Central Saanich joins hub to cut commercial building energy use by ...

Central Saanich is encouraging property managers of commercial buildings in the district to join a free program to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.

The Greater Victoria 2030 District gives members and partners equal access to technical support, education, annual benchmarking, and more.

A free expert session and chat with participating property managers will be held online on Thursday (Feb. 20) at 9:30 a.m.

The goal is to share knowledge that will assist them in reducing energy consumption and emissions, save money on their properties and compete in a competitive leasing market.

"Simple actions, such as optimizing HVAC operations and replacing lighting with LEDs, can have a significant impact," the district said.

According to Mayor Ryan Windsor, Central Saanich hopes to reduce the burden on property managers by connecting them with knowledge of what has worked in other buildings similar to theirs.

“In Central Saanich, commercial buildings are our second highest source of emissions, after transportation. Commercial buildings impact our community’s climate goals, which is why we are supporting this initiative to help make improvements easier and more cost-effective,” he explained. 

Locally, 48 buildings are already taking part. This includes buildings run by Jawl Properties, Townline Properties, the City of Victoria, and the Capital Regional District.

“Participating in the 2030 Districts Network means commercial properties will be ahead of the curve – ready for upcoming regulations and making their buildings climate resilient,” said Cora Hallsworth, director of the Greater Victoria 2030 District, who notes that the program’s name reflects global emission reduction targets for the year 2030. 

Greater Victoria is one of 24 North American districts, including Toronto, New York City and Seattle, that have joined this initiative.

For more information about the program, email corahallsworth@2030districts.org.