Organizations
BC Sustainable Energy Association is a non-profit association of citizens, professionals and practitioners committed to promoting the understanding, development and adoption of sustainable energy, energy efficiency and conservation in British Columbia.
Their growing membership is distributed between six regional chapters and their online
resources aid information sharing and collaborative projects.
Visit www.bcsea.org to learn more and become a member to aid in their efforts to ensure BC's future energy supply comes from clean, renewable, efficient sources.
oneday Vancouver - One Day is the City of Vancouver's community engagement process in support of its Community Climate Change Action Plan.
"It's about individual actions that each of us can take in our every day lives. It's about what is possible, and will reward and applaud each and every action, no matter how big or how small. It's about momentum and shared success..."
SPEC, the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation and their GreenPages are an excellent resource for all things sustainable. Founded in 1969, The Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) is a non-profit charitable organization that addresses environmental issues in British Columbia, with a particular focus on urban communities in Lower Mainland and the Georgia Basin. SPEC is a member-based society with an elected Board of Directors and a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. The Directors, members, staff and volunteers actively participate in SPEC’s on-going environmental projects.
BALLE-BC - "BALLE imagines an intricate web of locally focused, fairly trading, economies covering the globe. We believe in a healthy and vibrant economy for everyone. As a network of local business owners and leaders with a direct stake in the livability of our communities and bio-regions, we support this by working to increase the production and purchasing of local and sustainable products."
Light House, Sustainable Building Centre - an information and education centre, exhibition space and forum for sharing ideas that will help you sustain yourself, your community and your environment.
citiesPLUS (or cities Planning for Long-term Urban Sustainability) developed the 100 year sustainability plan for Vancouver Canada in a project that involved 500 experts and participants from 30 cities across Canada. This 2-year long exercise, culminated in Team Canada being awarded the Grand Prix at the international Sustainable Urban Systems Design competition in Tokyo June 2003.
Cooperative Auto Network - The Co-operative Auto Network (CAN) is a not-for-profit co-operative venture incorporated to foster car sharing as an alternative to the privately-owned automobile.
Environmental Youth Alliance - EYA is a community development organization dedicated to improving our physical and social environment through hands on community projects that involve, train and employ young people.
Smart Growth on the Ground - Smart Growth on the Ground is an innovative program to change the way that development is done in BC, by creating real, built examples of smart growth.
This unique program helps BC communities to prepare more sustainable neighbourhood plans – including land use, transportation, urban design, and building design plans. Extensive follow-up ensures that the plans become reality.
RECOLLECTIVE - The Recollective offers a core group of services based on the expertise of our founders. This includes integrated design process (IDP) facilitation, LEED for new construction facilitation, LEED for neighbourhood development facilitation, green building consulting, and marketing green buildings.
The EcoDesign Resource Society (EDRS) is a not-for-profit organization which promotes environmentally responsible ('green') design, planning and development practices through research, education and communication. In the main, EDRS acts as a resource and forum for discussion on green design. As a non-profit, non-political, professionally-oriented group, it has been instrumental in promoting more environmentally-responsible development practices in B.C. EDRS is solely supported by membership fees and grants from foundations for specific projects.
Tips
A Twelve-step Process for Achieving 100% Fossil Fuel Reduction in British Columbia. An 18’ video webcast by Guy Dauncey from Montreal COP-11. (scroll down to December 8th, at 5:30pm)
Ten Steps to a Cooler Planet – Produced by Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
GreenBiz.com
This page features a series of free viewable short videos on
sustainability and social responsibility. They're designed to further
public awareness about sustainability and related issues of the day.
Power Generation - Energy Alternatives
Energy Alternatives is a progressive company providing clean,
renewable sources of power generation. They provide remote, urban and
industrial clients the means to save money, reduce ecological impact
and realize their sustainable living goals. This site has many useful tips and resources such as a course on microhydro systems.
Solar Basics
Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating Basics
News/Articles
EcoNews - A monthly newsletter by visionary and green-go-to-guy Guy Dauncey.
Natural Home Magazine
is an excellent resource for articles and tips. Visit this page to download the Healthy House Checklist and other useful guides.
