Build to Zero

Build to Zero, a project of the Community Energy Association, aims to accelerate local government adoption of policy, planning and regulatory measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing buildings, community-wide.  The current initiative is being piloted in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

Please click here for workshop information, the White Paper, proceedings, and presentations from the December 9 2009 Build to Zero workshop.  

Please click here for the Build to Zero Local Government Survey report.

Please click here for information on Build to Zero Working Groups.

Please click here for Modelling High-Impact Local Government Measures to Reduce Energy Use and GHG Emissions for New and Existing Buildings in BC’s Lower Mainland

Please click here for presentations from the October 12, 2010 Build to Zero Webinar

Please click here for presentations from the March 30, 2011 Build to Zero Webinar

The Community Energy Association is grateful to the following organizations for providing generous financial and in-kind support for the overall Build to Zero initiative: 

• Environment Canada
• Vancity
• Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia
• Natural Resources Canada
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Cascadia Region Green Building Council
• BC Hydro PowerSmart
• Terasen
• Province of British Columbia
• Union of BC Municipalities
• Metro Vancouver
• District of Maple Ridge
• District of North Vancouver
• City of North Vancouver
• City of Surrey

CNK2

The Carbon Neutral Kootenays project assists 35 local governments and first nations in moving to carbon neutrality in their own operaitons.

Climate Action Bootcamp

Community Energy Association (CEA) and BC Healthy Communities are partnering to offer a comprehensive series of workshops that will give local governments a two day “bootcamp” on developing and leading a climate change action strategy.

We are currently scheduling pilot bootcamps throughout winter 2010.  Call or email today to discuss bootcamp costs and to schedule one for your local government today.

Engage the Community

Local governments are ideally placed to directly engage communities about awareness and action on climate change. The City of Vancouver's "Oneday Vancouver" program is an example of a creative educational and outreach tool to motivate citizens to take action.  One way to start engaging the community is through partnerships with local environmental groups that are keen to educate and support climate change initiatives. Your local BC Sustainable Energy Association chapter is a good place to start. The City of Dawson Creek has been working with the Pembina Institute, while concerned residents in Central Saanich have started the Central Saanich Energy Committee.

FCM has developed some ideas for municipalities thinking about how to engage the community during the development of climate ‘local action plans': http://www.sustainablecommunities.fcm.ca/files/PDF/final_CP_eng_layout_2003.pdf

There are many ways to engage the community.  Some of which are explained below.  

Public Involvement

How and when to involve the public depends on the issues and the available resources. Some key triggers for public involvement include -

• when issues are complex
• when critical information is lacking or uncertain
• when issues are marked by high levels of conflict or concern
• when goals and priorities are unclear
• when success depends on public support or action

You may not need comprehensive public involvement to initiate efficiency programs in municipal facilities. However, when evaluating alternative plans for community development patterns, neighbourhood design standards or community energy supply systems, effective public involvement will be essential.

Public meetings and open houses are good ways of providing information to the public and getting feedback on development proposals. However, the "inform" and "collect feedback" methods of public involvement are increasingly seen as limiting - by both planners and the public - and more interactive methods are being devised.

The public can be an invaluable source of knowledge, instinct and innovation. Here are some ideas for tapping that resource -

• Workshops: Design facilitated task-oriented meetings that involve a small number of participants and have a "problem-solving" purpose. Workshops are effective for setting goals, identifying and evaluating options and making an action plan.
• Focus Groups: Invite a small group of participants to provide feedback on a specific issue and use the meeting to gauge the likely response of a broader group. Focus groups help to provide a detailed understanding of the concerns of either a specific constituency or a broad spectrum of interests. They can be useful for assessing the acceptability of certain energy strategies in the local community.
• Advisory Committees: Form advisory committees to deal with a complex policy development or planning issue over a fairly long time frame. Functions range from identifying issues, to evaluating options to developing action plans.
• Monitoring Committees: Form "watchdog" committees to monitor results. These are like advisory committees in that they deal with complex planning issues over a long time frame, but are more focused on the implementation of action plans. They can dramatically improve the chances of maintaining commitment and progress over time.
• Target Briefings: Use presentations to a selected constituency - usually one that is more adversely affected by a problem or option than the general public - to clarify issues and build consensus.
• Design Charrettes: Get everybody in the same place at the same time and "don't let them leave" until they jointly agree to a design. Successful charrettes ensure action because all the issues are brought out, because stakeholders formulate the design, and because all participants commit to the goals and products of the exercise.
• Programs for Local Business and Developers: Most enterprises, small and large, are looking for opportunities to save money. Sometimes just by providing information on cost-saving opportunities, businesses become leaders and catalysts of change. Reward innovative businesses who achieve significant energy and other resource savings by developing and publicizing "green business" awards. Look for ways to disseminate "best practices" and to support green business and industry networks. Regional Districts can offer similar programs for municipalities.

Here are some ideas for more effective communications -

• Get a Champion: A strong, committed individual can inspire new ways of looking at things. Most successful community energy strategies have been launched by one "prime mover". However, Champions don't stick around forever, so make sure things will continue to happen after they've moved on.
• Attract Opinion Leaders: People with stature or voice in the community should be sought out to endorse principles and make business happen.
• Provide Feedback: Maintain the momentum of a good start. Celebrate success and, if necessary, make course corrections early.
• Tell People About What Others Are Doing: Renew social standards by publicizing what others are doing. The effects can be startling.
• Use Personal Communication and Visual Media
  • Tell stories. They are far better absorbed and remembered than impressive statistics. When you do use numbers, use them in a way that has personal meaning. For example, "which is faster, car or bicycle?"
  • Educate Children: Most adults do not grasp the enormity of many of the energy and environmental challenges we face. Nor is it easy for them to change old habits. Children, however, are forming their initial impressions of the world, and will absorb and personalize information. A well-educated next generation will be more receptive to change than the current one. After all, they're the ones who will be affected.
  • Use Visualization Techniques: Say "moderate density" and "mixed use" to many suburban dwellers and the reaction will be anything but positive. But show some pictures of great urban designs, and people have a whole new perspective. Computer-aided models are one way of providing an interactive, fun, and educational experience. Citizens can build a common vision of the physical characteristics they'd like to see in future designs and become informed about new possibilities. They can rate viewscapes on a scale of one to ten, and the results can be used by planners and developers as input to the design process

Engage Local Governments

Taking action within your own jurisdiction is important.  The benefits of your actions can be multiplied by sharing with other local governments.  Sharing successes, challenges, lessons learned, and templates can accelerate change across BC and Canada. 

Equally valid is learning from what other local governments have already done, are doing, or are planning to do. 

The Community Energy Association is pleased to offer several forums for this sharing of experience to take place

• CEA website - www.communityenergy.bc.ca: You can submit information about your experiences through our contact page.   You can also browse leading examples of energy action in BC in the Showcase section of the website.
• CEA workshops - conducted as required.  Check 'events' on the CEA home page for upcoming workshops
• Community Energy listserv - sign up on our website

Engage Municipal Groups

Engaging the groups that represent local governments can also be effective in both learning and in multiplying the benefits of your actions.

• Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM): The UBCM has many programs including an environmental conference and a municipal leadership institute which addresses some issues related to climate and energy.  Resolutions passed at the UBCM Annual General Meeting can also lead to positive results.
• Regional Associations of UBCM: The five regional associations of the UBCM provide an excellent platform to connect with other elected officials in your area and to find out what they are doing on climate and energy. 
• Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM):  The FCM hosts the Partners for Climate Protection program.  It also organizes Community Energy 'missions' annualy to explore best practices in community energy around the world.

Engage Senior Government

Innovation in Canada has a tradition of starting at the local level and working its way up.  The Province of BC also provides support to local governments who are taking action on climate and energy. 

The Ministry of Community Services, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources are particularly active in supporting local governments through a variety of programs.