This past week I had the pleasure of touring one of, if not the, most sustainable community currently functioning in North America. The T’sou-ke First Nations community is a leader in sustainability, gaining the ability to jump off the grid by powering their community solely by PV, solar thermal panels, and social action. My tour was conducted by Andrew Moore, lead engineer responsible for the organization and implementation of this multi organization project conducted over the last two years. When asked how the T’sou-ke community first became interested in becoming solely responsible for their own power generation, Moore explained “First Nations have always relied on the power of nature for energy. The highest importance has always been placed on the power of the sun, the water, and the wind”. He couldn’t have explained it more perfectly, we should all take a chapter out of their book. On a positive note the community has inspired change in the nearby community of Colwood. The Colwood community is currently embarking on a Solar Colwood project, with inspiration and assistance from the T’sou-ke community. The T’sou-ke community couldn’t be happier, one of the goals of their project was to inspire others. They’ve done a good job.
Success of the T’sou-ke solar community incorporates the three components necessary for success of sustainable development; social, environmental, and economic. With focus placed on the economic success of the community, due to its historic dependence on expensive electricity and diesel power, the community decided to honour the environment and improve their social connectivity.
The first step of this project was the install PV solar panels, as well thermal solar panels. The community consists of 84 households; 34 of which received thermal solar panels. Thermal solar panels consist of a cluster of three panels which heat city fed water before entering a households’ hot water tank, reducing the energy required to raise the temperature of the tank. PV solar panels we installed on two buildings, as well as a large unit located on the water front over a canoe shed. Both the main office and community center are solely powered by approximately 36 solar panels located on the roofs of these buildings. Any additional power generated is either stored in batteries for future use, or fed back into the grid.
In addition to these installations the community wanted to unite the community further. A variety of social oriented energy reduction programs were offered to households not receiving installations. Programs included energy saving kits including energy reducing light bulbs, low flow shower heads, and a variety of other power saving technologies.
I think the most inspiring piece of the community was a paper tree tacked to the wall in the community center. The community recognizes that one of the most important aspects of this project were to transfer this knowledge and this motivation to the young members of the community. After, they are the future of the community. Attached to the tree are a variety of paper leaves, on which children of the T’sou-ke community have posted their commitment to reducing their energy consumption. One child wrote “I will shut off the tap when I brush my teeth”. There it is folks. If there was any way to measure success in this community, that was it.
I am very grateful to have visited the T’sou-ke community. I have never personally seen such a community join together, with such a vision in my mind. They are an inspiration to us all, and I will personally keep this community in mind when I too join a community of my own.
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