Beat the Peak vs Turn it Off

Two years ago, almost to the day, Gabriolans wanted to demonstrate to BC Hydro, to the BC government and to all BC communities what could be done in terms of reducing power consumption. It was a specific response to BC Hydro's Duke Point power plant, from a community that would be most affected by the project.

Power experiment proves conservation is answer

The Beat the Peak demonstration - "Power Down 4:30 to 7:30 Tues May 3" - was a resounding success. Power usage showed a 77% reduction from the baseline, or normal usage, at that time of day.

BC Hydro's spokesperson, Ted Olynyk, said at the time that the experiment sets a "great precedent' for other areas to take up similar challenges.

Well, Paris did. Sydney did.

Then BC Hydro's head office noticed. Or maybe it was just waiting for a trip to Paris or Sydney. Gabriola, though prettier, is so, well, close, or exotic, or expensive, you know.

Now BC Hydro is leading a similar exercise across the province, "Turn it Off" on Wednesday, May 16, 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

But look at the spin:

It's a "new partnership initiative". We're being asked to join "global leaders" like Paris and Sydney in using designated "lights out" times as a way of bringing attention to energy use. "Let's show the world" that British Columbians stand behind our commitment to sustainability – by turning off our lights and other electrical devices on the evening of Wednesday, May 16th.
http://www.30daysofsustainability.com/turn-it-british-columbia

Hello, BC Hydro. Do we need to go to Paris for affirmation? Do we need to wait until the rest of the world says something is fashionable? The smart people live right here and they're at least two years ahead of what's "O current" in Paris.

See BC Hydro's Turn it Off- Wednesday, May 16 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

How little electricity can you use in one evening? Islanders, along with the rest of BC, have an opportunity to demonstrate their serious commitment to combating climate change by reducing electricity use on the evening of Wednesday, May 16. 'Turn It Off! BC' is a new partnership initiative with BC Hydro

Campaign urges power users to 'turn it off'

LAURA DRAKE
Globe and Mail
May 16, 2007

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver's skyline will look a lot different tonight, as the Lion's Gate Bridge, Canada Place, Science World and Grouse Mountain turn off their lights as part of a one-day effort to conserve energy in British Columbia.

Turn it Off! B.C. is being organized by B.C. Hydro and the 30 Days of Sustainability campaign.

It is one of the first steps toward the province's long-term goal to stop importing energy by 2016.

"Conservation is the cheapest form of new energy," campaign chairman Tom Osdoba said.

"When people think to themselves, 'Well, I don't want a new dam,' one of the best ways to prevent that is to save energy."

Restaurants and businesses across the province have pledged to participate. On a Facebook group devoted to the event, some of the 1,200 members have pledged to do things from missing the American Idol results show to planning whole days outdoors and power-free.

Natural light floods into Cafe Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive via an open garage door at the front.

The restaurant is usually also lit by overhead electric lights, but tonight they will be replaced by candles, manager Andrea Aleong said.

Lights will be on, albeit dimmed, in the kitchen and bathrooms, she said. "I don't think it will save us quite a bit of electricity, but on a larger scale, if more people are participating, it will make an impact."

Pierre Sadik, a senior policy adviser with the David Suzuki Foundation, said one-shot conservation efforts such as Turn it Off! won't do much to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

"It's not going to save the planet, but it is a good way to create awareness," he said. "The important thing is this should be followed up by meaningful measures as a result of government leadership."

The B.C. government has set its greenhouse-gas emissions target at 33 per cent below current levels by 2020.

As a step toward that goal, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon ordered on Monday that new taxi licences in Vancouver and Victoria be granted to fuel-efficient vehicles only. He added that his government hopes the entire fleet of cabs will be energy-efficient by 2010.

Gillian Robinson, spokeswoman for B.C. Hydro, said energy use in the province is projected to grow 25 to 45 per cent over the next 20 years. The utility would like that increase to be cut in half through conservation.

An average household uses 11,000 kilowatt hours of power in a year, Ms. Robinson said. To meet B.C. Hydro's goal of being energy self-sufficient by 2016, each household in the province will need to cut its energy use by about 10 per cent.

"Energy used in buildings contributes between one-third and one-half of all greenhouse gasses we emit. It's not just about SUVs and oil sands. It's about energy we use in buildings. We're going to have to wrap our heads around that," Mr. Osdoba said.

Today's event has no goal in terms of energy savings, Ms. Robinson said, since this is the first time it's been attempted. A similar effort in Sydney, Australia, managed to reduce energy use by 10 per cent one day last March, Mr. Osdoba said.