50 carbon footprint analyses provided in five years

First, it was just for one year.

Then another.

Then three years.

And now, the Chamber Carbon Action Plan has secured funding from its primary funder in Canadian National Railway through 2021.

Since launching in 2015, 50 free carbon footprints analyses have been completed through the project, which facilitates local businesses in becoming carbon neutral or carbon reduced by working with UNBC students from the Carbon and Energy Management course.

Northern Light Estate Winery has gone three consecutive years being carbon neutral, being one of three businesses in Prince George reaching the achievement this year. The other two were Prince George Driving for Life Academy and Timberline Footfitters; both being carbon neutral the past two years.

Moving forward, Barbara Otter, Grants Administrator for Prince George Chamber of Commerce, hopes the project continues to grow.

“We want to have more analyses done each year. Now the University has granted that this course is now prerequisite for those students in Environmental Studies to graduate,” Otter told MyPGNow.

46 businesses volunteered in the project, representing sectors such as manufacturing, retail, health care, non-profit, First Nations, and agriculture to name a few.

Carbon footprint analyses are created by UNBC students as per internationally recognized standards and facilitated by the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.

Hannah Renaud, a fourth-year Environment and Sustainability student, took the course during the winter term and worked with two businesses, and then worked with five businesses over the summer.

“I’ve experienced new found confidence in working with business professionals. I’m still a student, so it’s hard to get in the realm of real-life work — it’s nice to still have the student hat on but also be a business professional.”

UNBC’s Carbon and Energy Management course provides the skills needed to do the analyses and the businesses provide the real-life data for the students to work with. Students customize each businesses’ analyses and include sector comparisons, recommendations to reduce operational expenses, and information on becoming carbon neutral. The Chamber continues to expedite the process, expand the project and support all participants.

The Chamber recognized the continued success of the program by dedicating four trees at Duchess Community Park as part of the National Tree Celebration today (Wednesday); three dedicated to the three businesses that were carbon neutral this past year and one celebrating the future growth of the program.