Nelson, BC and FortisBC publish Material Carbon Emissions Guide after residential emissions pilot
The Low Carbon Homes Pilot studied emissions created during the construction of 34 newly built homes. The resulting 17-page guide presents the pilot's results and guides developers toward the least impactful materials. One-page descriptions describe the environmental impacts of building categories like interior surfaces. The Material Carbon Emissions Guide also places materials within each category on an emissions scale from -500 to 3,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide per square meter.
Nelson, BC
Canada
Nelson, BC opens Canada's first community solar garden through resident and business investment
The 60-kilowatt Community Solar Garden was built above the Nelson Hydro Power Plant Generation Station. Community members subscribe to the garden's 248 panels in exchange for annual credits paid over 25 years. The facility's estimated annual production is 70,000-kilowatt-hours with a 25-year expected lifespan. An Enphase Energy dashboard tracks panel-by-panel production as well as generation trends by the hour, day, and month.
Nelson, BC
Canada
Nelson, BC promotes e-bike adoption by local homeowners with new financing program
The program offers up to $8,000 CAD per household for two-year and five-year loans. Monthly payments are included in a household's Nelson Hydro utility bill. City officials used the utility's EcoSave retrofit financing program as a model for its e-bike initiative. Loans are limited to homeowners due to the need for collateral. Increased e-bike adoption helps Nelson achieve its goal of doubling active transit trips by 2030.
Nelson, BC
Canada
Nelson, BC encourages food waste diversion from landfills with FoodCycler household pilot
The city's Administration Department tested the countertop waste recycler in a successful one-month trial. Discounted FoodCycler units were sold to 151 households ahead of a three-month pilot. Nelson issued a $125 CAD rebate for each $250 CAD purchase. The FoodCycler turns food waste into a byproduct useful in gardening and composting. City officials developed the pilot in search of a budget-friendly alternative to the regional curbside food waste service set for 2022.
Nelson, BC
Canada