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1. The Challenge
The scientific evidence overwhelmingly confirms that human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are driving the current global warming. Its consequences will be extremely disruptive to the earth’s ecology and to human societies and economies.
To protect the well-being of life on the planet, we must quickly cut our emissions by 80% or more. Buildings in BC contribute some 13% of total provincial GHGs, mainly from the burning of natural gas and heating oil for space and water heating. As well as reducing these emissions, efficiency improvements would make our building stock more viable in the face of rising and volatile energy prices, as fossil fuels become scarcer and more difficult to produce.
The technologies to increase building efficiency are well known and reliable: insulation, weather sealing, efficient heating and cooling equipment and efficient appliances. The challenge is to implement, on a province-wide scale, the high-quality efficiency upgrades that will significantly reduce the need to burn fuels and consume electricity. Not only would public buildings be affected, but individuals, businesses and landlords need to be persuaded to invest in their homes and buildings to achieve the long-term benefits.