Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases: Information for school plant officials

BY CRAIG HARRIS - MANAGER, GREEN SCHOOLS INFRASTRUCTURE, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Many of you have heard of global warming. Some of you can look out the windows of your homes and offices and see the effect warmer winters have had on BC's pine forests. The trend is projected to continue as human activity pumps more and more carbon into the atmosphere. Scientists and politicians alike warn of severe consequences, and the first eco-refugees are appearing. Realizing this, the Premier has determined we need to respond to the impact of human-caused or anthropogenicbased climate change.

Since the Throne Speech of February 2007, there have been over 175 Climate Action Plans submitted and approved by government involving all ministries, crown corporations, agencies and commissions. The Premier's Climate Action Secretariat has been struck, and Green Teams are or have been established inside all government offices. The Ministry of Education Climate Action Plan was approved in April 2007. The Plan will be released soon on our developing Climate Action website.

A great deal of work is being done behind the scenes to achieve sustainability. Like a major military operation, a lot of research, strategizing, thinking and organizing is underway. The Premier has challenged the public sector to take the lead on greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and adapting our economy to sustainability. This degree of commitment is unprecedented in Canada, and will ultimately affect every person in the province.

Most persons do not realize the public school system is the single largest repository of built space in the public sector. Boards of Education operate about 2,000 facilities, or roughly 7 million square metres of space including schools, board offices, shops and garages (not including portables). Sig nificantly, about 20% of all daily human activity in the province takes place in the context of the K-12 program (not including independent schools). Our annual operating budget is the second largest in the province after Health. Based on the scope of our operations, we have a significant role to play in reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases while educating our children about sustainability and climate change.

Government has recently implemented Bill 44 - 2007 and the separate Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement; two means to assist in achieving the ambitious goals of carbon neutrality by 2010, 33% GHG reductions by 2020, and 80% reductions by 2050.

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The recently proclaimed Bill 44 –2007, Greenhouse Gas Target Reduc tions Act regulates measurement, re porting and carbon offsetting for the public sector. While not yet posted to the legislative website, the text of the third reading (passed November 26th, 2007) can be obtained at: http:// www.leg.bc.ca/38th3rd/3rd_read/gov44 -3.htm.

The Targets Act, Part 2 Section 8, requires all provincial public sector organizations, including Boards of Education, to be carbon neutral by 2010. In order to achieve this, boards must develop district-wide carbon neutral action plans, inventory assets, and measure and report on energy consumption (electricity and fuels) and emission reduction achievements annually starting with calendar year 2008. The energy report data will be provided to, and translated by, the Ministry of Environment, and used to calculate board required carbon offsets for business travel, buildings, equipment, and vehicles for 2010.

The Public Sector Energy Conser vation Agreement (PSECA) was signed in November 2007 and supports the Targets Act. It commits the province and BC Hydro to develop and deliver an energy audit program (fuels and electricity) for all 6,500 government buildings, including board-owned facilities, and to create and manage a database of audits. The PSECA will further develop a protocol for recommending energy conservation projects for provincial funding, including a project application and review process. Projects will be announced semi-annually, starting early this spring, and continue over an initial 12-year period. BC Hydro will train and fund a number of energy managers to be embedded in districts for facilitating the PSECA. Based on existing and projected audit needs, it is anticipated the audit activity will be completed by the end of 2009. The PSECA will further coordinate activities of other utility providers in the province and seek to advance alternative energy projects. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

A sustainable operations advisory committee has been informally struck. The committee will plan a committee charter, develop sustainable operations tools and techniques, accommodate the requirements of the Targets Act, advise best practices, promote PSECA and other energy project opportunities, advise boards and stakeholders, and take other actions as necessary to develop and coordinate climate action initiatives. Brian MacDonald at BC Hydro has also been working to raise awareness and collect energy project proposals in districts.

For further information, please contact Craig Harris by email at: Craig.Harris@gov.bc.ca. ❏