Tabitha Hankins
Community Outreach Team Leader – Prince George
BC Hydro
BC Hydro
Creating an Energy Conservation Culture
With a growing demand for energy in BC, finding ways to use less energy and to use it responsibly has never been more important. Currently energy is imported from out of province to meet the energy needs of British Columbians. This often means the energy is not green or clean. By ensuring that our province becomes energy self-sufficient we can ensure the energy comes from a renewable ‘green’ resource with a low environmental impact. BC Hydro has a goal of helping our province become energy self-sufficient by 2016. The easiest and most cost effective way to reduce energy demand is through conservation, and BC Hydro’s Community Outreach teams play an integral role in educating British Columbians about ways to save energy.
BC Hydro Community Outreach supports, educates and strengthens communities to develop an awareness of energy conservation. Outreach has represented BC Hydro since 1998, participating in community events and inviting the public to partake in Power Smart initiatives. The Community Outreach team located in Prince George is one of the teams across British Columbia dedicated to this cause.
Through May to September of 2009 the Prince George team attended over 95 events and provided education to over 31,000 people on energy conservation. The team travelled from Fort St. John to Williams Lake and west to Prince Rupert, visiting over a dozen different northern communities. In August of 2009 the Prince George Team led the Power the Games Tour throughout northern British Columbia.
The Power the Games Tour was launched in 2009 and brought the spirit of the 2010 Winter Games and a conservation culture to more than 50 communities throughout the province. Inside the 29 foot long Conservation Lab, visitors experienced an interactive presentation about British Columbia’s energy history, and learned ways to plan for a sustainable energy future in the province. A range of activities outside the Conservation Lab offered more fun ways to learn about saving energy and BC Hydro’s role in the Winter Games.
All British Columbians are encouraged to join Team Power Smart and make a commitment to reduce their personal energy consumption by 10%. Team Power Smart members receive online tips and resources to help them reach their conservation target. Members can also track their progress and get access to exclusive offers and rewards.
If 210,000 British Columbians reduced their energy consumption by 10%, enough energy would be saved to offset the additional energy required to power the Winter Games. Community Outreach challenges everyone to become more energy conscious and encourages British Columbians to join the team.
