WHEREAS energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits in existing buildings offer the best opportunities to reduce community energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the medium and short term; AND WHEREAS a lack of suitable financing options are a key barrier to residential and commercial building energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province: 1. Amend the BC Community Charter, the City of Vancouver Charter and other legislation as required to enable local governments to use local improvement financing mechanisms for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on residential and commercial private properties in BC. 2. Work together with BC local governments and energy utilities to develop standards and guidelines for effective municipally-run residential and commercial energy retrofit financing programs.
Ministry of Community, Sport Cultural Development The Province of British Columbia is interested in supporting local governments to reduce community-wide and corporate greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. Legislative amendments to enable the use of current or additional financing mechanisms for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on private property would require significant and careful analysis and are not being considered at this time. The Province encourages local governments and energy utilities to work together to develop financing mechanisms for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on residential and commercial private properties in BC.