Climate Action in the City of Courtenay
The City of Courtenay has been working steadily on greenhouse gas reduction strategies for the past several years. The focus to date has been on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the City's municipal operations, including facilities, vehicle fleet and street lights.
The City has also recently adopted climate action initiatives for the broader community including a greenhouse gas reduction target of 20% below 2007 levels by 2020. These initiatives are based on research in best practices in low carbon community development and consultation with residents.
The public is invited to review the presentation material below in PDF format.
Display Panels from the Public Open House, Florence Filberg Centre, September 15, 2010
Presentation by Nancy Hofer, City of Courtenay environmental planner from the Public Open House
Survey results
Bylaw 2638 - Official Community Plan amendment to chapter 10: Planning for Climate Change
 | City of Courtenay profiled in Business Review Canada Courtenay's efforts to reduce its municipal carbon footprint have been profiled in the February 2012 edition of Business Review Canada. Read the report |
Tips and tools for learning more about your carbon footprint and ways to reduce it
The LiveSmart BC program provided by the Province, includes resources such as a Carbon Calculator and 52 Ways to Reduce Your Emissions. The Carbon Calculator tool allows residents to input information on their home energy consumption (from their electricity and natural gas bills for example), water heater temperature settings, dishwasher and laundry settings and frequency of use and travel habits. A carbon footprint, expressed in tonnage, is then calculated and is compared against the provincial average. Residents who want to learn how to reduce that tonnage, can visit the 52 Ways to Reduce Your Emissions site.
Free Home Energy Upgrades for Renters and Homeowners on Limited BudgetsThe Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP), provided by BC Hydro, provides qualifying BC Hydro residential account holders with a home energy evaluation, installation of energy saving products, and personalized energy efficiency advice. All of this is free of charge, and available to renters as well as homeowners! The program is available to all BC Hydro account holders that live in a low income household. If your annual electricity bills exceed $600/yr and you meet the income qualifications set by Statistics Canada, you may be eligible for the free energy assessment and energy efficiency upgrades. Call BC Hydro at 1.877.431.9463 or visit http://bchydro.com/ecap for more information. Visit www.citygreen.ca for other energy efficiency incentives, rebates and services.
Air Quality Readings
The City of Courtenay has partnered with the Comox Valley Regional District to cover the operating costs of the Comox Valley's air quality monitoring station, located on the grounds of Courtenay Elementary School. For BC Air Quality information, view the Province of BC's Air Quality website.
For the latest Air Quality Health Index readings for the Comox Valley and the rest of British Columbia, visit the BC Air Quality Reading webpage.
Corporate Climate Action
The City of Courtenay signed on to the Province of B.C.’s Climate Action Charter in October 2007 along with the UBCM and over 130 other BC local governments. The City has committed to developing strategies and taking action to reduce our emissions. The goal is to achieve carbon neutral municipal operations by 2012.
Corporate Climate Action in the City of Courtenay
Last Update : Friday, April 13, 2012