Power Smart tour brings conservation and the Games to B.C.
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro announced today it will help bring the spirit of conservation and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to more than 50 communities throughout the province this summer through the Power the Games tour.
The tour, featuring a 29-foot, interactive, high-tech conservation lab, will teach British Columbians about using electricity efficiently and encourage them to join Team Power Smart to commit to reduce their consumption by 10 per cent. At each stop, those who join the team will have the opportunity to enter a draw for tickets to an event at the 2010 Winter Games.
"Conservation will play a key role in meeting our province’s future electricity needs and all British Columbians have a role to play," said BC Hydro President and CEO Bob Elton. "We hope to recruit 210,000 members to Team Power Smart by the 2010 Winter Games. If this challenge is met, we would save more than the amount of electricity needed to power the Games."
If 210,000 British Columbians join Team Power Smart and meet their conservation goals, the electricity saved would amount to 92 gigawatt hours – enough to meet the electricity needs of 8,300 homes for an entire year. The 2010 Winter Games are expected to use 80 gigawatt hours.
The tour also features realistic Olympic-themed Power Smart games, including bobsled, curling, slalom and hockey.
"Conservation and sustainability are a big part of the 2010 Winter Games strategy," said John Furlong, CEO of VANOC. "BC Hydro has been an exceptional partner in working towards our shared environmental goals. The Power the Games tour demonstrates this commitment by seeking out champions of sustainability in every community across the province, not just for the Games, but for generations to come."
"Team Power Smart helps make electricity conservation easy," added Elton. "I have joined the team and have realized that simple changes can add up to make a difference."
Team Power Smart members can access tools and resources online to help them reach their conservation target and can also track their progress and see how they compare with others.
Visit our interactive map for tour stops and schedule.
Contact:
Simi Heer
Media Relations
Phone: 604 623 3963
Backgrounder
Power the Games Tour
BC Hydro’s Power the Games Tour is traveling the province to bring the spirit of energy conservation and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to British Columbians.
The tour will visit more than 50 communities and 100 community events. As the tour rolls through the province, British Columbians will be encouraged to join Team Power Smart and set a conservation target of ten per cent. The tour demonstrates how easy it is to join the team and how conservation can be achieved through simple changes in behaviour.
BC Hydro has launched a drive to get 210,000 British Columbians to join Team Power Smart and reduce their energy consumption by 10 per cent by 2010. If this conservation challenge is met, the province will save the equivalent of the electricity needed to power the 2010 Winter Games.
Team members get access to tools and resources to help them conserve as well as exclusive benefits and rewards. In addition, members can track their progress online and see how they compare against others.
In each community, BC Hydro will give away a pair of tickets to an event at the 2010 Winter Games. To be eligible for the tickets, residents will have to join Team Power Smart on-site at the community event and make a commitment to conservation.
The tour features fun and educational activities for all ages, including a 29-foot, high-tech, interactive conservation lab and Olympic-themed games like bobsled, slalom, curling and hockey. In addition, participants can have their photos taken on the gold medal step of a podium flanked by life-sized images of conservation ambassadors and Team Power Smart members Ryan Kesler and Steve Nash.
The tour sets a green example for participants. The conservation lab is being towed by a hybrid vehicle and features energy efficient lights and screens. BC Hydro representatives accompanying the tour wear eco-friendly uniforms which are made primarily out of bamboo and hemp. Giveaways for attendees include eco-friendly products like corn pens, biodegradable bam bams and lanyards made out of recycled pop bottles.
Visit our interactive map for tour stops and schedule.