BC Hydro - June 2010

http://www.bchydro.com/news/newsletters/connected/connected_jun_2010.html[11/18/2010 9:50:23 AM]

Your friends back east may be ribbing you about the early, hotsummer they're having, but we're willing to wait (a bit longer) forits arrival in beautiful B.C. To get you in a summer state of mind,we look at BC Hydro's recreation areas and visitor centres,including some little-known campgrounds. We also check intoBC Hydro Outreach's Local Champions Tour, and we exploresomething very near to blogger Nola Poirier's heart – human-powered vacations that rock. ... We also look at how developersare meeting demand for smaller, more energy-efficient homes.

BC HYDRO REC SITES AREHERE FOR YOUFrom free camping at Gun Creekto getting a look at a dam, up closeand personal, BC Hydro'srecreation sites and visitor centresare worth a visit. A look at some ofthe best-kept secrets in B.C.recreation. Learn more

WHITECAPS CAPTAINLEARNS NEW TRICKS ATHOMETeam Power Smart leader MartinNash, whose Whitecaps aremoving up to the big time in NorthAmerican soccer, discovers that atankless hot water heater and high-efficiency furnace make goodfinancial sense. Join TeamPower Smart and you could winhis Whitecaps jersey. Learn more

DEVELOPERS RESPOND TODEMAND FOR DOWNSIZINGNew housing developments inParksville and near QualicumBeach are examples of a trendtoward smaller, more energy-efficient homes built to meet agrowing demand in B.C.Learn more

RECENTLY ON UNPLUG THIS BLOG!

ONE ON ONE WITH AN OUTREACHREPRob Klovance really knows his energyefficiency. At least that's what he thoughtuntil he took on a BC Hydro Outreach rep.

June 2010IN THIS ISSUE:

BC Hydro rec sites includingsome great camping spots

Whitecaps' captain Martin Nashupgrades his energy-efficiency

Developers delivering smaller,more energy-efficient homes

What can you learn from aBC Hydro Outreach rep?

Eco-friendly vacations aboundright here in B.C.

BC CLEAN ENERGY ACTLearn about B.C.'s plans tostrengthen the province'sreputation as a clean energyleader.

THIS MONTH'S CONTESTJoin Team Power Smart andyou could win four Platinumtickets to a VancouverWhitecaps game and a MartinNash Whitecaps jersey.Learn more

REBATES & SAVINGSBC Hydro now hasPower Smart kiosks in 11Sears stores in B.C., featuringinstant rebates and a Searseco calculator that can showhow much you can save withENERGY STAR® appliances.

See more Rebates &Savings

BC Hydro - June 2010

http://www.bchydro.com/news/newsletters/connected/connected_jun_2010.html[11/18/2010 9:50:23 AM]

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO FLY?Before jumping on a flight, consider less-expensive, eco-friendly vacation options righthere in B.C., from kayaking to biking.

THIS MONTH ON BCHYDRO.COM

TRANSMISSION LINE TO POWER B.C.'SNORTHWESTClean energy agreements will help to create jobs, provide cleanand renewable electricity to B.C.'s northwest.

MORE PROJECTS ANNOUNCED IN CLEAN POWERCALLWith two more projects selected, electricity purchaseagreements are now in place for 25 clean and renewableprojects across B.C.

DELTA HOTHOUSE TOMATOES LIKE LIGHTINGUPGRADEUpgraded lighting via Power Smart incentives have helped aB.C. greenhouse to greater yields and substantial energysavings.

POWERHOUSE WORK MEANS HIGH WATER ATBUNTZENTurbine replacement at Buntzen Powerhouse has increasedwater levels, covering the beach at Buntzen Lake.

FEEDBACKPlease take our annual reader survey to help us improvethis newsletter. And if you want to provide us with somedirect feedback or story ideas, contact us via the linkbelow.> Connected feedback

SUBSCRIBESubscribe to this newsletter.

Connected is a BC Hydro residential customer eNewsletter,emailed monthly to customers who choose to receive the service.

Last Modified: Oct 26, 2010

BC Hydro - BC Hydro recreation areas a rustic option to BC Parks

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/conservation/bchydro_campgrounds.html[11/18/2010 9:50:36 AM]

A beautiful site at BC Hydro's GunCreek campground near Lillooet.

May 24, 2010

BC Hydro recreation areas arustic option to BC Parks

Blaine KylloFor bchydro.com

A favourite summer activity for British Columbians isgetting outdoors and enjoying the wonders of thenatural world that our province provides.

Some of the best areas to visit are the recreationareas that are managed by BC Hydro, which has planned, developed and operated public useareas throughout the province since 1972. They range from popular day-use areas such asBuntzen Lake, Puntledge River and Hayward Lake, to rustic, overnight campgrounds.

Cynthia Powell, a social resource specialist with BC Hydro's Public Use Management Areasdepartment, says the recreation areas provide a service to the community by giving BritishColumbians an opportunity to enjoy the sites "in a way that protects the environment and stillsupports power generation".

They're also a great place to go when the crazily-popular BC Parks recreation areas andcampgrounds fill up.

BC Hydro rec sites range from the Peace Canyon in northern B.C., to the Arrow Lakes regionin the interior, to the Puntledge River corridor on Vancouver Island. Many are equipped withessentials such as bear-proof garbage bins, and can include picnic areas, hiking trails,beaches and boat launches, and campgrounds.

With camping season upon us, Cynthia has some suggestions for those planning on spendingsome nights in "super, natural" British Columbia.

Sleeping under the stars

B.C. has more than 200 campgrounds, and information on many of them can be found at GoCamping BC.

Reservations for BC Parks sites can be made online up to three months in advance. But ifyou've waited until too late and you don't want to take a chance on first-come, first-servedsites at BC Parks, BC Hydro maintains free camping facilities at six recreation sites acrossthe province:

Alexander Mackenzie's Landing just outside the town of Mackenzie;

Gun Creek (pictured here) and Seton Lake near Lillooet;

Pend d'Oreille's Seven Mile Campground southeast of Trail;

Jones Lake between Hope and Chilliwack;

Strathcona Dam near Campbell River on Vancouver Island.

