September 2016 - BCSEA Monthly - Everyone just Cool It!

Details: Published on Thursday, 08 September 2016 18:00; Written by editor

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BCSEA launches Cool It! Climate Leadership Training

BCSEA is proud to announce Cool It! Climate Leadership Training. Cool It! is the successor to BCSEA’s previous elementary education program, Climate Change Showdown. BCSEA has redesigned and redeveloped the Climate Change Showdown program and cannot wait to bring the new, revamped Cool It! program to classrooms across British Columbia.

The new Cool It! program, still geared towards students in grades 4 to 7, will empower young people to become sustainability champions through a fun and engaging, classroom-based workshop and a four-week, take-home challenge.

Improvements to the program include newly developed, exciting games, updated classroom materials and engaging,... new age appropriate informational videos. The program has been designed to connect and integrate itself with the new BC curriculum, in the areas of Maths, Science, Social Studies and core competencies.

BCSEA is able to offer the program for free, to schools in areas where municipalities have agreed to sponsor the workshops.

If you would like more information, visit the Cool It! website.

The GEDO weekend begins across Canada

As of September 9th, Green Energy Doors Open takes place across Canada. Countless private, community and commercial sustainable energy and green building projects are opening their doors to the public for free tours and open-houses. GEDO gives the public the opportunity to meet those who have already made the investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades, and learn from their success.

While registration has closed for the majority of Friday's guided tours, there are still a number of open-houses and tours available for the public to enjoy over the course of the weekend. Check them out:

Prince George - Sustainable Communities Demonstration Project - 1pm to 4pm (Friday only)
West Kelowna - 'got solar?' Solar Shipping & Residential - 11am to 2pm
Kelowna - Passive House 'Under Construction' Tour - 11am - 2pm
Colwood - Solar Colwood - 11am to 3pm (Saturday only)
Duncan - Solar Farm - 8am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm
Vancouver - Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre - 9am to 5pm
Quadra Island - Solar Home Tour - 9am to 5pm

BCSEA is proud to bring this Canada-wide initiative to BC, we hope you enjoy your first GEDOBC experience!

Sunshine to ¢ents: Net Metering in BC - BCSEA's next exciting webinar!

Join BCSEA for the latest in its exciting free webinar series, Sunshine to Cents: Net Metering in BC, on September 20th from 12 - 1pm PST. Click here to register!

In our last webinar we learned about the growing solar industry, the changes in solar PV technology, and took a glimpse into the future of solar power in BC. Solar power is growing exponentially across the globe as prices drop. Owning a solar PV system is more affordable than ever, but is it profitable?
BCSEA invites you to delve into the nitty-gritty, dollars and cents of solar power, and come away with the knowledge and insight you need to turn limitless solar into cents in your back pocket.

We will be joined by none other than BC Hydro's own Net Metering Manager, Alevtina Akbulatova. Alevtina will discuss the nuances of net metering, solar stratas, how you can reduce your BC Hydro bill through solar - and make a profit! She will enlighten and elucidate BC's net metering structure, the relationship between BC Hydro and net metering customers, and the many success stories of net metering in BC. Joining her for the Q&A session is BCSEA's own Policy Director Tom Hackney, who brings his extensive experience of the BCUC commission proceedings to answer your questions on the wider net metering market in BC.

The webinar is free to attend, all you have to do is register.

This webinar is sponsored by HES PV.

From the Blog

Price Cut approved for Renewable Natural Gas

In early August, the BC utilities commission approved a cut in the price of Renewable Natural Gas purchased by gas customers. BC Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club BC supported the move in a lengthy proceeding initiated by natural gas utility FortisBC Energy Inc.

Read the full article here!

BCSEA Chapters show continued strength at Kinder Morgan Meetings

As the TMX Ministerial Panel made its way across British Columbia this summer, holding consultation meetings on Kinder Morgan’s proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, three of BCSEA’s Chapters spoke of our belief that Canada has no need for expanded pipeline capacity and should instead focus on a transition to clean, renewable energy.

BC's Climate Leadership Plan: Cute Pictures, No Plan

The Ministry of Environment graphics department has done its best. Cute silhouette graphics show how turtles, hikers and bunnies can happily coexist with helicopters, factories and container ships. Photos of eagles and green forests reinforce the bright and cheery prose.

Painfully absent from the 2016 Climate Leadership Plan are the plan and substance.

People looking for ways to combat climate change

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, commenting on the challenges in the city staff’s new report on climate action, said: “If we are serious about this, we’d better get serious. But we need the community to jump on board.”

Read more

In the News

This couple didn't have range anxiety! They drove their EV across Canada - with a trailer to boot! Read Article
Data shows that the continued decrease in solar prices won't stop anytime soon. Read Article
The largest wind farm in US history got the green light. Amazing news for US renewables! Read Article
Costa Rica celebrates continued 100% renewable power - 113 days without a drop of fossil fuels. Read Article

BCSEA Featured Member

BCIT is a leader in training highly skilled graduates with energy expertise in the engineering, technical and trades disciplines.

Their Renewable Energy Lab and the Advanced Certificate in Renewable Energy Electrical Systems Installation and Maintenance (REESIM) use state-of-the-art technology and equipment to demonstrate and teach the production of clean energy. The Centre for Energy Systems Applications (CESA), the High Performance Building Lab (HPBL) and the Sustainable Energy Management Advanced Certificate (SEMAC) advance education related to reducing the demand for energy through its efficient use in buildings and related infrastructure.

Read More