What is a community energy plan?
Why should we care?
Energy and climate change effects all of us. In fact, its hard to think of anything we do that doesn't require energy or wouldn't be impacted in some way by climate change. In our homes, at work, or on the road, energy is what fuels modern lives. And climate change threatens those lifestyles, whether through destruction of ecosystems or weather related catastrophes.
Canadians spend over $4000 on energy for every person in the country. With globalization and peak oil thoe costs continue to rise. This can lead to economic disruption and hardship for many people. A community that plans for a low energy future will be a more resilient community, less likley to be impacted by future energy shocks.
Energy efficient communities are also better places to live. Energy efficient homes are also more comfortable and healthier. Walking and cycling lead to better health. And reducing the amount of money spent on energy purchased from outside the community can boost the local economy.
Canadians spend over $4000 on energy for every person in the country. With globalization and peak oil thoe costs continue to rise. This can lead to economic disruption and hardship for many people. A community that plans for a low energy future will be a more resilient community, less likley to be impacted by future energy shocks.
Energy efficient communities are also better places to live. Energy efficient homes are also more comfortable and healthier. Walking and cycling lead to better health. And reducing the amount of money spent on energy purchased from outside the community can boost the local economy.
Residential Energy Efficiency Training
On February 1st and 2nd, eight KNC and Band Staff members received residential energy efficiency training with City Green Solutions.
Through the Community Energy Planning process, Wendy Smith of City Green Solutions delivered a hands on workshop to train participants to identify and address home energy efficiency problems.
The session was a huge success, and it is possible that there will be additional training opportunities identified through the Community Energy Planning process.
If you are involved in housing construction or maintenance in your
community, and interested in receiving energy efficiency training, please contact:
Meredith Hamstead at 250-688-110 or
m.hamstead (at) thinkbright.ca
Through the Community Energy Planning process, Wendy Smith of City Green Solutions delivered a hands on workshop to train participants to identify and address home energy efficiency problems.
The session was a huge success, and it is possible that there will be additional training opportunities identified through the Community Energy Planning process.
If you are involved in housing construction or maintenance in your
community, and interested in receiving energy efficiency training, please contact:
Meredith Hamstead at 250-688-110 or
m.hamstead (at) thinkbright.ca
We asked to hear from you... You Responded!
Developing a Community Energy Plan means that we need to understand what the energy consumption of your community looks like. Some of this information is available through companies like BC Hydro and Fortis. Other pieces of information are harder to collect, and so we asked for YOUR input.
Many Band Members completed paper or online surveys. in November These surveys are very important to our understanding of community energy consumption, transportation, and your views on alternative energies. Thanks to all who participated!
The winner of the BC Hydro Residential Energy Upgrade kit is:
Cathy Chlopecki of the Lower Kootenay Band.
Congratulations Cathy!
Many Band Members completed paper or online surveys. in November These surveys are very important to our understanding of community energy consumption, transportation, and your views on alternative energies. Thanks to all who participated!
The winner of the BC Hydro Residential Energy Upgrade kit is:
Cathy Chlopecki of the Lower Kootenay Band.
Congratulations Cathy!
Project Events
Nation Council and Staff Workshop:
February 5, 2010
We presented the draft Community Energy Plan outline to the Ktunaxa Nation Council and Staff on February 5th, 2010. This draft outline has been provisionally approved, and the final plan, due to be submitted in late February, will provide policy and guidelines for:
Public Open Houses:
We hosted community energy plan workshops at all four bands in November on the followign dates:
Lower Kootenay Band Complex: November 18th, 4-6pm
Tobacco Plains Band Hall: November 23rd, 6-8 pm
St. Mary's Band Hall: November 24th, 6-8 pm
Akisqnuk Band Hall: November 30th, 6-8pm
The workshops were generally well attended and we were able to share and gather some important information about energy and your communities. Plus we shared some great meals, met a lot of very interesting people, and generally had fun with the workshop participants.
Thank you to BC Hydro, The BC Woodstove Exchange Program, Fraser Basin Council, Fortis, and Staff at each of the Bands for supporting these events!
The information we gathered will be used to inform the development of the Ktunaxa Nation Community Energy Plan. We will present a draft plan to the KNC in February (see above), and the final plan will be completed by March.
February 5, 2010
We presented the draft Community Energy Plan outline to the Ktunaxa Nation Council and Staff on February 5th, 2010. This draft outline has been provisionally approved, and the final plan, due to be submitted in late February, will provide policy and guidelines for:
- Reducing residential and Band energy and green house gas emissions;
- Improving the efficiency of new homes built on the Bands; and
- Increasing the amount of clean, Nation and Band owned energy supply.
Public Open Houses:
We hosted community energy plan workshops at all four bands in November on the followign dates:
Lower Kootenay Band Complex: November 18th, 4-6pm
Tobacco Plains Band Hall: November 23rd, 6-8 pm
St. Mary's Band Hall: November 24th, 6-8 pm
Akisqnuk Band Hall: November 30th, 6-8pm
The workshops were generally well attended and we were able to share and gather some important information about energy and your communities. Plus we shared some great meals, met a lot of very interesting people, and generally had fun with the workshop participants.
Thank you to BC Hydro, The BC Woodstove Exchange Program, Fraser Basin Council, Fortis, and Staff at each of the Bands for supporting these events!
The information we gathered will be used to inform the development of the Ktunaxa Nation Community Energy Plan. We will present a draft plan to the KNC in February (see above), and the final plan will be completed by March.
The Ktunaxa Nation Community Energy Plan is a project of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, funded in part by BC Hydro.
The community energy plan is being developed by the following consultancies:
