April 21, 2008 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Monthly Meeting
Topic: Smart Growth.
Todd Litman of Victoria Transport Policy Institute discussed smart
growth and the contribution it can make toward energy conservation and
emission reductions, as described in the recent report, "Growing Cooler:
The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change," Urban Land Institute
and Smart
Growth America.
April 20, 2008 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Sustainable Home Tour
We bussed to four energy-efficient houses with renewable energy systems
in Western communities. A guide provided information about the systems built
into the houses.
April 18-20, 2008 - BCSEA at the Victoria Spring Home Expo
BCSEA member businesses at the Victoria Spring Home Show. This year we
had 8 booths in a group in the curling rink. In this show, we reached out
beyond our usual audience to help homeowners improve the energy efficiency
of their houses.
Participating member businesses included:
* Energy Alternatives
* Solarcrest Innovations Ltd.
* ProStar Mechanical
* Island Basement Systems
* ECOSIPS
* International Composting Corporation
* City Green
March 17, 2008 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Meeting
Topic: Ocean energy.
Tidal stream and wave energy harnesses the kinetic energy potential in
oceans as well as any moving water. It is renewable and as dependable and
predictable as the moon and its relationship with earth. Technology is developing
in various parts of the world, but, as yet, there is no dominant technology
and no dominant national economy as there has been with wind energy.
Canada has some 40,000 mW of tidal stream energy and 40,000 mW of near
shore wave energy. Some of that potential can be used to supply 10% of Canada’s
electricity needs and add low-emitting ocean power to it’s clean energy
future.
Scott Beatty is completing his Master's of Applied Science in mechanical
engineering at UVic. He also collaborates with SyncWave, a BC energy company
based in Pemberton, to develop wave energy technology. Scott spoke about:
1. the wave resource in BC, its energy potential
2. various types and classifications of devices (how they work)
3. the current status of the global industry
4. the SyncWave concept and future plans
5. wave energy integration, and
6. life-cycle assessment comparisons of a few different wave energy concepts
and comparisons to other energy sources.
Chris Knight is the Founding Chair of OREG (Ocean Renewable Energy Group).
OREG has animated policy development at both the federal and provincial
level and has provided input into recent policy initiatives of British Columbia,
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Chris formed Canoe Pass Tidal Energy Corp.
and BC Tidal Energy Corp., companies which are advancing three tidal energy
projects at present. He described OREG's work, and other ocean energy resources.
February 18, 2008 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Meeting
Topic: How are local municipalities meeting their commitments to the Climate
Action Charter? How can we help them do that?
January 21, 2008 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Meeting
BC is finally arriving on the wind energy scene. Three projects have been
given the go ahead, and numerous others are preparing applications for the
BC Hydro's upcoming Clean Power Call next year.Presenters were Aeolis Wind,
Nomis Wind, Seabreeze Power, and Earthfirst Energy. A representative with
the Ministry of Energy & Mines was alsoin attendance to share the government's
experience thus far in bringing wind energy into the BC electricity mix.
December 14, 2007 8pm - BCSEA Victoria Chapter and Friends presented:
NGO Ho Ho Ho Winter Ball
December 10, 2007 - BCSEA Victoria Christmas Social
November 19, 2007 - Victoria Chapter Monthly Meeting
Discussion/debate: Which way the future, high consumption of technology
or frugal self-reliance? Having accepted the science of Global Warming,
are our governments and society at large entering aphase of second level
of denial?
The argument that we are in a phase of denial and a vision of how concerned
citizens should react could be introduced in the following way:
The techno-fix solutions--wind and solar power, enlightened new construction,
efficient cars--that some of us were promoting decades ago might have saved
our way of life if massively implemented then. Energy was cheap and the
buildup of carbon was not yet nudging the metastability limits - the triggers
for runaway positive feedback. Both opportunities are now past, and with
them will soon go the things that the sleepwalker's dream takes for granted:
food grown by other people over the horizon someplace; the private automobile;
roomy warm single family dwellings; long distance travel.
