FEI-FEVI 2010 EEC Report filed March 31, 2011 - FortisBC

FORTISBC ENERGY INC. AND FORTISBC ENERGY (VANCOUVER ISLAND) INC.
2010 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT
Description
Goals
Administration
Communications
needed to gain the required skills.
Quality – provide sufficient training and experience so graduates can
confidently install energy efficiency devices and educate others on behaviours
that encourage energy conservation.
The Companies, in collaboration with funding partners and delivery agents, has
created a student manual and instructor manual for the REnEW program and is
actively involved in helping the delivery agents find industry professionals to
train the participants. In all four REnEW training sessions held in 2010, the
energy efficiency component of the training was rounded out with training that
the delivery agents recommended. This additional training typically included
topics such as job readiness (i.e. expectations in the workplace), life skills
training (i.e. healthy eating, budgeting, and so on), and third party trade
certifications (i.e. first aid, WHMIS, fall protection, working in confined spaces,
and the Construction Safety Training System).
When a participant graduates from the program they are equipped with energy
efficiency retrofit skills, industry certifications, renewed self-confidence, and a
full set of tools. Graduates are job-ready.
This training program is a full-time course that typically takes four to five weeks
to complete. Half of the time is spent in the classroom and half is spent
learning and practicing trade skills with a team of energy efficiency trade
experts.
• Increase market capacity in the energy efficiency retrofit industry.
• Increase the quality of energy efficiency retrofitting installations.
• By increasing the supply of skilled energy efficiency tradespeople, the
cost of having these retrofits implemented will ultimately decrease for
both customers and utilities.
Implementation
In 2010, the Companies worked with three non-profit delivery agents including:
• John Howard Society of the Central and South Okanogan;
• A.C.C.E.S.S. (Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services
Society); and
• Sto:Lo Nation.
Each of these delivery agents were able to leverage their networks and
relationships to create greater sharing of financial costs. Some of the additional
funding that came through the delivery agents included contributions from
BladeRunners, Service Canada, Province of British Columbia, Community
Living, and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market
Development.
The REnEW program is a highly targeted program, so very little marketing of
the program has been necessary other than direct contact with delivery agents
by the Conservation for Affordable Housing program manager. The Companies
created posters that delivery agents use to inform and recruit participants to the
program.
SECTION 6: CONSERVATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS Page 113