CLIMATE RESILIENCE
A TALE OF WASTE TO WARMTH
PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Towns and cities all over the world are using innovative ways to use waste to generate energy. Take a moment to learn about these systems when you visit destinations, like Prince George, and consider if they are something you can advocate for at home.
What's
changing
Traditionally, sawmills have relied on burning their own waste wood to power their operations, which often generated more energy than needed and still required disposal processes for waste wood. Now, these byproducts are generating power beyond the mill to help with energy in neighboring communities.
What's already
possible
In Prince George, British Columbia, more than a dozen downtown buildings are heated with energy generated by waste products, known as residues or residuals, from a neighboring sawmill.
Seizing
the opportunity
Heated water is generated at Lakeland Mills, a sawmill that has been located in Prince George since 1962. The hot water is pumped to the city’s energy center via underground pipes.
Standout
tactic
Through advanced monitoring, the Downtown Renewable Energy System (DRES) adjusts to needs based on demand and weather. During a 2020 cold snap with temperatures dropping to minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit), the system needed to operate at only half its capacity to fully heat connected buildings.
How
it helps
Within two years of connecting to the DRES, the city’s courthouse had its greenhouse gas emissions decrease by 30%. The city said the system has saved the courthouse 100,000 Canadian dollars through reduced heating costs and carbon offsets. The program gives the city certainty over the price of energy, generates non-tax revenue, and ensures money from energy bills remains in the community.
Diving
deeper
Converting industrial waste into energy can be a win-win situation for business and communities, but is there a risk that businesses can use these creative solutions to justify maintaining their emission levels?
Increasing
impact
While a dozen buildings in Prince George are currently heated through the DRES, the infrastructure could handle up to five to six additional buildings.. This would mean the program could be used as an incentive for more intentional city planning. For example, one of many reasons why Tourism Prince George selected its new location for the Visitor Information Centre is because it will have access to this system.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
