Power down
Powell River residents managed to increase their efforts to save energy during Earth Hour on Saturday, March 23. Powell River had a 4.9 per cent reduction in energy use, compared to 3.6 per cent in 2012.
British Columbians saved 136 megawatt hours of electricity and reduced the provincial electricity load by 1.95 per cent during Earth Hour, the equivalent of turning off more than 10 million 12.5-watt LED light bulbs. Comox and Courtenay saw the highest reduction at nearly 10 per cent. Many communities across the province successfully improved their Earth Hour energy savings from the previous year.
Earth Hour is an annual global event hosted by the World Wildlife Fund and supported by BC Hydro. This year marks the sixth year of BC Hydro’s support of the event. The goal of Earth Hour is to encourage individuals to turn off unnecessary lights and electronics in an effort to conserve power and in doing so, demonstrate support for climate change reduction efforts.
Minimum hike
As well as hiking fares on April 1, BC Ferries is increasing the minimum amount customers are required to load onto the Experience Card.
The new minimum for vehicles and passengers, required to receive access to vehicle and passenger-reduced fares on participating routes, is $105. The new minimum for passengers only is $60.
There are 12 routes where customers can use the Experience Card, including Saltery Bay-Earls Cove, Powell River-Little River and Powell River-Texada Island.
For more information about BC Ferries’ Experience Card, readers can visit its website, or call 1.888.223.3779.
