Green Building Leaders
Designing a Renewable Energy Requirement for B.C.
Solar West 2011Claire Beckstead
The Pembina Institute
2
Green Buildings = low GHGs
Cleaner energyLess energy
Project Overview
Green Building Leaders Objectives:
1)Work collaboratively with leading local governments and other stakeholders to assist in the design of green building regulations, and
2)Set the stage for the adoption of these regulations in B.C.
Green Building LeadersPartner Communities• Campbell River• City of North
Vancouver• Cowichan Valley
Regional District• Dawson Creek• Delta• District of West
Vancouver
• Fort St. John• Prince George• Regional District
of Nanaimo• Terrace• Tofino• Whistler
Research Areas
• Higher energy performance standards in new buildings
• Minimum energy performance standards in existing buildings
• Minimum renewable energy standards for new and existing buildings
• Innovative financing programs
Research Areas
• Higher energy performance standards in new buildings
• Minimum energy performance standards in existing buildings
• Minimum renewable energy standards for new and existing buildings
• Innovative financing programs
Research to date
• Research policies approaches
• GHG modeling for each partner community
• Cost analysis• Legal analysis –
jurisdiction
Local Government JurisdictionLocal government have limited
tools to implement a local regulations
Example: Development Permit Area to require energy efficiency and renewable energy on new developments
Proposed Approach
• Develop a province-wide renewable energy requirement with an option for local governments to opt-in
What is an RER?
Key benefits of RERs
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and energy use
• Progress towards net-zero energy
• Potential to encourage further energy efficiency
• Potential for economic growth and job creation
Impact of RER in Merton:• Combined impact of London’s policy has been
a 26% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions - even though the policy only requires a 10% reduction.
• Costs have been lower than anticipated• The pace and scale of development hasn’t
changed.• The administration’s workload has remained
relatively unchanged.• Significant growth has been spurred in the
renewable technology economy.• Energy efficiency investments have increased.
Next Steps
•Finalize the proposed design for the BC RER•Communicate results and develop support for implementation in BC
Thank You