Our task as energy-informed activists is not to save those privileges,
but rather to save what is most important: Our traditions of decency, generosity,
free speech and critical thought. These are at risk. The climate crisis
bearing down on us has the potential to smash the middle class and polarize
the political landscape. There is evidence of this happening already - witness
the polarization of politics in Greece following this summer's catastrophic
fires.
We need to promote, by word and example, the rebuilding of assets that
have languished in consumer society: skills such as horticulture, human
manure composting, and repair; strengths of character such as courage, persistence
in adversity, and frugality; strengths of community such as singing together,
thoughtful debate of substantive issues, co-operation. Our primary task
specifically related to energy generation and consumption is not to promote
new technologies but to dispel illusions about their potential.
Guest speakers included:
- Dr. Robert Gifford, Professor of Psychololgy and Environmental Studies
at UVic; Editor, Journal of Environmental Psychology; fields of interest
include environmental and social psychology.
- Bill Metcalfe, chapter vice-chair
October 15, 2007 - Victoria Chapter Monthly Meeting
September 17, 2007 - Victoria Chapter Monthly Meeting
September 15, 2007 - Climate Action Day in Victoria
Climate Action Day -- a one-day event organized to inspire the public to
make meaningful and lasting changes in their lives with respect to the climate
crisis through live performances, multimedia displays and an interactive
solutions centre. Visit www.cadvictoria.org
for complete information.
August 25, 2007 - Victoria Chapter Field Trip
Our summer field trip to see Ann & Gord Baird's new cob house under
construction in the Highlands - recently featured in the Globe and Mail.
Some of you had been getting their entertaining and thought-provoking newsletters
(www.eco-sense.ca)
but this was a chance for BCSEA members to see the house in person and up
close.
July 16, 2007 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Monthly Meeting
We enjoyed a presentation on BIOENERGY with: Garth Thoroughgood, bio-energy
policy advisor: BC Energy Plan, overview of the upcoming Bioenergy Strategy;
Tom Hackney, BCSEA Vice-President: BC Hydro's call for bioenergy proposals,
the process of the call, and its place in BC's energy supply; and Brian
Titus, agrologist: potential environmental impacts of harvesting biomass
for bioenergy.
May 14, 2007 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Meeting
This meeting was the Victoria Chapter's Annual General Meeting. Chapter
Chair Naomi Devine gave a presentation on her trip to the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change Conference in Nairobi last November.
April 21, 2007 - BCSEA at the 26th Annual Earth Walk: Celebrating
Victoria's Grassroots
The Earth Walk has long been a fun family event that brings bright and
energetic people out, and brings together many progressive organizations
that are championing issues we face as a community. To top it off, there
was a great concert right on the Lawns of the Legislature.BCSEA's Victoria
Chapter had a booth with displays at this celebration.
April 16, 2007 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Meeting
We had a presentation on rail transportation in the region from the Island
Transformations group and a discussion on the draft Community Energy Plan.
The draft Community Energy Plan was presented at the next CRD Environment
Committee meeting on April 25th.
March 19, 2007 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Meeting
Electric vehicles are about to experience a renaissance. Did you know there
are two kinds? Battery-powered, or hydrogen and fuel cell-powered. A rigorous
debate was held between proponents of each technology. For anyone who wants
to read up, here
is a good (technical) debate on the hydrogen economy.
February 28, 2007 - Dr. David Suzuki: "If you were Prime Minister
Tour"
February 19, 2007 - BCSEA Victoria Chapter Meeting
Brian Gordon presented his take on 'An Inconvenient Truth'. He was in Tennessee
last year for the training from Al Gore on the topic; and 2. BCSEA Comox
Valley Chapter steering ctte. members Don and Pam Munroe presented their
plans for the sustainable Creekside Cohousing project. They are working
with LEED concepts such as water efficiency, energy use, indoor air quality,
and preparing for peak oil and climate change. We also had a discussion
on the projects proposed last meeting. The letter writers convened before
the meeting.
