Email dated April 16, 2023 from R. Isaac and G. Graham, Re: Implementation of Zero Carbon Step Code
Citizen email supporting the Zero Carbon Step Code and highlighting personal investments in climate adaptation.
From: Roz Isaac
Sent: April 16, 2023 9:59 AM
To: Info Address info@viewroyal.ca
Subject: Implementing Zero Carbon new builds
Good day Mayor and Councillors
As newer residents in View Royal, we are excited to support progressive climate-related possibilities in this beautiful town. We purposefully bought a smaller, less expensive property so that we could install a heat pump (done) and 30 solar panels (about to be installed).
We are hopeful that View Royal will implement the Zero Carbon Step Code as soon as possible.
We have learned from Jane Devonshire that:
- View Royal unanimously declared a Climate Emergency in 2019.
- View Royal Council unanimously endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty on February 7, 2023.
- View Royal is surrounded by neighbours who already have bylaws in place for electrifying buildings. Only View Royal and Langford are the outliers.
- Our Community Climate Action Strategy informs us VR wants to prioritize a low carbon approach (heat pumps), as it is of most importance that we get started now implementing the BIG MOVES! Every gas hookup potentially locks a building into another 20+ years of GHG emissions and we will not reach our targets.
- Step Codes measure a building’s “efficiency” only.
- The Zero Carbon Step Code measures the “GHG emissions”
- View Royal is already at Step Code 3 so it should not be difficult to add on the Zero Carbon Step Code component.
We know that electric heat pumps keep people comfortably warm in the winter and cool homes in the summer as well as filter out harmful air pollutants. In the heat dome of 2021, 619 people died. We need to have View Royal’s residents’ best interests at heart when building new homes so they can live in safe, healthy, and resilient homes in dignity and equity.
Let’s build in a fail-safe system now with electric heat pumps that reduce both energy costs and GHG emissions. We have the tools to accomplish this now!
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours sincerely
Roz Isaac & Glenn Graham
29 Bishan Place
V9B5P2