Press Release

Print This Page

Local governments awarded for energy conservation and awareness initiatives

VANCOUVER – After a four month competition between 66 municipalities that was almost too close to call, the Honourable Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, announced the winners of BC Hydro's first ever Turn it Off Challenge last night at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Vancouver. The Turn it Off Challenge saw local governments earn points for creating awareness about energy use and reducing their electricity consumption.

The winners in each category are:

Group 1 (under 4,000 residents)

Winner:
District of Houston
Runners up:
Village of Burns Lake
District of Hudson's Hope

Group 2 (4,000 to 14,000 residents)

Winner:
City of Williams Lake
Runners up:
City of Dawson Creek
Town of Qualicum Beach

Group 3 (15, 000 to 50,000 residents)

Winner:
City of Pitt Meadows
Runners Up:
City of North Vancouver
City of Vernon

Group 4 (more than 51,000 residents)

Winners:
City of Victoria
Corporation of Delta
Runners up:
Comox Strathcona Regional District
City of New Westminster

The winning government in each category will receive a $20,000 Power Smart makeover on a local government owned building chosen in consultation with BC Hydro. The makeover will find ways to make each building more energy efficient through improvements such as better lighting, more efficient heating and cooling systems and through technology that will lead to energy conservation.

"Each local government showed an exceptional commitment to raising awareness about energy conservation and demonstrating leadership at the municipal level," said BC Hydro President and CEO Bob Elton. "The energy saving examples set by local government employees will help lead British Columbians towards a culture of electricity conservation."

BC Hydro estimates that buildings that registered to monitor their energy savings conserved a total of 0.9 gigawatts of electricity during the four months that made up the first phase of the challenge. Those savings would power 90 homes for an entire year.

The second phase of the Turn it Off Challenge will see which local government can encourage the most local residents to sign up for Team Power Smart and reduce their electricity consumption.

The BC Energy plan has set a goal of acquiring 50 per cent of British Columbia's energy needs through conservation. BC Hydro is working towards achieving that goal through initiatives such as the Turn it Off Challenge. Hydro has also launched Team Power Smart – a group of prominent British Columbians who will help residents make small changes in their everyday lives that will make a difference in energy savings.