MAKING ENERGY EFFICIENCY A WAY OF LIFE IN B.C.

VICTORIA – LiveSmart BC and the new Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy: More Action, Less Energy leverage over $160 million in funding and set new targets for all British Columbians to maximize efficiency, conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld announced today.

“The LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program will help families, particularly in rural B.C., to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint,” said Neufeld. “We all have a role to play by making environmentally responsible choices, and this government understands the challenges all British Columbians face.”

The Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy encourages the use of energy efficiency measures in homes, businesses, communities, and governments and puts practical tools in the hands of British Columbians to achieve electricity self-sufficiency by 2016.

“By enhancing the design, construction and performance of our homes, businesses, communities and public sector buildings, we will help contribute to our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020,” said Barry Penner, Minister of Environment.

Highlights of the plan include:

· $60 million over three years to the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program to help British Columbians in all parts of B.C. to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs through upgrades to 40,000 homes and businesses.

· $23 million per year of Provincial Sales Tax (PST) exemptions for energy conservation equipment.

· $20 million for clean energy projects and energy efficiency programs in remote communities to reduce environmental impacts and energy costs, support regional economic development and develop innovative energy solutions.

· $5 million to expand the use of solar energy systems throughout B.C.

· $2 million to support industry training, super-efficient gas water heaters and a provincewide energy conservation potential study and implementation plan.

· $1 million to construct energy self-sufficient homes using renewable and waste energy sources.

· $500,000 to extend the Community Action on Energy and Emissions program to more communities and First Nations to help them set and achieve efficiency targets.

· $75 million in capital funding, to retrofit existing provincial public sector buildings.

Since the release of the original building strategy in 2005, government leadership and partnerships have led to the investment of over $100 million in energy efficient buildings in British Columbia. As B.C. shifts to a culture of conservation, these investments will continue to produce energy savings year after year.

-30-

For more info on the Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy, please visit www.energyplan.gov.bc.ca/efficiency.

1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell)

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.