The One Coast, One Climatefull-day workshop brought together many eco-minded and eco-curious people from up and down the Coast to share ideas on energy and emission reduction.
Held on Thursday, April 14, at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre, theworkshopexplored opportunities in green building, land-use and design on the Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) community energy manager Johan Stroman opened the workshop with an overview of the Community Energy Emissions Plan (CEEP). Adopted by the SCRD in May 2010, after a year of research and public consultation, CEEP is aimed at reducing energy and emissions on the Coast. The six key action areas of the plan include energy conservation, green building, renewable energy, strong local economy, land use and transportation alternatives.Many of those elements were touched on through the workshop.
Guest speakers also covered a variety of topics relating to the goals of CEEP.
Claire Beckstead, technical and policy advisor from the Pembina Institute, discussed green building leaders and renewable energy requirement within B.C.
Peter Ostergaard,Fraser Basin Council sustainability facilitator and energy co-ordinator, discussed community energy planning policies and tools, while Cheeying Ho, executive director of the Whistler Centre for Sustainability, presented ideas on energy efficient land-use practices.
The well-attended workshop engaged the crowd. Many attendees asked questions and discussedwhat they can do, as Coast residents, to participate in reducing energy and emissions.