Green Progress
Green Progress provides current news and resources on environmental
technology and green innovations that can improve our quality of life
by ensuring that our health and environment are protected. Green
Progress features the latest technological advances in alternative
energy, green building and sustainable development, transportation and
fuel source technology, and environmental protection and preservation.
Sustainable Communities
ECOPERTH: A Small Rural Community Takes Action On Climate Change – Produced by Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Your Next Move: Choosing a Neighbourhood with Sustainable Features – Produced by Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Energy needs and Availability in Housing – Produced by Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Greener Choices
Consumer watchdog magazine Consumer Reports launched this Web site
dedicated to the environmental impact of consumer products. Find health
and environmental information -- including an energy-efficiency rating
-- on products for home and office (or home office), including consumer
electronics, cars, home appliances, and garden products. The Recycling
Center offers an impressive list of recycling and donation programs for
computers and cell phones. The site also features basic information on
environmental issues such as climate, waste, toxics, and household
energy.
Environmental Building News, a publication of BuildingGreen Inc offers indepth exploration of questions such as "What Makes a Product Green?"
Paper and more...
Markets Initiative works with Canadian companies to conserve ancient and endangered forests by shifting their demand, and supply, of paper products to environmentally sound options. The organization also runs the Ancient Forest Friendly campaign to create meaningful ways for the public to participate in forest conservation.
Green Shopping
Green Shopping Tip Number One - use reuseable bags! Want to know why? One of our new favorite Canadian designers, Cristina Covello, illustrates the point with this piece.
The Green Guide – Published by The Green Guide Institute (TGGI), an independent research and information organization for consumers, the Green Guide is a resource for men and women, from young adults to grandparents, striving for a healthy and “greener” lifestyle.
Responsible Shopper – This site reports on global research and campaign information in order to alert the public about the social and environmental impact of major corporations, while providing opportunities for consumers and investors to vote with their dollars for change.
Comondi, meaning "with the world", is a vegan company founded on the principles of compassion, ecological integrity and respect for all living creatures. They strive to provide vegan products that are created with cradle to grave responsibility. From manufacture to disposal they are made with attention to ecological impact, employee welfare and animal suffering.
GreenerChoices.org is the green side of Consumer Reports.
Green Shopping Tip Number Two - If you still need a car in your life here is a good site to assess your green choices. Check here for a list of what to avoid.
Lyndhurst Naturals - E-Cloth Cleaning Systems including a European 'Swiffer'-like mop system.
Financing
"We pay for the installation and maintenance of renewable energy hardware - such as a solar thermal system - for your building. You, as the owner or long-term tenant, pay us a fixed rate for your energy needs over the term of the contract.
- You win - with a lower, predictable energy rate.
- The environment wins - lower greenhouse gas emmissions.
- Our shareholders win too - this is a business."
Government Programs
Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI)
Wind Power in Canada
Interest in wind power as a promising source of electricity has grown significantly over the past few years. In the past decade alone, Canada has installed about 200 megawatts of wind energy capacity. The Government of Canada's Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI), announced in the December 2001 budget, is intended to encourage electric utilities, independent power producers and other stakeholders to gain experience in this emerging and promising energy source. More...
Hydroelectric Energy
Natural Resources Canada supports the development of small hydroelectric facilities in Canada through the following activities:
Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) Group
CANMET Energy Technology Centre - Varennes (CETC–Varennes)
Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) Group
The objective of the Small Hydro Technology Development Group is to promote the development of appropriate technology to make it more economical to develop a greater range of small-scale and low-head hydroelectric resources. The group responds to the needs of the Canadian small hydroelectric industry and brings together the expertise in industry, universities and government. The group is now concentrating on tools and techniques for reducing equipment and construction costs. More...
Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI)
Background on REDI
REDI was announced in December 1997, and came into effect on April 1, 1998. REDI is a 9-year, $51 million program designed to stimulate the demand for renewable energy systems for water heating, space heating and industrial process heating. These systems include:
- active solar water heating systems;
- active solar air heating systems; or
- high efficiency/low emissions biomass combustion systems of between 75kW and 2MW capacity. More...