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February 24, 2010

Powell River group greens chilly church hall

Posted by Nola Poirier

When I was asked by the Powell River Transition Town group to give a talk on guerrilla – DIY, free, and easy – energy saving tips for the home, I was excited by the opportunity. Being still new-ish in my community, living far from town, and working from home, I haven’t met as many of the region’s 20,000 people as I would like to.

And when I found out all the details of the workshop, I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed, and another reason why this is such a terrific community to be part of.

The workshop organizers designed the event to meet many needs at once. They held it in a small, chilly hall that rents itself out for community functions at affordable rates. In addition to my DIY talk, there were two other presenters: an ex Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) employee who provided information on home energy efficiency grants, and one of the owners of the local building supply store, who presented on larger energy efficiency projects, like upgrading insulation.

As well as providing a well-informed speaker, the local hardware store donated some supplies for draftproofing the hall. After the presentations, we split into work teams and everyone got hands-on experience as we weatherstripped the doors and the attic hatch, and put shrink film on all the windows.

The practical component of the workshop reinforced the information shared in the presentations, and gave participants hands-on experience that boosted their confidence for upgrading the efficiency of their homes. In addition, it made a drafty building with sky-high energy bills more energy efficient, meaning it will be possible for the hall to continue renting its space at affordable prices to local groups.

And finally, the workshop was a fundraiser for the Powell River Transition Town group, with each participant paying a reasonable $5 each to attend.

It doesn’t take a community to raise the energy efficiency of a building, but it definitely makes it more fun and a lot less work when a group comes together to do the work. For ideas of how to green your community, watch for the soon to be launched Green Your Community guide, coming this spring to bchydro.com.

Nola Poirier is a Powell River-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to bchydro.com's Unplug This Blog! and Green Guides.