On The Road
January 3, 2010
Skating and energy conservation can be quite a thrill
Posted by Jamie Teetzel
Where: Richmond
As a Community Outreach rep for BC Hydro, I have been given the opportunity to visit a number of different events, in a wide variety of the regions surrounding my office in North Vancouver. On Halloween, this year, I attended an event that was a particular "thrill".
"Thriller on Ice" was an event organized at the Richmond Olympic Oval, involving public skating, costumes, Michael Jackson music, and, of course, educations about energy conservation. By now, most of the province seems to have realized that conservation is our first and best option to meet the growing energy demands that lie in this Province's future. On this day, I got to see the truth of this knowledge in action.
BC Hydro is working hard to provide clean, reliable power for the 2010 Olympic Games. As such, it is a treat when we get to visit or interact with one of the venues that will be the center of the world's focus in February of next year. The particular treat in this case, was how eager and knowledgeable the people attending this event in Richmond proved themselves to be.
One such couple, equipped with energy knowledge, I met while joining the festivities on the ice. Jessica and Russell understand the value of energy conservation; not only can you save money on your personal bill, but you can also help protect British Columbia's beautiful environment! Both Team Power Smart members, they have made a commitment to reducing their electrical usage by 10%. They even have some interesting ideas on how to conserve around the home.
By filling Tupperware containers with water, Jessica can keep her freezer full when she doesn't have a lot of groceries filling it to capacity. A full freezer is substantially more efficient than an empty one. It is always great to encounter innovative ideas in the world of household energy conservation.
Two other energy stars, beyond being excellent at our curling activity, have a tremendous grasp of the importance of conservation. David and Charles bring their Power Smart knowledge to elementary school with them. When asked if they knew what service BC Hydro provides, both of them knew that it was electricity, and they provided some startling insight for children of their age. Charles informed me that though he did not fully understand how it works, he thought that water running downhill spun a big thing with magnets that sort of spun faster and that created electricity.
This level of knowledge of hydro-electric generation indicates to me a growing understanding of the value of both water and electrical conservation among BC's youth. Without water, the fish can't swim, the trees can't grow, and the fridge can't stay cold.
Jamie Teetzel is a Community Outreach representative based out of North Vancouver and will be at events throughout the fall.
