School districts throughout B.C. are getting a boost from the B.C. government to help reduce their carbon footprint and save money.

A total of $5 million is being provided through the Carbon Neutral Capital Program (CNCP) so 25 districts can undertake electrical and mechanical improvements to their schools.

For example, air source heat pumps will be installed at Palmer Secondary school in Richmond and a sewage heat exchange system will be set up at Hammond Bay Elementary in Nanaimo-Ladysmith. The Cowichan Valley school district is also replacing the boilers at Lake Cowichan Secondary with a new, more efficient biomass boiler.

In total, districts will reduce their emissions by approximately 1,500 tonnes and save $36,000 in carbon offsets as well as $416,000 in operating costs every year. Districts will embark on their projects this year with completion by March 2014.

Not only will these projects provide cleaner air to local communities, they will also help districts lower their energy consumption. As well, as part of the $5 million provincial funding, 43 districts will receive about $10,000 each to identify possible carbon neutral projects in the future.

The Ministry of Education launched the Carbon Neutral Capital Program in 2012 to compensate school districts for the amount they pay to purchase carbon offsets from Pacific Carbon Trust each year. The program was developed in consultations with education stakeholders including the British Columbia School Trustees Association.

Last year, the ministry provided $5 million in CNCP funding to 41 eligible districts. This funding has sparked projects such as a ground source heat pump system at Princess Margaret Secondary in the Okanagan-Skaha school district and an electric car in Nanaimo-Ladysmith, in collaboration with the City of Nanaimo.

Quotes:

Don McRae, Minister of Education -

"School districts across B.C. have done a tremendous job in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Since the implementation of the Carbon Neutral Capital Program last year, we have seen many innovative initiatives at our K-12 schools."

"Congratulations to our school districts on your environmental achievements, and thank you for continuing to look for ways to become more energy-efficient."

Terry Lake, Minister of Environment -

"These investments reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy costs. More importantly, they demonstrate to children in communities throughout B.C. the types of actions that can be taken to reduce these emissions and show them examples of the clean energy and technologies that will power our future."

Quick Facts:

• The Carbon Neutral Capital Program was designed by a steering committee made up of representatives from the British Columbia School Trustees Association, BC Association of School Business Officials, Educational Facility Managers Association of BC, Climate Action Secretariat and Ministry of Education.

• The sewage heat exchange system at Hammond Bay Elementary will allow the Nanaimo Ladysmith school district to tap into the heat produced in the municipal sewer lines and use this as the primary heat source at the school. This unique system will reduce the school's overall carbon footprint by 78 per cent and its operating cost by $4,800 each year.

• The new heat pumps at Palmer Secondary school in the Richmond school district will lower the school's greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 76 per cent. This new system will allow SD 38 to save more than $19,000 on annual energy costs and $5,000 on annual carbon offsets.

• By replacing its old boilers with a more-efficient model powered by wood waste, the Cowichan Valley school district will be able to cut the school's greenhouse gas emissions by 168 tonnes and its annual energy costs by more than $54,000, in addition to saving more than $4,000 each year in carbon offsets.

• The carbon neutral government regulation came into effect in December 2008. It sets out details concerning measurement, reporting and offsetting emissions by public-sector organizations that are required to comply with the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act.

• In 2010, B.C. became the first province or state in North America to become carbon neutral. The B.C. government's approach to carbon neutrality drives down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduces energy costs and produces savings public sector organizations can reinvest in energy saving projects. Those projects, in turn, create jobs in B.C.'s clean energy sector.

• Since 2008, B.C. has committed $75 million to public sector energy projects through the Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement (PSECA) as additional funding for public sector energy projects.

• Projects across the public sector funded through PSECA are estimated to achieve energy cost savings of more than $12.6 million annually.

• $28.4 million has been provided to school districts through PSECA, the Energy Efficient Mechanical Upgrade Program and carbon tax rebates.

Learn More:

Information on the Carbon Neutral Capital Program, including funding allocation, is available at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/capitalplanning/resources/welcome.htm

The full carbon neutral report can be found at: http://www.livesmartbc.ca/government/carbon_neutral/index.html

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963