Energy Conservation & Efficiency
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As part of the Long Term Acquisition Plan (LTAP), BC Hydro filed a 20-year demand-side management (DSM) plan with the BCUC in June 2008. This addresses the second of the two critical energy planning targets laid out in the BC Energy Plan: to meet at least 50 per cent of our incremental resource needs through DSM by the year 2020. The LTAP anticipates demand-side management closing approximately three-quarters of the gap between forecast consumption and currently available supply. BC Hydro’s demand-side management plan is consistent with recent changes to the Utilities Commission Act which establishes the requirement to acquire cost effective demand side management as a preferred resource. BC Hydro’s traditional approach to DSM has succeeded in driving technological change for energy efficiency. However, to accomplish our vision of developing and fostering a conservation culture in B.C., in fiscal 2009, we have been engaging British Columbians so that efficiency and conservation are a way of life and a way of doing business. The Power Smart PlanThe demand-side management plan has a three-pronged approach to energy conservation, anticipating roughly half of the electricity savings coming from Power Smart programs, 30 per cent from government codes and standards and 20 per cent from conservation rate structures. An integral part of the demand-side management plan involves increasing public awareness, providing education and information on energy efficient technologies and conservation actions, engaging communities and municipal leaders to include energy efficiency in their plans and promoting innovative technologies to reduce our electricity consumption. Demand-Side Management (DSM)
Conservation cultureBC Hydro encourages B.C. residents to show their personal leadership by joining Team Power Smart and setting an energy reduction target online through BC Hydro website or signing up for a free online conservation newsletter. Currently, Team Power Smart has over 70,000 members compared to a plan of approximately 40,000 members. As part of our involvement with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, BC Hydro has issued a challenge to British Columbians for 210,000 people to sign up for Team Power Smart by the time the 2010 Winter Games begin next February. Power Smart leadershipWhen BC Hydro established Team Power Smart in 2007, we enlisted a number of high profile business, political, community and sports leaders who have roots in B.C. and share a passion for energy efficiency and conservation to join the team. These leaders continue to be committed to making changes in their own lives that lead to energy conservation and efficiency, with the goal of encouraging British Columbians to participate in conservation activities. This past year, our Lead by Example program continued to develop BC Hydro’s own conservation initiatives for employees and our facilities. From behaviour programs to capital projects to policy direction, we continue to promote energy efficiency and conservation with programs designed to instil a conservation culture both at home and at work. In addition to other facility upgrades, lighting and heating (HVAC) projects were undertaken at several of our generating stations, including Mica and Seven Mile. We have also developed updated energy efficiency and workplace environment standards for any new buildings and refurbishments. Power Smart residential programsBC Hydro continued to offer a range of initiatives targeted to residential customers. In fiscal 2009, BC Hydro reinvigorated promotions for the Fridge Buy Back program and saw the largest increase in fridge pick ups since fiscal 2005. In excess of 38,000 inefficient second fridges were picked up in fiscal 2009. BC Hydro also launched a Low Income program in April 2008, beginning with distributing Energy Saving Kits to low income households. With the Low Income Advisory Group of external stakeholders, this program addresses barriers that prevent low income households from participating in demand side management programs. The kits include energy efficient light bulbs, low flow shower heads and other products to help low income families save money on their energy costs. Over 9,300 kits were distributed to customers. The next phase of the program will launch in spring 2009 and will include an energy audit and installation of an array of free energy efficient technologies. “It was nice to get something free for a change. I am a widow on seniors’ pension and I have to pinch every penny to keep my house.” (Revelstoke, BC. Source: Energy Savings Kit customer comments – Voice of our Customers May 2009) Finally, last year, BC Hydro incorporated the Renovation Rebate program into the Provincial government’s Live Smart program. Visit Live Smart program for more information. Power Smart business programsFor industrial, large commercial, government and institutional customers, BC Hydro continues to offer the Power Smart Partner Program. Key components of the program are energy management assessments, development of strategic energy management plans, energy manager funding and support, energy study funding, project implementation incentives, technology demonstration project funding, workplace conservation awareness, training and educational workshops and seminars, and public and peer recognition. Power Smart successfully hosted its premier events, the Power Smart Forum and Power Smart Excellence Awards. The Power Smart Forum had record breaking attendance of more than 700 people, an increase of over 100 per cent from 2007. Commercial New initiatives were launched in fiscal 2009 including data server virtualization, adaptive street lighting and continuous optimization which helps customers to assess, manage and understand energy usage and impacts within their buildings. For small and medium (SMB) customers, BC Hydro offers the Product Incentive Program which provides SMBs financial incentives to retrofit existing, inefficient technologies with over 20 different energy-efficient products. BC Hydro expanded the Product Incentive Program by targeting small, hard-to-reach commercial customers. In partnership with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (MEMPR), BC Hydro completed facility walk-through assessments at no cost to SMB customers as well as the installation of pre-rinse spray valves in commercial kitchens. BC Hydro has partnered with British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to launch a series of part-time studies courses in Sustainable Energy Management. These courses are designed to support employment opportunities in the emerging field of sustainable energy management, with focus on energy demands of commercial and institutional buildings. Industrial For the industrial sector, the Power Smart Partners – Transmission program focused specifically on activities that allow customers to take advantage of the stepped rate structure. The Power Smart Partners – Distribution Program has also been