News release

BC Hydro opens nominations for future champions across the province

VANCOUVER: The City of Vancouver has been selected as BC Hydro’s first Clean Energy Champion for energy efficient upgrades made at the Bloedel Conservatory that cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent.

BC Hydro’s Clean Energy Champions program is officially being launched today to recognize residents, businesses, municipalities, Indigenous and community groups across B.C. that have made the choice to switch from using fossil fuels to using clean electricity in three primary areas: homes and buildings, transportation, and industry. The City of Vancouver is being recognized as the first champion for demonstrating its commitment to using clean energy to fight climate change at its landmark Bloedel Conservatory.

Earlier this year, the City of Vancouver installed a large air source heat pump at Bloedel Conservatory – more than 50 times the size of a heat pump used in a typical B.C. home – that uses electricity instead of natural gas to heat and cool the dome's interior, which is home to more than 500 exotic plants and flowers, and 100 exotic birds. It is the biggest heat pump the City of Vancouver has ever installed, with 210 tonnes of cooling capacity.

A heat pump that provides cooling in the summer and heating in the winter is ideal for the conservatory, as its dome is completely made of glass, which can be challenging for temperature regulation. While the dome experiences a lot of heat loss in the colder months, its need for cooling in warmer weather is even greater to ensure the safety of the wildlife and plants that call it home.

The clean energy upgrades do not end there though. All lighting in the building has been upgraded to energy-efficient LEDs, and outside colour-changing LEDs now surround the perimeter and light up the dome at night.

BC Hydro is calling for nominations from B.C. residents, businesses, municipalities or Indigenous and community groups that have taken steps to lower their carbon footprint and adopt new clean energy technologies. If you or someone you know is a Clean Energy Champion, nominate them at bchydro.com/cleanenergychampions.

Quotes:

Chris O’Riley, President and CEO, BC Hydro:
“We are very pleased to name the City of Vancouver as our first ever Clean Energy Champion recipient. The heat pump installed at Bloedel will not only dramatically reduce the conservatory’s energy bills, but it also has the GHG savings equivalent of taking almost 60 gas-powered cars off the road by using BC Hydro’s renewable electricity that is mostly powered by water. We look forward to awarding more Clean Energy Champions and encourage British Columbians to make nominations on our website.”

Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation:
“I’ve always enjoyed visiting Bloedel Conservatory, and I’m so pleased to see important clean energy projects being recognized in communities. We are so fortunate here in B.C. to have an abundance of clean energy powered by water, and it’s great to see it on display in such a beautiful place. Projects like this are big steps in meeting our emissions reduction targets set out in the CleanBC plan.”

Ken Sim, Mayor of Vancouver:
"Vancouver is proud to be a leader in sustainability and we're excited to be recognized as BC Hydro's first Clean Energy Champion. These upgrades will go a long way towards helping the City reach our emissions targets. We're looking forward to continuing to work with BC Hydro and senior levels of government to deliver a cleaner, more sustainable future."

Brennan Bastyovanszky, Vice Chair of Vancouver Park Board:
“The Bloedel Conservatory is one of the most beloved Park Board facilities, and the upgrades made here are an important step in helping Vancouver reach its climate change goals. It takes innovation and teamwork to make big changes, and we are so proud to be part of the community BC Hydro is recognizing as industry leaders in clean energy.”

Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
e. media@bchydro.com
p. 604 928 6468