Ideas for Initiators

1. Ideas for Initiators Proposed at the Victoria Chapter Strategic Planning Session November 2012

2. Education Create sustainability discussion courses for adults “What is a watt?” and “What is a watt-hour?” • create an effective, simple, pictoral way to explain to the public what a watt and a watt-hour are • educate members of the public about the common units of electricity usage which all have heard about, but very few actually understand Organize a BCSEA ‘cluster’ at Home Shows • 5 – 8 BCSEA member businesses appear together in an 'energy aisle' at a Home Show, along with a Victoria chapter BCSEA booth. • our presence at a Home Show reaches a different audience than we normally would, i.e., not the usual greenies

3. Education (cont’d) Victoria Chapter BCSEA movie nights • show energy- and climate action-related documentaries or movies, and include guest speakers and/or panel discussions • educate chapter members and the public about energy and climate problems; sign up new chapter members; raise funds Re-skilling - learn to repair appliances and make tools • offer workshops (i) to repair small motors, machines, tools and appliances, and (ii) to make simple tools • break the mindless consumption / throw-away mentality; give people the skills to repair or make many of the items they use

4. GHG reduction Helping reduce GHG emissions through expanding use of year-round green-houses • in combination with co-generation opportunities • rural and urban, large and small • reduction in transportation costs if more produced locally, reduction in GHG • more local food = increased community resilience Towards “net zero” program • replicate T’Sou-ke / Solar Colwood projects in other communities • weatherizing programs • ‘greens’ technology and changes behaviour • home owner grants

5. GHG reduction (cont’d) Energy accounting app • develop an energy accounting app to allow homeowners to compare their energy consumption with others, taking into account number of occupants, size of building, etc. • create feedback about the homeowner’s actual use of energy in comparison with Canadian averages

6. Other kinds of ideas Energy Management training programs (skills training / economic) • target underemployed, vulnerable, marginal populations • strong focus on job creation and retrofit results (borrow from Chicago and T’Sou-ke experiences “Be cool” and “Random green acts of kindness” (contest) • identify cool with sustainability • all ages, demographics • they drive campaigns and marketing • variety of artist platforms – theatre based? Art schools?

7. Other ideas (cont’d) Campaign for “close by” affordable housing (advocacy) • research – targeted on health, safety indicators in denser vs suburban communities • YIMBY-based education with CA/NA • celebrate/change perspective (e.g. healthier, cheaper, safer communities) Zero carbon CRD in 2030 (visioning) • create the vision of a zero-carbon CRD in 2030 - mainly by working on transportation and buildings, as energy generation is managed by BC Hydro

8. Other ideas (cont’d) High performance energy assessment tool share (community development) • make a blower door / thermal imaging camera available to homeowners—on a rental (public) or borrow (for members) basis—search to find and fix leaks in the envelope of their house • ‘tighter’ homes and reduced home energy consumption