2008 Energy Action Award Winners

The Resort Municipality of Whistler won the award in the Community Planning and Development category for development of the Whistler Athlete Village (WAV) as a compact, low-carbon resident-restricted housing community with an innovative district-based alternative energy system.

The City of Castlegar has won the 2008 Energy Action Award in the Corporate Operations category for energy efficiency innovations in its new city hall and throughout operations. Castlegar's new municipal hall saves over 50% of the energy of a conventional building, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 29,000 tonnes annually. The City's operational GHG-reduction activities include composting, recycling, residential water meters, biodiesel for fleet vehicles, no-idling, solar-powered pedestrian lights and re-use of treatment sludge for landscaping compost. Two communities were presented with awards in the Corporate Operations category at the September.

The awards are organized annually by the Community Energy Association in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, Union of British Columbia Municipalities and BC Hydro. "The awards celebrate leadership of local governments taking action on climate change and energy. This year's winners demonstrate that energy planning, energy efficiency and renewable energy are possible desirable no matter where you live in the province," said Dan Rogers, Chair, Community Energy Association.

Honourable Mentions were awarded to:
• District of Squamish for their Community Energy Action Plan, including Sustainability Block.
• District of Saanich for its Municipal Carbon Neutral Reserve Fund.