The BCSEA is Helping to Change Everything

Hi, my name is Erin and I work as the administrative assistant at the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) office here in Victoria BC.

A couple of days ago, our co-ordinator forwarded me an email from Kate Dugas. It seems that one of our members had sent her a copy of our newsletter "Watts Happening". Kate thought that readers in the ChangeEverything community might be interested in hearing about the changes that the BCSEA is making in British Columbia.

Over the past several years, Climate Change has morphed from a dull itch niggling at the edge of the collective consciousness to a loud and clanging alarm that calls every citizen of this planet to action. The scientific results are in, and the consensus is overwhelming - anthropogenic global warming is real, and it is happening now.

The sudden onslaught of frightening messages in the media can be overwhelming, but it is important to remember that science also tells us that we can still turn this boat around - perhaps not completely, but we have it in our power to avoid the more devastating consequences that denial, inaction and paralysis could bring us.

As our President Guy Dauncey likes to say: "There are only two problems in the world: the first is the sum total of all our social, political, economic and environmental problems. The second is the belief that we cannot solve them".

The BCSEA believes that we CAN solve these problems.

As for fighting climate change, well, the technology for a carbon-free future is *already* available and ready to be rolled out. The biggest obstacle that needs to be overcome is inertia - the conviction that climate change is too big and ugly a monster for us to attempt to slay. The BCSEA is helping to turn public pessimism into positivity and action, by showing, through education, advocacy and tangible community projects, that a sustainable energy future for BC is achievable.

By educating the public, we increase their understanding and use of sustainable energy in their homes and workplaces. Thus, we empower the citizens of BC with the knowledge that there is, in fact, a lot they can do to help mitigate climate change.

By establishing and supporting local chapters in regions across BC, we encourage and help our members to organize in their local communities, initiating projects and policies that help us make this essential transition. We also provide a forum through which members can meet, share ideas and develop joint initiatives, supported by up-to-date information and technical research.

By speaking with a strong collective voice to municipal, provincial and federal governments and other agencies on issues concerning the development of clean, renewable, efficient energy in BC, we aid the reduction of British Columbia’s greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants while helping our province become a world leader in the generation and use of sustainable energy.

Through our projects, we both demonstrate and effect the changes that British Columbia needs to make in order to meet the energy needs of the present - without compromising the ability of future generations of humans and other species to enjoy social wellbeing, a vibrant economy, and a healthy environment. Among our ongoing initiatives:

• SolarBC, an incentive and education program which will facilitate the installation of over 2,000 solar hot water systems in homes around the province
• The Climate Change Showdown, a fun and informative workshop which teaches Grade 5/6 students about climate change and how they can reduce their impact, and provides them with an incentive to carry out actions in their homes and family lifestyles
• Clean Energy Classrooms, a training resources guide to currently available and upcoming Canadian programs in renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Green Landlords, which will help residential landlords and their tenants conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create safer, healthier and more sustainable behaviours
• Energy Solutions Teleworkshops, a series of monthly lunchtime teleworkshops about important developments in the fields of sustainable energy and climate change...

I am very much looking forward to using the ChangeEverything forum to reach out to and connect with other British Columbians who are working toward the same vision of a future in which all of BC’s energy comes from clean, renewable, efficient sources.

If you would like to learn more about the BC Sustainable Energy Association, please visit our webpage at www.bcsea.org.

Thanks for reading, and best wishes with your own changes,
Erin