Rustic, with a few perks

There is no reservation system for BC Hydro sites, so camping spots are available on a firstcome, first served basis.

And while there is no fee to use the campgrounds, BC Hydro asks that people not camp formore than two weeks throughout the summer season. It's a way, says Cynthia, of makingsure that everyone in B.C. has a chance to use the facilities.

Families are encouraged to use the campgrounds, and quiet times are enforced by wardensbetween the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Firewood is available at most sites for a nominal fee. Water availability varies from site to site.Where water is provided, it is regularly tested for purity. In the event of a fail, wells are shutdown until acceptable purity returns.

All of the sites, says Cynthia, are minimal and rustic, by design. These campsites are free andcater to the public who doesn't insist on flush toilets and showers as part of their outdoorexperience.

See also

BC Hydro - BC Hydro recreation areas a rustic option to BC Parks

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/conservation/bchydro_campgrounds.html[11/18/2010 9:50:36 AM]

Other considerations

Some of the campgrounds are in the back country, where access via trucks or 4 by 4 vehiclesis recommended. The roads into Gun Creek, Jones Lake, and Strathcona, for example, aregravel and can be quite rough with potholes.

The seasonal Hurley Road from Pemberton to Gun Creek is actually closed from lateNovember through mid-May.

But the beauty and serenity of the surroundings at all of the campgrounds can make thetravel worthwhile.

Cynthia was careful to note, though, that there is 24-hour construction currently underway atthe Strathcona Dam to complete a seismic upgrade, so the campground won't be very quietthis summer. Any other closures or access restrictions are updated regularly.

Come for the camping, stay for the history

There's more to the BC Hydro campgrounds than just communing with nature, too. Most ofthe sites are close to towns that played a significant role in B.C.'s history, and are greatplaces to visit.

There is a cairn built in recognition of explorer Alexander Mackenzie at the recreation areanamed after him, for example, and both the Gun Greek and Seton campsites are in theregion of B.C. where gold and jade mining took place.

Nearby Lillooet is also worth visiting, says Cynthia, because the town had significant FirstNations and Asian settlements, and is a historical and cultural treasure.

Respecting the environment

Cynthia says that in planning and maintaining the campgrounds, BC Hydro does its best tomaintain as much of the natural landscape as possible. By providing areas for the public touse, she explains, the surrounding areas can be left alone.

"This helps to maintain the integrity of the ecosystem," she says, "so the flora and fauna ofthe region have a migratory and habitat continuum."

Visitors to the campgrounds are likewise expected to show the same respect. By stayingwithin the areas that have been defined and designed by BC Hydro, campers can preventerosion to the land and damage to the plants and animals.

The public use areas demonstrate BC Hydro's ability to manage land for the public, saysCynthia. "It's a way that BC Hydro gives back," she says.

Safety first

While the recreation areas are specially designed to keep users away from BC Hydroequipment and environmental hazards, visitors to the recreation areas must take care toexercise their own good judgment.

BC Hydro makes it a priority to provide safety information on how to keep safe around water,when having campfires and when hiking in the back country.

Blaine Kyllo is a Vancouver-based freelance writer and regular contributor to bchydro.com.

BC Hydro - Visitor centres offer fascinating look at BC Hydro dams

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/conservation/dam_visitor_centres.html[11/18/2010 9:50:56 AM]

Included in a tour of the PowerHouse at Stave Falls is a visit to theturbine room.

May 18, 2010

Visitor centres offer fascinatinglook at BC Hydro dams

Blaine KylloFor bchydro.com

The next time you're traveling over one of BritishColumbia's dams, take a moment to consider what'sdown below.

Sure, there's hundreds of litres of water, and tonnesof concrete, but as Janis Schultz quips, "The dam just

holds back the water. The power house is what makes the power."

Those buildings, the power houses, are where you'll find the massive generators and turbines.They are also below the dam, and they are fascinating facilities.

Janis coordinates the tour guides at the Power House at Stave Falls, one of four visitorcentres in the province operated by BC Hydro. "Sometimes people are reluctant to come in,"she says on the phone, "but once they see everything they are blown away."

The four facilities – the other three are the Peace Canyon Visitor Centre at Peace CanyonDam, the Gordon M. Shrum/WAC Bennett Visitor Centre at the GM Shrum Generating Stationat WAC Bennett Dam and the Revelstoke Visitor Center at Revelstoke Dam – are open to thepublic through the summer.

At each of the visitor centres, says Janis, guides educate people on how electricity is madewith water, but each centre has its own unique feature.

The dam's the thing

At GM Shrum, for example, visitors actually descend by bus into the rooms that contain thehuge generators and turbines. Next door, the WAC Bennett Dam is B.C.'s largest earth-filleddam.

Revelstoke is known for its immensity, and for the spectacular view that can be appreciatedfrom the dam's crest. It was recently renovated and has 14 interactive exhibits, including onethat has you building your own dam.

The Peace Canyon Dam creates the Dinosaur Reservoir, named because the region wasonce home to the duck-billed Hadrosaur. The visitor centre has exhibits showing the historyof the region's settlers and First Nations. There are also two life-size Hadrosaur displays.

Janis' home base, the Power House at Stave Falls, is the museum. The original power houseat Stave Lake was constructed in 1911. There were no roads, Janis explains, so everythingcame up from Ruskin, B.C. by train. And everything was built without using more modernconstruction staples like excavators and dump trucks.

While it was decommissioned in 2000 – the newStave Falls facility, operating since 1999, is acrossthe street – the original structure is intact.

The museum spans from 1900 through 2000, andincludes a film that provides an overview of thehistory of power generation in B.C., and two rooms ofinteractive exhibits including a bisected turbine, soyou can see what it looks like inside.

"We've got lots of displays about electricitygeneration," says Janis.

There's also an electric car, built in Detroit in 1912. It's the property of the Vancouver ElectricVehicle Association, but the Stave Falls visitor centre is a good home for it. Built toaccommodate people who didn't want to have to hand-crank an engine, Janis says, theoriginal batteries have been replaced and the car – which is still operational and can travel 80km before needing to be plugged in – can be charged using a standard household outlet.

