The Shift: Climate Transitions program empowers Bow Valley residents and businesses to take climate action.
Our Shift: Climate Transitions program invites residents, visitors, and businesses to take local action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. We organize participatory public workshops and community-based projects and events on low carbon transportation, energy efficient buildings, renewable energy, and waste. This program aims to:
Develop, lead and implement projects that focus on energy solutions
Convene key Bow Valley sectors around climate action
Collaborate with key partners
Thanks to the Town of Canmore and Town of Banff, who are major partners in Shift.
Funding Opportunities to Support Green Buildings Initiatives
Costs can present a significant challenge implementing your sustainable building. There are various incentive, grant, and rebate programs available that can help alleviate some of the up-front financial burdens for you enjoy the long-term benefits of a high-performing building. There are programs available for home-owners, organisations, municipalities alike.
Building for Sustainability Symposium - OCT 27-28, 2024
Learn about building or designing retrofits for minimum climate greenhouse gas emissions and maximum climate resilience while increasing attainability and affordability - and addressing the requirements of building and step codes. Hear from diverse voices on how appropriate urban design, land use planning, building location, and density can support environmental, social AND economic sustainability.
This symposium is hosted in collaboration with the Bow Valley Builders & Developers Association (BOWDA).
Reducing Emissions from Buildings by supporting the building and development industry
The Biosphere Institute is undertaking essential research with building and real estate professionals to understand how we can collectively raise the bar with respect to high-performance building. We’re using what we learn to build, partner, and execute a customized education program for these Bow Valley and Albertan professionals, which will improve energy efficiency and dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of new and existing homes as sustainable building technologies are increasingly implemented.
Green Buildings Open House
On June 1st, 2024, the Biosphere Institute hosted the annual Green Buildings Open House based on the popular Eco Solar Homes Tour. The open-house event featured buildings displaying leadership in sustainable design, construction, and practices, including renewable energy, water and energy efficiency, passive house and net-zero principles, and more.
Clean Commute Expo
On May 4 and 5, 2024, the Biosphere Institute hosted Bow Valley’s first Clean Commute Expo. The Expo showcased a variety of full battery-electric vehicles and alternative low-carbon transportation options, provide informative presentations throughout the day and host a wide range of exhibitors, including local businesses and community organizations.
The Expo was be held at Elevation Place, Canmore, on Saturday, May 4, and at the Fenlands Recreation Centre, Banff, on Sunday, May 5.
Accelerating climate action
We’re accelerating climate action in all sectors of the Bow Valley communities (Lake Louise to Morley) by convening key players in a collective impact process to create synergies and efficiencies, share resources, and empower residents and visitors to reduce emissions.
Geoexchange technology in the Bow Valley
Geoexchange is an important renewable energy technology that uses groundwater to provide both heating and cooling in multi-family buildings. This approach was pioneered in the Bow Valley by Frank Kernick, owner of Spring Creek developments – and further researched by students at the University of Calgary to better understand how this technology might be applied, taking into account the area’s geological setting, climate conditions, and building layouts
Solar on Condos in the Bow Valley
There are both environmental and economic reasons to install solar panels. Our planet is heating up; the climate crisis insists that we make the transition to lower carbon, renewable forms of energy. The majority of electrons generated in Alberta come from the burning of natural gas, a carbon intensive fossil fuel. In the words of one pundit: ‘Electrify Everything Now.’ Further, Canmore has a great solar resource, with an estimated 312 sunny days per year.
We are working with a group of dedicated Canmore residents to support this process.
Circular Economy: Bow Valley Isn’t Disposable
Based on the successful pilot program Banff Isn’t Disposable, we’re researching how reusable cup and container programs can be sustained and expanded throughout the Bow Valley. We’re working with key stakeholders in Banff to create a circular economy for takeout containers and reduce single-use items.
We’re also exploring options to address soil and CRD waste.
Event Waste reduction
For the past three years, the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley has been coordinating Canmore Folk Music Festival’s Environment (Green) Team. The Green team is a team of 60 passionate volunteers that are responsible for handling compost, “green” education, recycling and waste management throughout the weekend. This year past year, we achieved a 91% waste diversion rate!
Supported by a Carbonzero Community Microgrant (CCMG), we are expanding this framework to other events in the Bow Valley, including the FIS Alberta World Cup. Get involved by volunteering for the Green Team for an event!
Climate Champions
We have created an online training course, which educates learners on effective climate action and how to have productive conversations with others about climate change. Climate Champions will work towards to fostering a community of practice to create a network of climate leaders with agency to make a real difference.
community generation
In partnership with Bow Valley Green Energy Co-operative, we’re installing a 26kW solar system to act as a community generation demonstration project in the heart of Calgary, with an associated education campaign on renewable energy and community generation to further enable the adoption of renewables.
Home Energy Evaluation Kit - HEET
You can borrow the Biosphere Institutes Home Energy Evaluation Toolkit to determine how energy is used in the home; then, refer to the HEET guide for tips and strategies to improve your home's energy efficiency.
It’s a Do-It-Yourself home energy audit!