Member Spotlight: Ecotrust Canada

Recently we had a chance to speak with Dylan Heerema, Senior Policy Advisor with Ecotrust Canada, a national charity planting the seeds of systems change through community partnerships for over 25 years. Through the work of the Community Energy team, Ecotrust Canada builds innovative, on-the-ground examples of an economy that provides for the essentials of life, focusing on projects and policies that advance energy justice for households facing energy insecurity. Ecotrust Canada has been a B2E member since 2021 and is a strong advocate for equal access to essential home energy services – heating, cooling, lighting, cooking and communication – for all British Columbians without hardship.  

Why did you become a B2E member?   

We became a B2E member to join a vibrant community of practice that is focused on the decarbonization of homes and buildings. Finding equitable pathways for home electrification is one of the most important ways to reduce energy insecurity and to advance climate justice for disadvantaged communities and households. We are keen to learn and collaborate with B2E members to further this vision, and to take advantage of the education and network-building opportunities that the coalition provides. 

What impact has the B2E community had on you/your organization?   

B2E has given us a new platform to make folks aware of our work in policy research and advocacy, as well as our project work on the ground with communities. We are learning from and adding to the body of case studies and knowledge of building electrification across Canada. It’s also been great to work with the folks at B2E on collaborations like podcasts, webinars, and conference presentations. 

Tell us about an exciting building electrification project that you’re working on.  

We’re incredibly excited to be nearing completion of the Bella Bella Heat Pump Project, which has seen us collaborate with the Haíłzaqv (Heiltsuk) Climate Action Team to switch nearly every home in the community from oil furnaces to clean and efficient electric heat pumps. Residents of Bella Bella are saving thousands of dollars in energy costs every year, and they are also able to benefit from improved ventilation and cooling during the summer months. 

Taking our direction from community leaders, we have been involved in all stages of the retrofit work in Bella Bella. These stages include completing the initial feasibility study and pilot project, conducting surveys and engagement with residents, identifying and applying for project funding, selecting and liaising with contractors and energy advisors, and ongoing monitoring, evaluation and capacity-building work. A key objective of the project has been to train community members in the maintenance and installation of heating systems to support local employment and capacity. 

What do you see as a key driver in advancing electrification in your industry?  

The most important driver for advancing electrification in homes and buildings will be regulations to equitable phase out the use of fossil gas and oil as heating fuels. Gas utilities in BC are still connecting up to 10,000 new customers every year and this needs to shift if we are to decarbonize the sector. We advocate for a rapid phase-out of fossil gas infrastructure and appliances, combined with income-qualified incentives that make it easy for lower-income customers and tenants to electrify their homes. We need to redirect our retrofit incentive programs so that these folks can access full coverage for the costs of electrification, rather than offering partial coverage for customers across all income levels. We recently completed two research reports on equitable fossil fuel phase out and tenants rights to energy efficiency in partnership with graduate students at UBC that can provide deeper insights into the gaps and opportunities related to household energy security.  

Do you have any advice for others (individuals or organizations) who want to follow your path? 

It’s an exciting time to be involved in energy and climate justice - the issue has recently received a lot more attention from policymakers, especially in light of high inflation, a housing crisis across Canada, and events like the 2021 BC heat dome illustrating how urgently we must address climate resilience in our homes and buildings. 

To connect with Dylan on Linkedin, please click here. Ecotrust Canada can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and their website.

Want to hear more from our B2E members? Check out the rest of our Member Spotlight series here.