Special events this year

See also

BC Hydro - Visitor centres offer fascinating look at BC Hydro dams

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/conservation/dam_visitor_centres.html[11/18/2010 9:50:56 AM]

Revelstoke Dam and Visitor Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and is havinga celebration on June 19. On that day, admission will be free, and cake will be served.

And there are two summer events taking place at Stave. A barbecue and hog rally – as inHarley Davidson motorcycles – in support of the BC Burn Fund for Children, and the annualChristmas in July celebration on July 24 and 25. In lieu of admission, visitors are asked tomake a cash donation or bring a non-perishable food donation for the Mission Food Centre.

Two-for-one admission

Coupons for two-for-one admission to Visitors Centres on special dates – Canada Day, BCDay long weekend (July 31 to August 2) and Labour Day long weekend (September 4 to 6) –can be found in your local community newspaper.

BC Hydro Visitor Centres

Peace Canyon Visitor Centre at Peace Canyon Dam, near Hudson's Hope.

Gordon M. Shrum/WAC Bennett Visitor Centre at the GM Shrum Generating Station,WAC Bennett Dam, near Hudson's Hope.

Revelstoke Dam and Visitor Centre

Power House at Stave Falls, Stave Lake, about 60 km east of Vancouver between MapleRidge and Mission.

BC Hydro - Whitecaps' Nash keeps saving energy... off the pitch

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/conservation/martin_nash2010_update.html[11/18/2010 9:51:07 AM]

Vancouver Whitecaps Martin Nashraces past a defender to make across during a recent USSFDivision 2 contest.

May 24, 2010

Whitecaps' Nash keeps savingenergy... off the pitch

Martin Nash gets a new challenge, plus a new homewith a new roof, when the Vancouver Whitecapsmove up to North America's top soccer league andinto a renovated BC Place Stadium in 2011.

Meanwhile at the real home of the Whitecaps captain,things are changing, too. A Team Power Smart leadervery much inspired by his eco-conscious wife Emma-Tymm Nash, the 34-year-old midfielder is pleased toreport that a high-efficiency furnace and a tankless

hot water heater are having a big impact on the family energy bill.

"The money saved from reduced energy bills adds up surprisingly fast, and eventually theupgrades pay for themselves," says Nash, a five-time all-league selection in North Americanpro leagues.

Nash understands that energy efficiency saves a few bucks as well as helping BC reach itsambitious energy conservation goals. And from the time he joined the Team Power Smartleader team, along with his NBA star brother Steve Nash, Martin has been a model leader.

It's for that reason that Power Smart jumped at a chance to showcase Martin in June'smonthly Team Power Smart contest. Check out the details, answer a question about Martin,and – if you're a Team Power Smart member old or new – you'll be entered in the June drawfor four platinum tickets to a Whitecaps game plus a Martin Nash Whitecaps jersey.

The Nash path to energy efficiency

As soon as they joined Team Power Smart, Martin and Emma embraced the challenge ofreducing their energy consumption. Living in an already-efficient, built-in-2005 NorthVancouver home, the family of four – the couple has two young sons – did everything theycould to be Power Smart.

A partial list of early changes included:

Changing inefficient incandescent light bulbs to CFLs;

Reducing their clothes dryer usage by hanging their laundry to dry;

Switching to energy-efficient appliances;

Through the use of power bars, unplugging the TV and other electronics overnight andwhen they aren't in use, up to 16 hours per day.

But Martin and Emma never stopped looking for ideas, and they made a couple big movesmade possible in large part by government rebates through the provincial LiveSmart BC andthe recently discontinued federal EcoENERGY Retrofit program.

Switching to a high-efficiency furnace [PDF, 100 Kb] and tankless hot water heater isn't cheap,but the payback time on upgrading to such products was sped up by the rebates.

The Nash family has been conservative with their hot water usage for some years now, so atankless hot water system has really made a lot of sense. Instead of a big water tank thatneeds to be constantly heated 24/7, a tankless system is essentially hot water on demand,and so, it only uses energy to heat the hot water as you use it.

Martin sees these kind of investments in his home as being more than worthwhile, as not onlydo they save his family money in the long run, but they also support the cause of energyconservation in the here and now.

Bring on the MLS!

Nash will be 35 when the Whitecaps first suit up to play in the MLS, the top rung among prosoccer leagues in North America. And he has worked hard for the honour of being captain ofthe Whitecaps at such a pivotal moment in the team's history.

Fifteen years into his career, the Victoria native can look back on a journey that started withthe Vancouver 86ers and eventually took him to England with the likes of Chester City,Macclesfield Town and Stockport County, where he was part of the team that achieved

BC Hydro - Whitecaps' Nash keeps saving energy... off the pitch

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/conservation/martin_nash2010_update.html[11/18/2010 9:51:07 AM]

promotion into the English First Division.

With almost 40 appearances for Team Canada on the international stage, Martin has theskills and valuable experience to lead Vancouver's charge into the MLS. And after a 2009season that saw him make the all-league second team, he's got plenty of life left in him.

"We have decent support now, but I think once we go to that next level [fan support] will justgrow like it has in Seattle," Martin told the MLS Insider blog in March when asked about themove up to the MLS.

BC Hydro - Smaller homes fit lifestyle-conscious, energy-aware buyers

http://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/builders_developers/new_home_program/news_features/downsized_homes.html[11/18/2010 9:51:22 AM]

The Qualicum Landing developmentnear Qualicum Beach on VancouverIsland features Power Smart Gold-rated homes ranging from 1,070 to2,000 square feet. (Photo courtesyqualicumlanding.com)

April 27, 2010

Smaller homes fit lifestyle-conscious, energy-awarebuyers

Nina WinhamFor bchydro.com

A discerning new breed of buyer is trading in largehomes for compact, well-designed homes that willmeet their lifestyle as they age.

But they’re not just seeking a lighter financial burdenand less property to tend. They’re a leading indicationthat buyers are growing savvy about energy efficiencyas well.

