WHISTLER2020
Whistler 2020 Strategy: Energy
Whistler 2020 Priority: Protecting the Environment

Energy Use

Why monitor this indicator?

Energy is a critical input to certain aspects of day to day life and the visitor experience in Whistler. At the same time, non-renewable energy use has an impact on future energy supplies as well as ecosystem and human health locally and abroad. Even large renewable projects such as hydroelectric dams have significant impacts on land and aquatic ecosystems. An ability to reduce Whistler’s dependence on energy resources may help the community better adapt to future price shocks, reduce overall environmental impact, and avoid associated negative health issues.

What does this indicator measure?

Total energy used includes the energy employed to create the electricity delivered, the energy used to generate space and water heating/cooling, as well as transportation energy for some of the larger fleets of vehicles in Whistler and an estimate of intra-commuinty vehicle transportation energy. Not included is the embodied or life cycle energy of the products used in the community.
Indicator DefinitionTotal Primary Energy Used
CalculationSum all energy source inputs at the point of generation or use (thermal plant, hydro site, gas stove etc.) as well as the transport energy from Whistler's fleet vehicles filling up at the RMOW, WAVE and Whistler/Blackcomb fuel stations and intra-community transportation energy use estimate
Time PeriodYear
Collection FrequencyAnnually
SourceRMOW, Whistler Blackcomb, WAVE, BC Hydro, Terasen
1 year trend
Mixed/stable
3 year average trend
Up away from vision
Latest Analysis
  • Whistler’s total primary energy use for 2008 was estimated at 3,110,000 GJ, which is the equivalent of 1 million 100 watt light bulbs left on, 24/7, year round. On a per capita basis, Whistler used 122.6 GJ of energy in 2008 and total energy costs for Whistler in 2008 are estimated at roughly $74 million, $4 million more than 2007.
  • The estimated three year average primary energy use increased 1.5%, and the estimated year to year primary energy use remained stable between 2007 and 2008.
  • Overall energy use in increasing across all sectors, with consumption of all forms of energy but gasoline for fleets increasing on a three year average.
  • On a one year basis, overall energy use was generally stable with increases in commercial sector stationary energy use offsetting decreases in the residential sector, decreases in fleet and intra-community fuel consumption and decreases driven by the estimated reduction in primary energy use by BC Hydro.

What You Can Do

At Home

  • Choose alternative modes of transportation. Leave your vehicle at home and carpool, take public transit, bike, walk, ski, or rollerblade instead.
  • Replace incandescent light bulbs with lower wattage bulbs or compact fluorescents.  Compact fluorescents use 75% less energy while lasting 10 times as long – they end up paying for themselves!

At Work

  • Purchase/rent employee housing that is close to your business to encourage employees to walk, bike or wheel to work.
  • Ask your staff for more ideas on how to reduce energy use. Staff incentive programs could reward energy saving initiatives.
Links to Related Strategies
Links to Related Priorities
Links to Whistler's Sustainability Objectives:
(click on icon to find out more)
1. To reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to ongoing build-up of substances taken from the earth's crust (e.g. renewable energy)2. To reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to ongoing build-up of substances produced by society (e.g. non-toxic, biodegradable materials)3. To reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to ongoing degradation of natural systems by physical means (e.g. sustainably harvested fish)4. To reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to undermining the ability of other people to meet their needs (e.g. providing fair wages, access to information etc)
Document Downloads

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Whistler 2020 explorer