What Can You Do As a Community?

Communities in British Columbia play a vital role in creating a cleaner, more sustainable and resilient future for our province. There are many options and opportunities for clean energy in British Columbia. Please contact the Community Clean Energy Branch if you have questions or would like to discuss ideas about clean energy in your community.

What is a community energy system?

A community energy system is an integrated approach to supplying a community with its energy requirements. The Province is supporting local governments and Indigenous communities to meet energy requirements with renewable energy or high-efficiency energy sources to reduce emissions attributed to the built environment.

Where to start?

Do some research on a few things to better understand your community’s current energy system:

• What electrical grid is your community on? (BC Hydro, Fortis or municipal)
• Which other fuels are used in buildings in your community? (i.e. natural gas, propane or diesel)
• Does your community use alternative energy in specific buildings? (i.e. solar, biomass, wind)
• Is your community growing? Are there indicators that there will be increased development?
• Do you have a community emissions plan or an emissions target?
• Does your community know what emissions are attributed to the built environment? Data on emissions attributed buildings is available for local governments in the Community Energy and Emissions Inventory (CEEI).
• Is your community integrating energy efficiency standards into new developments and upgrades in homes and buildings? [i.e. BC Energy Step Code, Coastal First Nations New Housing Guide, (PDF, 3.9 MB)]

Why is this important?

The Province works with communities to ensure the strategic use of energy. Each community is different and may require a unique approach to understand the opportunities to optimize electrical, fuel and thermal grids from all sources and to ensure reliability.

Efficient heating systems, sustainable energy technologies, and electric vehicles will be critical to decarbonize the built environment. The electrification of the heating systems in buildings and transportation will inform community energy demand, supply, storage, and integration.

Community Clean Energy Resources and Support

The BC Community Climate Funding Guide for Indigenous communities & local governments website has several resources and funding opportunities for local governments and Indigenous communities available for climate action, including clean energy.