“People are more aware of energy efficiency today than they ever have been,” saysconstruction manager Daniel Duggan of Corfield Glades Development Ltd. “If it comesdirectly out of your pocket, people wake up. Buyers are asking questions; they’re verysensitive to what energy is costing them today and what it will cost them in the future.”

Corfield Glades Development is the developer of Creekside at Corfield, a development of 60patio homes in Parksville. The homes, which range from 1,335 square feet up to 1,520 sq.ft.,have an average Energuide rating of 83, qualifying them for the Gold level rating under thePower Smart New Home Program.

They accomplish this with radiant in-floor heating, hot water on demand, energy efficientwindows and an architectural design that lets in plenty of natural light, reducing the need forelectric lighting. Duggan says the value lies in the way these features do double-duty: theysave energy and enhance the living experience, too.

“The natural light adds tremendously to the sense of spaciousness. It’s marvelous to see howbright the units are – plus sunlight is a source of energy to warm the building,” says Duggan.“For the heat, radiant is more energy efficient [than forced air] – and when your feet arehappy, your whole body is happy. There’s no question about it – the things that improveenergy efficiency also create a more enjoyable home.”

Qualicum Landing is another development targeting buyers who want to live well and reducetheir footprint. The Power Smart Gold-rated homes range from 1,070 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft.,but Qualicum Landing marketing director Anna DiFiore says most buyers are choosing the1,500 sq. ft. range, which are “quite a bit less than the 2,500 sq. ft. homes they’re leaving.”

Smaller homes are typically more energy efficient due to the reduced space, but thedevelopment has further ensured good resource performance by incorporating an energyefficient heating system, Energy Star appliances, and low-flow plumbing fixtures,. Buyers canopt for a range of additional “green” features, such as bamboo flooring.

Like Duggan, DiFiore says the era of the energy-savvy buyer has arrived. “People want toknow the bills are going to be reasonable at the end of the month, and they want to besustainable,” she says. “It’s really important to the market. Buyers want to know they’re in acommunity that’s looking to the future.”

With an eye to that concern for environmental stewardship, Qualicum Landing’s developersrestored a fish bearing stream at the edge of the property and installed a waterfrontcommunity garden.

“If you go to Spain, London, or elsewhere in Europe, their standard is much higher than oursis now,” says DiFiore. “In five to 10 years I think those higher standards are going to spreadworldwide.

"Ten years down the road, we don’t want to be uncomfortable with the standard we put forth,so we said let’s raise that standard as high as we possibly can while still making these homeseconomic.”

Although certain styles in new homes come and go, DiFiore doesn’t see the shift tosustainability as a passing trend.

“We don’t live in the same world we did even 10 years ago,” she says. “We understand theenvironmental impacts of high consumption homes, and we have now have a good range ofenergy efficient options available. Very soon, if a new development doesn’t have certainenergy and sustainability standards in place and the developer isn’t looking to the future, itwill most certainly affect sales.

BC Hydro - Smaller homes fit lifestyle-conscious, energy-aware buyers

http://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/builders_developers/new_home_program/news_features/downsized_homes.html[11/18/2010 9:51:22 AM]

Duggan and DiFiore both say energy efficiency has become a standard part of the way theymarket new homes, seeing it as something that adds value today, and to future resale valueas well.

Says Duggan, “I think in tomorrow’s real estate market, when people purchase a home,almost the first question they’re going to ask is, ‘What is the rating?’”

How to participate in the Power Smart New Home Program:

1. Conduct a pre-construction evaluation. Get house plans evaluated by a Certified EnergyAdvisor who will make recommendations to increase the performance rating of the home.

2. Construct the home(s).

3. Conduct a post-construction verification. After construction, a blower door test isconducted by the Certified Energy Advisor to verify the air changes per hour (ACH),which is inputted into the software program for a final performance rating.

4. Apply for incentives and a Power Smart label. The home receives a Power Smart labelwhen an EGNH 77 rating or higher is achieved.

For more information, contact Doug Overholt, Power Smart New Home representative, at 604929 7408 or by email.

Nina Winham is a Vancouver-based sustainability consultant and frequent contributor tobchydro.com.

BC Hydro - Advice from a BC Hydro Outreach rep could save me $75-plus

http://www.bchydro.com/news/unplug_this_blog/champions_tourpreview.html[11/18/2010 9:51:33 AM]

BC Hydro Outreach rep EmilyGibson on her turf, the Power Smartbooth at EPIC 2010.

May 31, 2010

Advice from a BC HydroOutreach rep could save me$75-plus

Posted by Rob Klovance

Emily Gibson is happy to unplug, but she has a toughtime turning it off.

The BC Hydro Outreach representative is so devotedto conservation that, even after her job's done for theday, her quest to make us all Power Smart continues.

"My brother moved back home for the summer, and I swear he leaves his [mobile] chargerplugged in just to annoy me," says Emily with a laugh, adding that she does not hesitate tohelp her friends on the road to conservation. "Most of my friends are pretty conscious aboutwanting to conserve on their bills. A lot of them are my age, paying their own bills and don'thave a lot of money.

"I was at a friend's apartment in Courtenay the other day and we totally did a walkthrough tosee where she could save energy."

I talked to Emily while she was working the Power Smart booth at last weekend's VancouverSun's Sustainable Living Expo (EPIC) at the new Vancouver Convention Centre. I was thereto get a better idea of what British Columbians can expect to get out of a chat with anOutreach rep, and in particular what the "Local Champions" theme to this year's cross-B.C.tour is allabout.

I left with one really great tip – more about that later – and a cool little shower timer that willput to the test my belief that I'm among the minority that takes showers of four minutes orless. I'm on the way to saving more energy, more money, and I may just get a $75 reward forit next year.

Local champions need help too

By the Outreach definition, I rank as a local champion, someone who's a Team Power Smartmember, does a few things to cut my electricity consumption, but could use a little help.

Emily's first question: "What type of things do you do at home to save electricity?"

My response gave me a chance to boast a little. With changes to energy-efficient CFLs, moreattention to unplugging mobile phones and other devices, and – above all – turning ourelectric heat way down (or off) almost every night of the year and while we're not home, wesaved 15% in our first year with Team Power Smart and 8% last year.