updated to meet the specific needs of industrial customers under the distribution rate. The new Industrial New Plant Design Program addresses energy efficiency opportunities in new industrial construction in B.C. The outlook for new plant savings opportunities remains positive in water, wastewater and some other sectors, despite the slowdown in several sectors due to the current economic climate. Local government and communities BC Hydro is continuing to establish itself as a leader in working with community organizations and local municipalities to increase the knowledge and a feeling of responsibility around energy conservation and efficiency. We initiated several pilot projects, research work and focus groups to help develop our initiatives. Project Porchlight is one example of a local partnership in which BC Hydro partnered with One Change, the Northern Environmental Action Team and EnCana, to distribute CFL bulbs via volunteers in Northern B.C. In addition, our Power Smart Community Network has provided regional reach and has created, implemented, and supported local projects throughout the province. BC Hydro also supported municipalities and developers in implementing community-wide energy strategies as part of their planning process. Codes and standardsIn fiscal 2009, BC Hydro worked with federal and provincial government agencies to support and influence new federal product standards that were recently announced and are estimated to save 1,050 GWh by 2020. In addition, we supported provincial regulation of general service lighting, electric water heaters and industrial motors which is targeted for approval in fiscal 2010. BC Hydro played an important role in supporting and influencing the implementation of a new green B.C. Building Code which took effect September 2008 and we were also a key participant in reshaping the next National Energy Code for Buildings to be tabled for discussion in 2010. TechnologyBC Hydro has initiated technology demonstration projects and participated in several studies on emerging technologies and strategic topics. Several technologies were adopted into marketing programs this year, including adaptive street lighting, high flux LED lighting for area lighting retrofits, and lighting for refrigerated cases in grocery stores. New partnerships have been established – we are a participant in the Office of the Future consortium led by California and other U.S. utilities; BC Hydro is working with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the mining industry to develop a research program to improve energy efficiency in metal mining; and we have been a catalyst to initiate discussion and sharing of information on emerging technologies among some 15 utilities and organizations across North America. Conservation rate structuresNew conservation rate structures are part of BC Hydro’s three-pronged approach to conservation. As a result of BC Hydro’s residential rate design application, the BCUC approved a two-step inclining block rate structure in August 2008. The new Residential Conservation Rate is designed to encourage conservation among residential customers and became effective on October 1, 2008. BC Hydro is currently in the design stage of a new conservation rate structure for large general service customers and expects to file this new rate structure with the BCUC in fiscal 2010. The BCUC also approved BC Hydro’s Transmission Service Rate Re-pricing application to re-price Industrial Tier 2 rates to reflect the average cost of new supply, effective April 1, 2008. The Transmission Service Stepped Rate has been in place since April 2006. Power Smart students programThe Power Smart Schools Program educates B.C. students on the benefits of energy conservation and sustainability. In fiscal 2009, the program reached more than 18,000 students in 48 school districts. The Energy Detectives program, for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students, was translated into French. It features a storybook, Smarty and the Energy Detectives: The Mysterious Equation, containing conservation and electrical safety messages and meets Ministry of Education Prescribed Learning Outcomes. In addition over 1,500 students from 35 schools in Fort St John, Prince George, Kamloops, Revelstoke, Courtenay and Langley participated in the Free Spirit Conservation Tour to raise awareness of energy conservation within B.C.
BC Hydro also delivered electrical safety education workshops to Grade 2 and Grade 6 teachers in BC Hydro’s service territory. As part of an Electrical Safety for Trades Students pilot program, we also developed and delivered 23 presentations to six post-secondary schools. Invent the future“Invent the future.ca” was developed in 2008 as an evolution to the Off the Grid youth contest held in 2007. Youth between ages 13 to 29 were asked to submit an idea for a sustainable product or lifestyle change that would reduce energy consumption for all of B.C. The idea was to reach an audience interested in sustainability, climate change and energy conservation. Ideas were submitted as either a 30-60 second video or a short essay. This province-wide contest attracted a total of 148 entries. Submissions for the contest can be viewed at www.inventthefuture.ca. DSM reflects the cumulative rate of annual electricity savings resulting from DSM activities such as energy conservation and efficiency, and load displacement. Since the inception of the program in fiscal 2002 through fiscal 2007, the program has saved a cumulative total of 2,500 GWh/year; a new start year was commenced in fiscal 2008 to align with targets outlined in the BC Energy Plan. The annual cumulative targets align with the BC Energy Plan’s 50 per cent energy conservation and efficiency target, and have been updated to reflect the 2008 Long-Term Acquisition Plan targets. This target, in turn, corresponds to a target of 10,000 GWh savings by 2020, which includes additional savings that will be derived from changes to building code standards. The reported cumulative energy savings for fiscal 2009 includes the energy earned under the 20-year 10,000 GWh/year plan (Power Smart III), starting with fiscal 2008 energy savings. Cumulative March fiscal 2009 energy savings are exceeding target as all three sectors (Industrial, Commercial and Residential) are tracking above targeted levels. Targets are developed as part of long term DSM planning which use the results from a Conservation Potential Review and research related to other DSM tools as benchmarks for achievable savings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Conservation Action Team at BC Hydro’s Lower Mainland South location in Surrey. Teams such as this one provide grassroots programs and encouragement to employees regarding energy conservation at home and at work. In the photo are Heather Leake, Laura Pearce, Tara Schellenberg, Linda McBride, Deena Staveley, Jerome Dickey, Mike McClure and Bernhard Spalteholz. Missing is Brian Baker.
Students at Semiahmoo Secondary School in Surrey involved in BC Hydro’s Last Modified: Jan 31, 2011
