Renewable energy

The global Earth Day movement is focusing their 2025 campaign on renewable energy, under the title: Our Power, Our Planet. The official Earth Day website outlines why NOW is the best time to switch to renewable energy, such as hydropower, wind, solar, and geothermal energy.

The City of New Westminster Electrical Utility is the oldest continuously-operating electrical utility in BC, providing electricity to New West since 1891. Originally, a wood-fired steam turbine powered streetlights in the City. Now, the City purchases most of its electricity from BC Hydro whose power is over 98% from clean, renewable sources such as hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass. Learn more about how BC Hydro generates its power here and how BC Hydro is adding more wind and solar energy to its energy mix here.

Did you know? The City operates and maintains two solar panel arrays, called Urban Solar Gardens: one 50 kW array at Queensborough Community Centre and one 50 kW array at the City’s public works yard. New West residents, businesses, and non-profits can voluntarily subscribe to a portion of the total electricity generated by the Urban Solar Gardens. The solar power generated is credited back to each subscriber’s electrical utility bill twice per year, in proportion to the number of panels they have reserved, for up to 25 years.

təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre has solar panels on the roof that yield sustainable, renewable energy, and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in City operations. 

benefits of renewable energy

• It’s healthier: Switching from fossil fuel energy to renewable energy results in less air pollution, improved mental health, lower mortality rates, and improved water quality
• It’s driving innovation and economic growth: Expanding renewable energy will drive innovation across industry, transportation, and agriculture, creating millions of new jobs globally
• It’s reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Switching to renewable energy sources is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions because renewables generate electricity without producing carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas

What can you do?

• In your home: Switch from gas heating and hot water to electric. Rebates are available for all income levels, and up to $19,500 for income-qualified folks here.
• For your vehicle: Switch from a gas to an electric vehicle. Find a vehicle that’s right for you here.
• Install solar panels or sign up for New Westminster’s Urban Solar Garden: If you’re interested in installing solar panels on your home, make sure to obtain a minimum of three quotes from contractors. Another option is New Westminster’s Urban Solar Garden. It is a community-owned, rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) array that provides local residents, businesses, and non-profit organizations access to renewable “made in New West for New West” energy. Learn more here.

Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action

For this Earth Month, the City of New Westminster is highlighting work that it has completed on its Seven Bold Steps to address the climate emergency:

1. Carbon Free Corporation
2. Car Light Community
3. Carbon Free Homes and Buildings
4. Pollution Free Vehicles
5. Carbon Free Energy
6. Robust Urban Forest
7. Quality People-Centred Public Realm

The following gives information on the work the City is doing on the Seven Bold Steps, as well as suggestions for the public. 

Bold Step #1: Carbon Free Corporation

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in City operations, such as switching from gas to heat our buildings and fuel our vehicles, to electricity.

• təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre was Canada’s first completed aquatic centre to achieve Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building–Design Standard. 
• The City is repairing and upgrading existing City buildings and fleet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. You can learn more in the City’s Corporate Energy and Emissions Reduction Strategy 2020 about how we will continue to transition our City’s fleet to electric vehicles and retrofit our buildings.

Bold Step #2: Car Light Community

Transitioning from personal vehicles to walking, public transportation, biking, and shared vehicles wherever possible, which helps reduce noise and air pollution in the community.

• Implementation of the Active Transportation Network Plan is underway! The City is focused on making walking a safe, comfortable, accessible, and pleasant mobility choice for people of all ages and abilities.
• Learn about school walking routes and cycling routes around the community.
• Visit this webpage to learn more about moving around the City.

Bold Step #3: Carbon Free Homes and Buildings

Community carbon emissions for all homes and buildings will be reduced significantly. By 2030, all new and replacement heating and hot water systems will be zero emissions.

• Learn about low-carbon and energy efficient homes on April 26 at the Climate Friendly Homes Tour, happening in homes across New West. Tour New West’s greenest homes and become inspired to do your own home improvements. Additionally, the New West Climate Action Hub will be hosting information sessions at select homes with expert speaker. Learn more here.
• Support is available for New West residents interested in doing energy efficiency and fuel switching retrofits through Energy Save New West.
• Rebates are available through the Province.
• Learn about offers for apartments, like the Strata Energy Advisor and Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator.