Then Emily probed a bit deeper. "Do you know some ways that you can test for leaks in thehome, such as using a candle?" she asked, nicely, referring to leak detection test that usessmoke to signal where the leaks are.

Truth be told, I've been putting off draft proofing – probably one of the biggest things I shouldbe doing. So it's now on my list. But the best advice from Emily came after I admitted I wasfrustrated by the knowledge that my personal video recorder (PVR) – which runs full time –costs me in excess of $30 a year to power.

"I recommend people buy these power bars that actually have a labelled spot for PVRs, and itwill turn off everything else except the PVR," she said.

In other words, while the PVR will continue to be an energy hog while it records my favouriteTV shows, sports and movies, I can at least save on other components. Right now, the PVRis sharing a power bar with a DVD player, a TV and a stereo tuner/amp, and it soon will alsopower a PS3. By getting a smart power bar that includes at least one always-on outlet, I canswitch everything off except the PVR.

Come to think of it, I could use the same Smart power bar for my home office peripherals,where the one component that requires always-on power is the wireless modem (and eventhat can be switched off overnight and when we're not at home).

Had I talked to Emily a year earlier, the additional savings from the reduction of "phantom

See also

BC Hydro - Advice from a BC Hydro Outreach rep could save me $75-plus

http://www.bchydro.com/news/unplug_this_blog/champions_tourpreview.html[11/18/2010 9:51:33 AM]

power" loss would likely have saved me the extra two per cent I needed to meet my 10%Team Power Smart goal. That would have provided me with the $75 reward for hitting thattarget.

"The $75 is so within your reach," says Emily. "My family is pretty good with energy use, butsince I joined Team Power Smart in October, from October to February we saved 7% just onbehavioural changes. It really adds up."

Does it ever. For whatever reason, I'm off to a great start in 2010, down a sizzling 51% sinceFebruary. With proper draft proofing and a switch to smart power bars, I may just be in forthat $75 reward early next year.

Thanks, Emily.

Outreach is coming to an event near you this summer

For details of when BC Hydro Outreach will be in your neighbourhood, consult ourCommunity Events page.

Rob Klovance is managing editor of bchydro.com and a regular contributor to Unplug ThisBlog!

BC Hydro - Self-propelled summer trips don't have to be grueling

http://www.bchydro.com/news/unplug_this_blog/self-propelled_trips.html[11/18/2010 9:51:42 AM]

May 28, 2010

Self-propelled summer tripsdon't have to be grueling

Posted by Nola Poirier

Here's an idea for a summer weekend:

Bike 100 jittery gravel kilometres out of town, until the dirt road ends. Hike 16 scratchy,sweaty hours through dense groves of alder and head high devil's club. Then rope up andascend 2,500 metres on a steep alpine route to summit a mountain. Pause to take in the viewfor 10 minutes. Repeat in reverse to get home in time for work on Monday.

Not your idea of a great weekend? Maybe not, but it's a pretty typical trip for members ofB.C.'s Self-propelled Outdoor Club (SPOC), a group my husband founded and of which I ama member. A SPOC trip is completely self-propelled, meaning no cars, trains, ferries, orbuses are used on the journey. Some members even eschew the use of wind in a sail. Thepeak-filled passions of most members mean that the majority of trips involve climbing amountain.

While the rigour of many SPOC trips is not for everyone, or even most people, the wisdomand spirit behind the SPOC philosophy can be used to inspire more leisurely vacations.

Make the journey part of the adventure

In addition to reducing the carbon impact (and often the cost) of a voyage, part of the conceptof a SPOC style trip is to make the journey part of the adventure. This means that instead ofspending a good part of your holiday "getting there," you begin your trip the moment youleave your doorstep.

Bike, kayak, and canoe trips are some excellent choices, and make for great vacations withfamily, friends, or even on your own. Of course, you don't have to steer clear of buses orferries to lessen the environmental impact and increase the adventure of your journey. But byfocussing the trip away from trains, planes, and automobiles, and using your body to do mostof the getting around, you'll often have more fun, get in better shape, and see places in amore up close and intimate way than you would otherwise.

Here are some ideas and resources to help plan a largely self-propelled summer vacation:

By bike

There are great tried and true cycle routes all over B.C., or you can put together your own.

A popular coastal B.C. route links Vancouver-Nanaimo-Comox and the Sunshine Coast(remember that ferries are a lot cheaper when you're on bike instead of in the car). Or createan island-hopping trip among a few of the Gulf Islands, an especially good choice if you willbe travelling with children who are also riding.

The Kettle Valley trail in the Okanagan is a popular biking destination – and ties in well withsome winery tours and lakeside camping as well.

Plan your own adventure: bike to Alaska from Smithers, tour up the east coast of VancouverIsland, or visit the lake country around Quesnel.

Bike shops, the Internet and recreation maps are good places to look for bike touring tips,routes, and ideas. Warmshowers.org is an international online service site for touring cyclists.Hosts offer a free place to tent, or in some cases a room for the night, and of course a warmshower. In addition to providing accommodation, meeting locals along your route can add arich layer to the journey, and provide insider information on things to see and do.

Bike touring is a great holiday for the kids, if they are too young to ride, you can look atoptions like bike trailers, or a trail-a-bike.

By kayak

Incredible kayaking adventures abound on B.C.'s west coast: Desolation Sound, the BrokenIslands, Clayoquot, and Gwaii Haanas are just some of the popular choices. And don't forget,you can buy or rent a trailer to tow a kayak behind your bike, if you really want to go self-propelled.

See also

BC Hydro - Self-propelled summer trips don't have to be grueling

http://www.bchydro.com/news/unplug_this_blog/self-propelled_trips.html[11/18/2010 9:51:42 AM]

A wonder-filled trip is to take your bike, towing a kayak, on the ferry from Northern VancouverIsland through the Inside Passage and up to Haida Gwaii (or come across from PrinceRupert), then spend a week, or more if you can, biking and paddling around Haida Gwaii – orvisiting the spectacular Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve.

