Local Actions
The Regional District of Central Kootenay - Unincorporated
RDCK includes 11 electoral areas and 9 incorporated municipalities across more than 22,000 square kilometres. In general, the rural residents of the RDCK face challenges that city-dwellers do not, including longer driving distances to services, employment and amenities, less reliable electricity, and fewer choices in both communications and energy infrastructure.
Most of the RDCK’s non-renewable energy use is passenger and commercial vehicles. Residential buildings is second with natural gas and propane contributing to most of the emissions.
The RDCK has identified potential actions for each strategy, including:
- Develop an electric vehicle charging strategy
- Promote and/or provide industry education and training on the Energy Step Code
- Identify and remove barriers to heat pump installation
- Participate in regional organics composting
The strategies with the greatest impact on carbon pollution will be:
- Electrifying Passenger Vehicles
- Improving Existing Buildings
- Public and Active Transportation
- Composting organics & capturing landfill gas
What’s Left
Although the Big Moves can make a lot of progress toward 100% renewable energy, new kinds of technology or policy at the federal or provincial level will be needed to fill the gaps. In the RDCK, the main gaps are:
- Commercial vehicle emissions
- Non-electricity heating (propane and oil) in existing buildings
Public Survey Results
RDCK residents were asked to complete a survey rating the potential impact and feasibility of potential actions. Based on 148 responses, the weighted average of the actions are shown in the chart below. All of the actions received average feasibility and impact ratings greater than the midpoint. The potential score ranges from 1 to 5 for both measures. The distinctions among many of the actions fall within the margin of error (+/- .32).
The highest impact ratings were for public transit (4.39), retrofit incentives (4.26), and transportation information (4.18), while the lowest ratings were for compost with pickup (2.98), compost with drop-off (3.09), and retrofit code (2.96).
The highest feasibility ratings were for retrofit incentives (4.39), free store (4.26), and builder incentives (4.18). The lowest feasibility ratings were for compost with pickup (2.85) and transportation information (3.09).
What’s Next?
After public feedback is incorporated, the RDCK will receive the plan and begin implementing actions.
