whitemarsh – Burnaby
• CityGreen – Peter Sundberg – Victoria
• Douglas First Nation – Chief Darryl Peter – Tipella and Port Douglas
• Fraser Basin Council – Jim Vanderwal – Vancouver
• FortisBC – Brian Parent – Kelowna
• Gitga’at Nation – Dan Cardinall - Hartley Bay
• Kitasoo-Xaixais Nations – Percy Starr – Klemtu
• Kyuquot / Checklesaht First Nations – Kevin Head – Kyuquot
• Natural Resources Canada – Anne Auger, Louis Marmen – Ottawa
• Taku River Tlingit Nation – Peter Kirby – Atlin
• Terasen Gas – Sarah Smith – Surrey