Ocean kayaking is not for the unprepared. Ensure you have adequate information about thearea you are going to travel through, and pay attention to weather, marine traffic, and tides.Conditions can change rapidly. If you are a novice, keep your trip to protected areas. Alwaysfind out about local conditions and, as for any trip, let someone know where you are goingand when you plan to return.

For most kayaking destinations, there are professional guides and tour operators who cantake you as a part of a group, or on a private trip. Most tours include boat rental and guidestend to be storied sources of information on local ecology, history, and culture.

By canoe

Canoeing on some of B.C. lakes and river routes is a relaxing way to vacation. Canoes cancarry lots of gear, so you can include gourmet food and plenty of diversions – although don'tforget you might have to pull, or carry, the boat for a portage.

You can go for a longer trip on one of B.C.'s canoe routes, like the Bowron Lakes, and thePowell River Canoe Route, or you can do something shorter, like a paddle in Widgeon Creekin Pitt Lake, or trip along one of the many rivers in the Kootenays or the Okanagan.

Tips for the best trips

Things to keep in mind for all self-propelled journeys:

You will be spending extra hours outdoors. Pack sun hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, andlightweight clothes that offer coverage from sun, wind and rain. Also, dress in layers anddrink lots of water.

In wilderness areas, always pack out what you pack in.

Have a few options for places to camp, stop, or rest along route. On different days youmight want to travel less or more than you planned, depending on the weather, yourenergy, or the terrain. Be prepared for last minute changes.

You will likely move more slowly at the beginning of the trip, and get a little faster as youget into the pace and groove. Ensure you leave days for relaxing in some favourite spots.

Going more self-propelled makes it easier to meet more people, find out of the waytreasures, get in shape, and enjoy the entire time of your trip, not just the days spent "onlocation."

Wherever you are heading this summer, think about alternative ways to get there.

Nola Poirier is a Sunshine Coast-based freelance writer and regular contributor to UnplugThis Blog! and bchydro.com's Green Guides.

BC Hydro - Northwest Transmission Line agreements will create jobs, power B.C.'s northwest

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/press_releases/2010/ntl_agreement_will_create_jobs_power_bc_nw.html[11/18/2010 9:51:52 AM]

May 28, 2010

Northwest Transmission Lineagreements will create jobs,power B.C.'s northwest

VICTORIA – Clean energy agreements betweenBC Hydro, British Columbia Transmission Corporation(BCTC), Coast Mountain Hydro L.P., a wholly-ownedsubsidiary of AltaGas Income Trust Ltd. (AltaGas) and

the Tahltan Nation will help to create jobs, provide clean and renewable electricity to B.C.'snorthwest, and power the development of the Northwest Transmission Line (NTL), announcedBlair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

"I congratulate all the partners for working to make these agreements a reality," saidLekstrom. "These agreements will open up the northwest by providing access to some of theup to 2,000 megawatts of clean energy potential that has been identified in the region and willreduce greenhouse gas emissions. They are part of our long-term vision for clean, renewable,low-cost energy for all British Columbians."

The agreements, which will support construction of the Northwest Transmission Line, include:

A $180-million umbrella agreement between AltaGas and BCTC for the construction anddevelopment of the NTL;

An electricity purchase agreement between BC Hydro and AltaGas for the Forrest Kerrclean energy project near Bob Quinn Lake; and

An impact benefit agreement between AltaGas and the Tahltan Nation for the ForrestKerr project.

The NTL project also includes $130-million in funding through the Government of Canada'sGreen Infrastructure Fund, announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper last September. Theestimated ratepayer contribution to the NTL will be $94 million, which is expected to be offsetby contributions from future clean, renewable energy projects and/or mine developments.

"The Forrest Kerr project represents an important evolution in AltaGas' power business as wecontinue to build long-term, contracted, generation assets," said David Cornhill, Chairman andChief Executive Officer of AltaGas. "This project will provide the people of British Columbiawith clean and reliable power from a significant water resource. For our investors, thisannouncement comes at an important time in history as governments move to reduceemissions while building for the future."

The NTL is a $404-million, 287-kilovolt, 335-kilometre, publicly owned transmission line fromSkeena Substation (near Terrace) to Bob Quinn Lake. It will provide a secure interconnectionpoint for clean generation projects, supply clean electricity to support industrial developmentsin the area, and reduce greenhouse gas emission by enabling communities now relying ondiesel generation to connect to the grid.

An Application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate for the NTL was accepted by theB.C. Environmental Assessment Office on April 14, 2010. The 180-day application reviewperiod is underway, and public meetings have been held in the project area.

"BC Hydro welcomes the opportunity to extend the provincial grid to ensure industries thatgenerate jobs for British Columbians are fuelled by clean energy and to improve the quality oflife in rural and remote communities that are now dependent on diesel generators," said DaveCobb, BC Hydro president and CEO. "In addition, the transmission line will enable us topurchase clean energy from the Forrest Kerr project and, in the future, from other renewablepower projects, helping us to become electricity self-sufficient by 2016."

Construction of the NTL is scheduled to begin in late 2010 and will create an estimated 280construction jobs, subject to receiving necessary environmental assessment and regulatoryapprovals and accommodation of First Nations' interests. The NTL is the first step inreinvigorating the regional economy of B.C.'s northwest. It will provide significant directeconomic stimulus to the region. It will also leverage an investment of more than $700 millionfrom AltaGas's clean energy project that will lead to the creation of 400 jobs. The investmentand number of jobs is expected to rise with new industrial development.

British Columbia's new Clean Energy Act, which is currently before the B.C. Legislature, setsthe foundation for a new future of electricity self-sufficiency, job creation and reducedgreenhouse gas emissions, powered by unprecedented investments in clean, renewableenergy across the province.

See Also

BC Hydro - Northwest Transmission Line agreements will create jobs, power B.C.'s northwest

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/press_releases/2010/ntl_agreement_will_create_jobs_power_bc_nw.html[11/18/2010 9:51:52 AM]

View full map [GIF, 307 Kb]

Contact:

Jake Jacobs, Media RelationsMinistry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum ResourcesPhone: 250 952 0628

BC Hydro - BC Hydro announces more projects in Clean Power Call

http://www.bchydro.com/news/articles/press_releases/2010/bch_announces_more_projects_in_clean_power_call.html[11/18/2010 9:52:09 AM]

May 6, 2010

BC Hydro announces moreprojects in Clean Power Call

VANCOUVER – BC Hydro has selected two moreprojects to be awarded electricity purchaseagreements under the Clean Power Call. Combined,the Pacific Greengen and Long Lake Joint Venturesmall hydro projects will generate an additional 287

gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean, reliable electricity annually.

