B.C.’s colleges, institutes and universities have received $3.8 million toward capital projects dedicated to reducing energy costs, demonstrating clean technology and lowering carbon emissions, announced Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk.

“Public post-secondary institutions have come up with some innovative programs that will help them work toward being carbon neutral,” said Virk. “The expansion of the Province's carbon neutral program to include energy-saving capital investments in our universities, institutes and colleges shows B.C.’s commitment.”

Institutions also have provided or received other funding toward these capital projects, which brings the total expenditure for the capital projects up to $5.5 million by the 18 participating institutions. The projects will provide savings in carbon offsets and overall energy reductions for 20 projects that include biomass energy, replacing aging boiler and heating systems and geothermal heating.

“Our government continues to demonstrate our commitment to climate leadership and a carbon-neutral public sector,” said Environment Minister Mary Polak. “We have expanded our Carbon Neutral Capital Program investment to include health and post-secondary institutions, to ensure they are able to finance energy-reduction projects and, at the same time, dedicate subsequent savings from energy costs to improve public services.”

The Carbon Neutral Capital Program was expanded in March 2014 to the health and post-secondary sectors because of previous successes in the K-12 education sector. The Province provides $14.5 million in annual funding for the program. Public-sector organizations will continue to pay $25 per tonne of emissions as a concrete means to encourage efforts to reduce emissions and energy costs. Funds received from school districts, health authorities and post-secondary institutions are directed through the expanded Carbon Neutral Capital Program.

Facts about the current Carbon Neutral Capital Program for post-secondary institutions:

• The Carbon Neutral Capital program was initially created in April 2012 to help school districts throughout B.C. get a boost from the provincial government to help reduce their carbon footprint and save money.
• It is projected that the 2014-15 post-secondary institutions capital projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions of 1,284 CO2 tonnes or a savings of $32,083.
• The actual savings in energy costs of the approved post-secondary capital projects is estimated to be $433,033 per year. This represents an additional savings of $151,471 in labour and operational costs.

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Michelle Hynes
Communications
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 356-7876

BACKGROUNDER

Province invests in post-secondary carbon neutral capital projects

British Columbia is at the forefront of the fight against climate change and with 2010 became the first major jurisdiction in North America to achieve carbon neutral operations.

B.C.’s entire public sector − including schools, post-secondary institutions, government offices, Crown corporations and hospitals − have all achieved net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Projects that have received funding are:

• A biomass-to-energy facility to utilize wood waste from the Joinery and Carpentry programs
  • BCIT
• The replacement of existing boilers and auxiliary systems (pumps, piping, flue) with high efficiency equipment
  • Camosun College
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University
  • Okanagan College
  • Royal Roads University
  • Simon Fraser University
  • Thompson Rivers University
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Northern BC
• Replacement, upgrade or emission optimizations of HVACC systems
  • Capilano University
  • College of New Caledonia
  • Douglas College
  • Northern Lights College
  • University of British Columbia
  • Vancouver Island University
• Upgrade of lighting infrastructure to reduce energy consumption and operational costs
  • North Island College
  • Northwest Community College
  • University of Fraser Valley
• Installation of a geothermal system
  • University of Victoria
• Upgrade and improvement to building to ensure heat and energy retention and efficiency
  • Simon Fraser University

Media Contacts:

Michelle Hynes
Communications
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 356-7876