A key component of the ESP program is to work with municipalities to communicate the benefits of energy efficiency and available incentive programs to home and building owners. To stimulate and reward municipal participation, the ESP program offered a $30,000 prize to the community that most actively engaged with the ESP incentive pilot program and demonstrated leadership in energy efficiency. The winning municipality was selected on the judging of three main components:

1. Demonstration of municipal leadership through policy initiatives and/or municipal building retrofits.
2. Effort and creativeness of public outreach utilized to promote the ESP program.
3. Identification of an innovative municipal energy efficiency project.

Community submissions were judged by a panel of experts which included representatives from VanCity, BC Hydro and NRCan.

The choice of Community Challenge winner was a difficult one. A number of communities displayed a high level of commitment - a sure sign for BC that we are on our way to achieving the lofty goal of reducing GHG emissions in buildings by 2.3 million tones in 2020. As a result, the ESP Team, with the help of its esteemed judges, decided to split the award and recognize the top two leading municipalities - the City of Vancouver and Salt Spring Island Trust.

The City of Dawson Creek and the District of Squamish were close on the heels of the winning communities. Each of these communities showed their municipalities to be true leaders and progressive thinkers. Outstanding effort was shown in promoting energy efficiency through policy, by example with their own buildings, and in creatively promoting the ESP incentive pilot.

The two showcase energy efficiency projects to each receive $15,000 in provincial funding are:

Murakami low cost housing retrofit project for 27 units- Salt Spring Island
Measures to be considered include: solar hot water, window upgrades, insulated sheathing and roof and foundation insulation upgrades. Preliminary analysis of the solar hot water option suggests minimum savings of 270 GJ per year.

Pre-rinse spray valve pilot program - Vancouver
Program will offer free installation of low-flow pre-rinse spray valves through a “door-to-door” promotion to 3000 food service establishments. Average Water Savings: 245 litres per day per valve, Average Annual Energy Savings: 12 GJ or 2000 kWh per valve.

The ESP Team would like to thank all BC communities that participated in the Energy Savings Plan.
CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!