The number of projects selected for electricity purchase agreements under the Clean PowerCall to date are 25 – bringing the total amount of energy to be generated from the call tonearly 3,200 GWh per year.

"These projects will help meet B.C.'s growing electricity needs while also reducing greenhousegas emissions and creating jobs in regions across the province," said Blair Lekstrom, Ministerof Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. "In total, the 25 clean energy projects will create3,750 person years of employment during construction and $3.7 billion in capital investment inour province."

"The Clean Power Call has been highly successful in sourcing cost-effective, clean energyfrom a variety of technologies, including waste heat, wind, and run-of-river. Together, theseprojects will deliver enough electricity to power more than 280,000 homes," said Bev VanRuyven, acting Chief Executive Officer and President of BC Hydro.

In the weeks ahead, BC Hydro will continue to consider two Clean Power Call proposals:Castle Mountain Hydro Ltd. in the McBride area, and Box Canyon Hydro Corp. near PortMellon.

The Clean Power Call projects will complement electricity purchase agreements awarded inthe last year and a half under the Phase One Bioenergy Call for Power, the Standing OfferProgram, as well as bilateral agreements that have enabled BC Hydro to acquire close to4,600 GWh annually of clean, reliable electricity.

BC Hydro will now work with the province to advance Phase Two of the Bioenergy Call forPower that will acquire up to 1,000 GWh per year of electricity from wood waste and otherbiomass. In addition, BC Hydro is working with pulp and paper companies to acquireadditional generation through energy-efficient projects under the Integrated Power Offer. BCHydro also recently launched a request for qualifications for innovative, community-basedbiomass projects that produce electricity from carbon-neutral biomass sources and createlocal or regional economic benefits.

The two projects selected today for the award of electricity purchase agreements under theClean Power Call are:

Proponent ProjectTechnology

ProjectName

Hours ofElectricity Location

PacificGreengenPower

Run-of-river Bremner/Trio 148GWh/year

HarrisonHot Springs

Long LakeJoint Venture Storage hydro Long Lake 139

GWh/year Stewart

Please note that the above descriptions provide only a summary overview of the identifiedprojects as presently planned, and may be subject to change.

When all the electricity purchase agreements have been fully executed, BC Hydro willdisclose the range of electricity prices.

Contact:

Susan DanardMedia RelationsPhone: 604 623 4220

See also

BC Hydro - Houweling’s Hot House

http://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/success_stories/industrial_process_facilities/houwelings_hothouse.html[11/18/2010 9:52:35 AM]

New Plant Design Programhelps greenhouse tounexpected yieldsNina WinhamFor bchydro.com

Efficient lighting makes a difference whether you’reilluminating offices or a production floor. But whenyour product won’t grow properly without it, gettingthe light right is critical.

That’s why, when Houweling’s Hot House planned to add lighting to nine of their 50 acres ofgreenhouses in Delta, they decided to talk to BC Hydro first. That led to efficient lighting, andsome surprising results.

Houweling’s produces tomatoes and some cucumbers from its hydroponic greenhouses. Italso grows seedlings for its own and other hothouse operations. The greenhousecompartment in question was used for growing tomatoes using natural light, but with demandfor propagated seedlings on the rise, Houweling’s wanted the flexibility to produce tomatoesor seedlings as needed. That meant adding lights.

“Since the last time we installed supplemental lighting, a new technology became available –electronic ballasts,” says Ruben Houweling, the company’s propagation manager. “Thiscompartment was an opportunity to try out these new electronic ballasts, which have muchgreater efficiencies than the conventional ballasts can offer.”

Houweling decided to approach BC Hydro because of a Power Smart business successstory he’d seen about another BC grower, Glenwood Valley Farms, and their work onenergy efficiency. “That’s what inspired us to call Hydro before we started the project to see ifthere was something we could do here.”

Talking to BC Hydro before starting the lighting installation meant Houweling’s was able towork with the New Plant Design Program, which provides incentives and expertise to helpindustrial customers plan energy efficiency into their expansions from the outset. The programhelped Houweling’s chart a path towards efficiency – and productivity – that would have beenhard to achieve later on, even with a retrofit.

Quality light, quality production

“The difference with the electronic ballasts is that we get 100% of the output – whatever it isthat’s going into the ballast is the same power coming out, whereas with a conventionalballast, every year you may lose up to 1% or more of the power,” says Al Ram, Houweling’senergy manager. Ram explains that what is lost is the “PAR level” – the specific range of thelight spectrum known as photoactive radiation, which is required by plants to grow.

“As you lose your light you can’t see it visibly. Your greenhouse may still look nice and bright,but it is not giving what the plant will absorb. So after 10 years, you’ve lost 10% of yourpower supply which means you’ve actually lost at least 10% of production.”

Ram says testing conventional ballasts to check if they’re losing their colour spectrum has tobe done in a lab off-site, a costly and time-consuming process. Without testing, a growerrelies on guesswork to determine when conventional lights must be replaced.

“With the electronic ballasts, it’s a constant power supply,” he continues. “So [the quality oflight] will never change five or 10 years from now.”

Ram says electronic ballasts also remove the guesswork. “The old ones lasted 80,000 hours,but after 40,000 you’re only getting 40-50% of the light you want. The electronic ballasts last50,000 hours, and the entire time you’re getting 100% of what you need for your plants. Theelectronic ballasts either work or they don’t.”

Efficiency from the outset

Having BC Hydro on board “helped us significantly,” says Houweling. Choosing electronicballasts will help the greenhouse operation save an impressive 2.2 GWh of electricity peryear as compared with conventional ballasts (in addition to improved growing conditions) –but the upfront costs were higher.

