A program focused on energy savings looks to expand to the qathet region this year.
Called the Home Energy Savings Program, it looks to address household energy security by offering guidance to households on energy-saving renovation, hosting events to educate people about home energy, and marketing development activities to help contractors service rural and remote communities.
The program was launched last year by Ecotrust Canada, a charity that works with several communities to provide for a healthy and resilient environment.
Ecotrust says they’re looking to expand to the qathet region this year, which comes following a study for Powell River.
“It is estimated that 24% of Powell River residents and 36% of qathet Regional District households are experiencing energy poverty (chronically struggling to pay their energy bills),” said Ecotrust Canada.
“The majority of housing stock in the region is over 20 years old and would benefit greatly from energy retrofits.”
Along with the energy poverty, they say the program does align with the City’s strategic priorities for the next two years.
Those priorities include lowering energy costs of current housing stock, addressing health outcomes, replacing fossil fuel heating to heat pumps, controlling indoor air temperature, and supporting local businesses.
They ask City council to promote the program on their website and social media, and partner for a launch event for this March as reaching the target audience is a big challenge for the program.
