Dawson Creek and Fort St. John were two of eight local governments to sign a letter asking the B.C. government to consider improvements in energy efficiency and renewable energy standards for homes and buildings.

“British Columbia has made a bold commitment to fight global warming,” said Josha MacNab of the Sustainable Communities Group in the Pembina Institute, which is using its expertise to assist government in improving energy efficiency.

Called Green Building Leaders, the project combines the eight local governments with Pembina to push the provincial government a step beyond its current position on energy renewability and efficiency.

Pembina found that one of the stumbling blocks for local governments is a lack of power in jurisdiction.

The letter suggested the provincial government to set higher energy efficiency standards for new homes and buildings; require existing homes and buildings to meet minimum energy performance standards; require that some portion of the energy needs for new homes and buildings be met by renewable energy that is produced onsite or in the community; require all homes and buildings to have a rating that clearly communicates how efficiently it uses energy; and implement financing tools that make energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions accessible to all British Columbians and B.C. businesses.

MacNab said that all the communities that signed the letter showed leadership, but Dawson Creek and Fort St. John in particular are helping lead the green revolution.

“Dawson Creek is showing particular leadership in this project by helping to spearhead our work on a renewable energy requirement that would make it easier make our communities greener,” she said. “Fort St John is a newer partner in the Green Building Leaders project, but is also showing leadership on complimentary projects.”

MacNab acknowledged that circumstances in the North are different to those in the South and thus present specific challenges.

“It's definitely important to realize that things are different in the North than in the rest of the province and that solutions that work in Vancouver aren't necessarily going to work in Dawson Creek or Fort St John. The North is a very important place to be thinking about energy efficiency and renewable energy. Given the heating needs of homes and buildings up here, finding ways to use less energy and create more comfortable homes has a direct impact on everyone's daily life.”

Financially, MacNab doesn’t believe going green will put a burden on residents or local governments. She said that retrofitting a home will lead to lower energy bills.

“Most of these investments will pay for themselves in a matter of years, while some are longer term investments,” she explained. “Generally, increasing energy efficiency is a very cost-effective way of reducing both your energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Pembina claimed that energy consumption from homes and buildings accounts for approximately 12 per cent of B.C.'s total greenhouse gas emissions.

The communities that signed the letter were the City of Campbell River, City of North Vancouver, Cowichan Valley Regional District, City of Dawson Creek, City of Fort St. John, Regional District of Nanaimo, District of Tofino and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.