“The electronic ballasts did not work on the conventional power supply of 347 volts, so wehad to put in a 400 volt power supply system and transformers to accommodate them,” says

BC Hydro - Houweling’s Hot House

http://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/success_stories/industrial_process_facilities/houwelings_hothouse.html[11/18/2010 9:52:35 AM]

Houweling. He says designing for efficiency from the start was important, because thedifferent power supply required for each type of lighting would have made it prohibitive toupgrade later. The project also included a sophisticated control system.

“It looks at the outside light levels and it turns on or off based on outside light intensity.There’s a timer, plus the system tracks cumulative light as well, so if you reach a certainamount of cumulative light over the day or period, you can adjust,” he says. The project wasalso designed to light sub-compartments of the nine-acre area only when needed, allowingefficiency and flexibility (seedlings have different lighting needs than full plants).

“Typically when you’re lighting a tomato crop, you would put lights over the whole greenhousesurface area and turn the nine acres on or off. To light particular sub-compartments weneeded a lot of hardware and we needed the computer control program. We estimated thatcontrols and compartmentalization will save 15-30% of wasted electricity.”

Due to its efficiency, the project qualified for an incentive of $469,000 under the New PlantDesign Program.

“We were double the install price of a conventional program,” says Houweling. “Over the longterm we’ll save on the power, but having help on those capital costs did allow us to justify thisa little bit easier.”

Surprising results: bigger, faster

The new lighting project was completed in November last year, and an initial seedling cropwas grown. Then Houweling’s tested the new lighting on a tomato crop. “We came up with some remarkable findings,” says Houweling. “It [the new lighting] willprobably increase the yield of that crop by about 3% over the whole year – that’s for a cropthat is 9% younger than a conventional crop. So basically a four-week younger crop has 3%more production.”

Houweling says the electronic ballasts are cooler than conventional ones, allowing them to besafely mounted closer to the greenhouse ceiling and further from the plants, which is betterfor growing mature plants.

“You can imagine that when we’re using [the lights] to raise seedlings, it delays the planting ofour conventional tomato crop. The light has been able to make up for that lost time andproduce more tomatoes than the existing conventional plants with no light. We didn’t think itwould be so significant on production.”

The productivity gain is an unexpected bonus on a project that continues Houweling’s overallefforts at efficiency, including those being made at its 128-acre facility in California.

“We’re undertaking a lot of simultaneous updates to our facilities to reuse water better, collectour rainwater, use solar energy and do effective heat management,” says Houweling. (Seethe details in the video on Houweling’s home page.) “Electricity, water, fertilizer, natural gas– for the future, it’s going to be absolutely important that we’re conserving everything.”

To learn more about the New Plant Design Program or other Power Smart industrialprograms, contact your Key Account Manager. Or reach Customer Care by email or phone604 453 6400 in the Lower Mainland, 1 866 453 6400 elsewhere in B.C.

Nina Winham is a Vancouver-based sustainablity consultant and regular contributor tobchydro.com.

Last Modified: May 18, 2010

BC Hydro - Where's the beach? Buntzen Lake's high water level

http://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/media_updates/buntzen_lake_high_water_levels.html[11/18/2010 9:52:46 AM]

May 18, 2010

Where's the beach? BuntzenLake's high water levelPosted by Dag Sharman

Did you know the water you swim in may be poweringyour home? That's true if you swim in Buntzen Lake.

Buntzen is a BC Hydro working reservoir. In fact, it's a key part of British Columbia's history.Back in 1903 Buntzen provided the city of Vancouver with its first hydro-electric power,lighting up homes and powering streetcars.

It's not a big surprise that people don't know that Buntzen Lake is a working reservoir.BC Hydro does its best to run the hydro-electric operation in a way that minimizes impacts onrecreational use, and we encourage people to get out and enjoy all that Buntzen has to offer.

But this summer, it probably won't offer a boat launch or a sandy beach. That's becauseBC Hydro is replacing the turbine in the Buntzen powerhouse, and that means unavoidablehigh water levels in the reservoir.

Water rises as powerhouse shut down

The $18 million turbine replacement can be done only in the spring and summer becausethose powerful fall and winter storms raise water levels so high that managing the system forflood control in fall or winter would be very difficult. And the turbine needs to be replaced rightaway so we can start generating power again in time for winter, when demand for electricityin British Columbia is at its peak.

It may sound simple, but the turbine replacement is a big job, and it's expected to take untilabout November to complete. To get the work done, we have had to shut down thepowerhouse entirely, and normally it's through the powerhouse that water is released intoIndian Arm.

With the powerhouse shut down, we need to manage Buntzen water levels by releasing waterthrough the Buntzen spillway channel. The spillway channel is at a higher elevation than thepowerhouse, and that's why the level of the Buntzen Lake reservoir has risen.

So far that has meant the boat launch is closed, and there is no sandy beach. The waterlevel is high enough to cover the sand on the beach, and the sand will likely be under wateruntil about November.

Watch for updates on bchydro.com

The level of Buntzen will fluctuate through the summer based on the weather, but you canexpect it to remain high. Throughout the summer we are providing updated details regardingthe water level and its effects – return regularly to our Buntzen Lake page on bchydro.com.

To be clear, Buntzen is not closed. You can still park, hike, swim and enjoy the beauty, butthe water level will be high. And remember, water is being released into the Buntzen spillwaychannel at the north end of the lake, so please stay away from that area.

The turbine replacement work itself will ensure that for generations to come, Buntzen cancontinue to provide clean, reliable electricity to British Columbians, more than a century afterit began producing power for Vancouver.

To notify people, we have placed signs at Buntzen, taken out newspaper ads, updatedbchydro.com, and updated First Nations and local governments. But it's tough getting theword out to everyone because people come from near and far to use Buntzen – knocking onneighbourhood doors won't do the job.

So tell a friend, send a link to the Buntzen Lake page. Any help getting the word out isappreciated so that people know what to expect this summer at Buntzen.

And maybe you can explain to your friends some good news in all of this – this summer, atleast, you won't have to worry about kicking the sand out of your shoes at the end of a day atBuntzen Lake.

See also