Add energy savings to your list this year. Join Team Power Smart, take a reduction challenge, and for a limited time chase double the reward - $100
From lower bills, to new tech to sport and adventure, we’ve got you covered
Good decisions big and small can enhance your well-being and crank up the fun in your life. We’re not talking “walk 10,000 steps a day” resolutions, but we’re going to encourage you to stop putting off the things you know are good for you and for your community.
Here’s a list of 26 ideas, reminders, and projects you may want to take on in 2026. Most items on the list will take you from a couple minutes to an hour to kick off, while others might ask for a change in your routines or in how you get around town or stay comfy at home. Tackle what you can, and promise yourself to stick to it.
1. Declutter, donate, recycle
A cluttered home is a constant stress, both aesthetically and functionally. How much time do you waste looking for stuff? There are lots of online tips and ideas including from becomingminimalist.com.
2. Take another shot at FIFA World Cup tickets
If you’re like most Canadian soccer fans, you struck out on the first couple lotteries that offered a very slim chance of getting a shot at tickets to the FIFA World Cup. Rather than rely exclusively on the resale market, where FIFA charges 15% to both the buyer and seller on each resale ticket, take a run at the Canada Soccer ticket lottery entry window that ends Jan. 13. You can enter for free, or pay a little (or a lot) to upgrade your ‘Canada Red’ membership and improve your lottery chances.
3. Join Team Power Smart, chase a $100 reward
It takes a couple minutes to join, it’s free, and it opens the door to member-exclusive contests, tips, and more. And if you join and start a 10% Reduction Challenge before January 31, 2026, we’ll double our usual Challenge reward to $100.
4. Get on that B.C. holiday booking
The early bird gets the sweetest suite, cabin, or tenting spot. Book ASAP to get the best selection and take the stress out of 11th- hour trip planning.
Did you know? BC Parks frontcountry campsites can be made up to three months in advance.
5. Get efficient cooling in your home
As summers get hotter, is your home as comfortable as it should be? Are you tired of wheeling out portable A/C units into your living areas? Take advantage of our heat pump rebates to bring efficient comfort, year-round, to your home. Rebates are available for condos, too.
6. Never stop at a gas station again
Buy or lease an electric vehicle, use our rebate to get a home charger, and 80% to 90% of your charging will be done at home. You’ll save lots on gas, and when you hit the highway, you can rely on increasingly fast charging options on our EV charging network.
7. Make ‘buy Canada’ your mantra
This is going to be a tough year for many Canadian businesses, from your local restaurant and bike shop to furniture makers and food companies. Check labels, don’t be fooled by packaged U.S. produce with a “Canada Organic” label, and find stores that go out of their way to stock Canadian products. Even Costco has started stocking the likes of Abbotsford’s One Degree Organics ‘Farmers We Know’ rolled oats and granola to offer an alternative to popular U.S. brands.
8. Challenge yourself to improve in a sport—or discover a new one
If you golf and your handicap isn’t really improving, you’re not alone. Make 2026 the year you take quality lessons and/or make visits to the local driving range a regular thing. Or save money and switch to the super-social game of pickleball.
9. Get more house plants, and treat them right
Do you love house plants, but feel they don’t love you? Take the time this year to choose the right plants for your home and show them love by taking proper care of them. There’s lots of great advice online, including specifics for homes in B.C.
10. Find a workout you like and stick to it
Some of us are gym people, some of us not so much. Some of us run, others would rather bike, skate, go on long walks or play a sport. Find an activity you love and make it your thing.
11. Do the math on our time-of-day pricing
Our optional residential time-of-day pricing is great for some – especially electric vehicle owners. Use our rate estimator to find out if your energy-use profile is a good fit , which offers a 5 cents per kWh discount during overnight and other non-peak periods.
12. Sign up for Peak Saver, earn rewards
Earn rewards for shifting your energy use away from peak times. There are two ways to do it: join Peak Saver challenges or enroll your eligible smart devices at $50 per device type so that we can automatically adjust them during peak events.
13. Read more books, watch less TV
Reading is so retro. Buck the trend away from reading by regularly borrowing print or electronic books from your local library, joining a book club, or carefully choosing books to buy (and share). Cancel a streaming service or two, and you’ll be able to afford it.
14. Make an e-bike your second vehicle
Looking for a second car? Consider an e-bike share or buying an e-bike if all you need is a second option for getting to and from work or school. Do the math on whether carshare, bus or commuter rail is the better option for you.
15. Ditch takeout delivery, pick it up yourself
A 2022 Canada Restaurant study found that 51% of Canadian restaurants weren’t profitable. And the pressure to offer food delivery through popular acts makes it even tougher for many to survive. Make the choice, when you can, to pick up takeout yourself – or even better, dine in. Takeout orders are typically more profitable for restaurants than delivery orders.
16. Eat more plants, less meat
You’ll save money, reduce your cholesterol, and with the right balance, you’ll feel better. Check out the Canada Food Guide’s healthy plate breakdown: half veggies and fruits, one quarter grains, one quarter protein.
17. Discover B.C. wines
B.C.’s wine industry got thumped with a winter cold snap that devastated the 2024 harvest and, in many cases, killed vines. They’re bouncing back with great wines and membership offers that can help you save a little as you support the industry. Consider booking a vacation around wine-tasting in B.C. and try B.C. wines by the glass the next time you dine out.
18. Give back to your community
Our food banks and many others in B.C. could use your help. Donate food, money, or your time as a volunteer. Find a B.C. food bank near you, and learn about how you can make the biggest difference.
19. Get a free Canada Strong Pass, and use it
During Canada Strong Pass periods, no fees apply for admission for all visitors to all national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada. You also get a 25% discount on camping and roofed accommodation fees when staying in a national park.
20. Try a new hobby
A Statista survey of Canadians early in 2025 showed that the most popular hobby in the country was cooking and baking, followed by reading. What about knitting? Or learning to play a musical instrument? Challenge yourself in 2026 to try something new.
21. Sleep more, and better
Do you struggle to fit in the recommended seven to eight hours per day? HealthLink BC has a helpful list for improving your sleep (and with it, your awake-hours energy and productivity) that includes improving your sleep area (less light, noise etc.), and avoiding food in the hours before bedtime.
22. Stop holding off on that epic hike
‘Epic’ can be different things to different people. One person might take on St. Mark’s Summit on the North Shore, another may want to finally do an overnight near Garibaldi Lake, and another might take on the Sunshine Coast Trail or the West Coast Trail. Do it in 2026.
23. Stop scrolling
Oh, the places you’ll go if you trade in that time spent scrolling on your device for something more rewarding. You could be journaling, meditating, stretching, drawing, learning a new language, or calling a friend.
24. Hockey fan? Pencil in February 19 and 22
Those are the dates for the women’s and men’s 2026 Olympic gold medal hockey finals. Will both our Canadian teams make the finals?
25. Organize your digital photos
Don’t lose track of your memories. The Canadian Museum of immigration has learned a lot from archiving images and offers some sage advice for organizing and storing digital images. Edmonton’s Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) also offers digital photo storage tips.
26. Make more time for friends and family
A 2022 Statistics Canada survey showed that, in part due to the shift to remote and hybrid work schedules, fewer than one in five Canadians saw friends on a typical day. And according to a 2024 YMCA survey, 60% of us feel disconnected from our community. Inject some “belonging” in your life by reaching out to friends and family, and recognize it’s a cherished gift that works both ways.