Vancouver, September 26, 2011 - The worldwide
economy may be riding something of a roller coaster, but according
to the Vancouver-based GLOBE Foundation, companies that can provide
clean technologies and solutions will prosper.
In their report Securing the Workplace of Tomorrow [PDF, 3.5 Mb], the not-for-profit business
foundation claims that "the green elements of B.C.'s economy are
growing faster than the province's economy as a whole and are
expected to continue to do so over the next decade."
They also found that the green sectors of B.C.'s economy could
represent up to 14 percent of the province's total gross domestic
product (GDP) by 2020, creating nearly 85,000 jobs.
John Wiebe, the foundation's CEO, believes that the introduction
of smart meters in B.C. will contribute directly to the growth of
our green economy in B.C.
"Our research has shown that the deployment of innovative clean
technologies such as smart meters not only creates jobs, it also
allows consumers to make choices about their use of energy," says
Wiebe. "Today's enlightened consumers want to make a difference,
and this type of technology allows them to do so."
Creating new economic opportunities
Electricity is the backbone of B.C.'s economy and smart meters
are an important step in modernizing the grid and supporting
continued economic growth. The Smart Metering Program alone has already
created hundreds of jobs, contributing directly to B.C.'s
economy.
With the new metering system in place there will be two million
pieces of technology on the grid that need to be managed, creating
new technology-based jobs that do not exist today.
Innovative technology companies in the province are poised to
build on the smart metering infrastructure, delivering home energy
management systems and software applications.
Skills that support the environment and contribute to a
sustainable future are quickly becoming more important across the
workforce and within every industry. Traditional sectors of the
economy are integrating sustainable practices into their
operations, which in turn increases the need for employees who
offer creative solutions to the shifting challenges of our global
economy.
The future of clean and green
Smart meters enable the two-way flow of electricity by measuring
how much energy a home used or generated in total.
This will enable customers and communities to sell excess
electricity back to the grid, providing resilience and a sense of
community ownership over energy. And that's essential to the
widespread adoption of local, small-scale renewable energy sources,
such as biomass, geothermal, solar and wind.
Justin Lacey, Director of Marketing at Day4Energy,
says that the viability of solar power as an energy source is upon
us.
"We are at an inflection point for solar energy," says Lacey.
"In many parts of the world, the cost of electricity from solar is
very competitive with that produced with traditional fossil fuels.
More and more consumers are beginning to choose solar because it
makes sense financially, as well as environmentally."
Day4 specializes in providing solar photovoltaic technologies
that improve the performance of solar cells and modules.
"A much better awareness of energy, and how daily decisions
affect the amount we consume, are critical steps we must take on
the path to a more sustainable future" says Lacey. "Smart meters
help consumers on both counts."
Lasting benefits
Smart meters will speed up the response to outages, improve customer service and help keep
BC Hydro rates among the lowest in North America.
Smart meter installations have already begun in select
communities and will be completed across the province by the end of
2012.
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