Bold Step #4: Pollution Free Vehicles

By 2030, 50% of kilometres driven by New Westminster registered vehicle owners will be by zero emissions vehicles.

• New Westminster has required that all new residential buildings are EV Ready since 2019, and all non-residential since January 1, 2025.
• To learn more about what the City is doing to support electric vehicle adoption in New West, visit our EV webpage.
• Interested in purchasing an EV? Visit the Province’s webpage to learn more.
• Explore public EV charging stations using Plugshare.

Bold Step #5: Carbon Free Energy

The City of New Westminster will invest in a smart electrical grid in order to accommodate the required rapid conversion to building and vehicle electrification.

• You can learn more in the City’s Corporate Energy and Emissions Reduction Strategy 2020 about how we will continue to transition our City’s fleet to electric vehicles and retrofit our buildings.
• Using electricity instead of fossil fuels (e.g. natural gas, oil, coal) can help improve air quality too! Reduced air pollution can significantly decrease respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks, and strokes.
• Learn about the City’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) upgrade, which will improve outage response times, reduce costs, and improve energy efficiency

Bold Step #6:  Robust Urban Forest

Continuing to grow the City’s tree canopy cover, as trees will support with the removal of greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, mitigate extreme heat, manage stormwater and rainwater, and foster biodiversity.

• The City is planting trees every year as of the Urban Forest Management Strategy, working towards a 27% canopy coverage by 2035. 
• There’s many ways to support the community’s urban forest:
  • Plant a pollinator garden on your lawn, or in pots on your balcony. Use Metro Vancouver’s Grow Green Guide to learn about suitable species for your gardens.
  • Learn how to make your windows safer for birds by preventing collisions with windows.
  • Participate in the City’s bi-annual tree sale, which provides an opportunity for New Westminster residents to purchase up to two trees, including balcony-friendly trees.
• Follow industry standards for pruning and caring for your private trees to ensure their long-term health. You can help care for newly planted City trees in our growing urban forest by watering them during the warmer months through the Adopt-A-Street Tree program. Learn more here.

Bold Step #7: Quality People-Centred Public Realm

Reallocating road space from vehicles to sustainable modes of transportation (such as biking, rolling, or walking), community gathering, and the natural environment.

• Read up on the Uptown Plaza and Sixth Street Public Realm Improvements project, which is transforming Sixth Street and the Uptown Plaza into a vibrant, accessible, and welcoming space for everyone.
• Learn about the current projects in the City, including ones that are making improvements to walkability and public spaces.

Climate Preparedness & Adaptation

The City is developing a Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan which will support climate readiness for extreme climate events and ensure everyone is safe, healthy, and prepared. Community engagement will begin later this year, and you can register on Be Heard for upcoming announcements about the Plan.

Visit the New Westminster Public Library on April 24 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm for a presentation from the City’s Climate Action Team. Staff will be there to answer questions and will present on the early stages of the Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan, Energy Save New West, and other City climate initiatives.

Earth Month Actions for Businesses

Did you know that non-residential buildings, such as commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings, are responsible for 63% of energy use and 68% of greenhouse gas pollution in New Westminster?

This Earth Day, we are encouraging New West business owners to sign up for the following FREE offers.

Building Benchmark BC

Building Benchmark BC is a voluntary program that building owners can sign up for to gain valuable insights into their energy usage and ways to decrease it.

A few of the (many!) benefits of joining Building Benchmark BC include:

• Competitive insights: Gain insight into how your energy use compares to similar buildings
• Influence regulations: Influence the direction of potential future benchmarking and disclosure regulations
• Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM): Get help setting up ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM), a no-cost, interactive building energy management tool.

It’s easy - Register now for Building Benchmark BC here!

Decarb Accelerator Program 

Building Owners and Managers Association of British Columbia is administering a three-year The Decarb Accelerator Program that assists building owners and managers in identifying and reducing energy use and greenhouse gas pollution.

At a minimum, every building will receive:

• A decarbonization plan detailing their building-specific retrofit opportunities along with suitable replacement equipment alternatives.
• Buildings who are deemed ‘retrofit ready’, whereby systems or equipment has been identified as at, or near, its end of life will also receive a full ASHRAE L2 energy audit.

Apply now for the Decarb Accelerator Program here!