New West residents are opening their doors to help show their neighbours how to make their homes more climate friendly.
The Climate Friendly Homes Tour is taking place in New Westminster on Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s free, but preregistration is required to visit some of the residences on the tour.
The Climate Friendly Homes Tour is organized and hosted by the Community Energy Association. Several tours are happening around the province; BC Hydro supports all tours.
Here in New West, the tour is getting additional support and promotion from the City of New Westminster’s climate action division and Energy Save New West.
At least five homes will be participating in the free tour (and there’s still time for homeowners to sign up).
According to the city, the New Westminster Climate Action Hub is further supporting the local tour through three climate-adapted/biodiverse homes on the tour. The hub has also organized sustainable homes information sessions for these specific properties. (Registration is only required for these three homes because of the info sessions.)
Cheryl Lewis, a member of the climate action hub, said the event aims to educate, engage, and inspire community members on a broad range of climate topics.
“We want this event to be very inclusive for everybody – people that live in apartments; people that live in condos,” she told city council at its April 7 meeting. “And to that end, we will be having resources – something for everybody.”
For residents of apartments, Lewis said the focus will be on safety.
“We'll also be talking about or having resources for different strategies for staying safe in heat events,” she said. “There will be resources for gardening, including gardening on balconies or any shared spaces, and also include one New West resident's experience of leveraging their balcony to keep their condo cooler.”
Secured bike storage will be provided at three sites for any attendees who bike to the event. HUB Cycling is hosting a free bike tour of the properties, which also requires registration.
In addition to touring homes, Lewis said community members can also attend information sessions on a variety of topics. These include:
- Staying safe in heat events – Agnes Black, a registered nurse and adjunct professor in the School of Nursing at UBC
- Gardening for food, beauty, and climate – gardening educator Carole Forsythe
- The path to electrification: Transforming homes for a sustainable future – electrical engineer Scott Janzen
- Climate action at the City of New Westminster – Sarah Maleska, a community energy and emissions specialist at the City of New Westminster
- Adapting to atmospheric rivers – engineer Allana Gerke, who will discuss stormwater management
- Promoting biodiversity and creating bird and pollinator habitat – naturalist and educator Utta Gagel, co-president of the Caribou Height Forest Preservation Society
- A homeowner’s insights on decarbonizing their home – Class A/master electrician Greg Gerke
“We're very pleased with the experts that we have lined up to share their information,” Lewis said. “Numerous other resources will be incorporated too, and even a few fun activities.”
Other offerings include resource tables, where attendees can get information about topics including biodiversity, creating bird and pollinator habitats, climate adaptation, city rebates, and more.
Details about the info sessions and a map of the tour can be found online.
“By participating in the Climate Friendly Homes Tour, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the positive impact changes to the home can have on the environment, as well as their own well-being,” said the event’s website. “Whether you are a homeowner looking to make improvements, a renter interested in adopting green habits, or simply an enthusiast curious about the latest advancements in climate-friendly technologies, this tour has something for everyone.”
