5 Electrical Industry Members Among Canada’s Greenest Employers

May 7, 2017

Canada’s Greenest Employers, now in its 10th year, recognizes employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organizations.

These employers have developed exceptional earth-friendly initiatives, and are attracting people to their organizations because of their environmental leadership. Among this years honourees are five members of Canada’s electrical industry.

This award grew out of two remarkable speeches given by Al Gore and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at annual conferences for the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project in 2006 and 2007. Each employer is evaluated by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers in terms of (1) the unique environmental initiatives and programs they have developed; (2) the extent to which they have been successful in reducing the organization’s own environmental footprint; (3) the degree to which their employees are involved in these programs and whether they contribute any unique skills; and (4) the extent to which these initiatives have become linked to the employer’s public identity and whether they attract new people to the organization. Here’s who won this year.

Alectra Inc. (formerly PowerStream, Inc.)

• PowerStream has achieved a 77% waste diversion rate at its head office. Employees even recycle old milk bags and volunteer to collect and crochet the collected “waste” into sleeping mats to donate to people in need in tropical regions

• In addition to partnering with Smart Commute, PowerStream manages a unique employee vanpool program with 10 company-owned vans that are maintained and operated by employees. Over 70 employees use this service daily

• PowerStream’s head office was certified LEED Gold in 2008 and features a wind turbine, 9 solar panels, a drainage pond to collect water for landscape watering on the grounds, and solar carport with dual electric vehicle charging stations. The organization recently unveiled a Level 3 charger unit for electric vehicles, which can charge a vehicle 10 times faster than a standard level 2 system

BC Hydro

• BC Hydro has taken a leading role in energy conversation in the province through its longstanding Power Smart program, and works closely with industry, business and residential customers. The public utility also encourages employees to play a critical role as ambassadors for energy conservation at home, with friends and in the broader community

• In addition to longstanding support of Bike to Work Week, BC Hydro and its employees operate a unique “Bike Buddy Network” to help connect employees who regularly bike to work and provide resources for employees who are new to bicycle commuting. Employees can also participate in the organization’s carpool initiative and are encouraged to take transit to meetings through a reimbursement program

• BC Hydro supports approximately 75 employee “green leaders” who represent 39 locations across the province. Each year, Green Leaders participate in leadership training and meet to discuss green strategies for the upcoming year

Manitoba Hydro

• Manitoba Hydro supports a Green Commuting Options Committee that recently established a “cycle buddies” program to pair seasoned bicycle commuters to those wishing to make the move to two-wheeled commuting. The program also encourages employees to participate in an annual Commuter Challenge every June

• Over 99% of the electricity the utility produces comes from self-renewing water power generated at 14 hydro-electric facilities along the Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Nelson rivers. The utility has also added geothermal and wind power to its renewable portfolio

• Manitoba Hydro’s head office building is a state-of-the-art “climatically responsive” office tower equipped with two weather stations that measure ongoing climatic conditions, and over 10,000 sensor points that audit energy levels on a daily basis and assist in minimizing the building’s energy consumption. The building also makes use of a number of technologies including automated solar shading and geothermal heating and cooling systems. The LEED Platinum certified building is the first office tower in Canada to achieve this level of certification

Siemens Canada Limited

• As part of a global organization, Siemens Canada’s focus on long-term sustainability is expressed through its “Principles Environmental Protection, Health Management and Safety” (EHS) framework. The framework commits the company to ensuring it meets all local laws and regulations, but seeks to set its own standards with an understanding of the need to protect the environment and human health, and use natural resources sparingly

• Powered through the Bullfrog Power program, Siemens Canada’s head office features a number of energy saving initiatives including the installation of energy saving lighting (which resulted in a reduction of its power consumption by 40%), the use of LED signage, and the installation of building automation controls and lighting sensors where possible. The head office recently received LEED Gold Certification for commercial interiors

• Siemens Canada and its parent company are playing a central role in developing the technology of tomorrow. Examples include blades for large wind turbines (developed at the company’s facility in Tillsonburg, Ontario), the ongoing development of electric car technology, the manufacture of electric car charging stations, and the manufacture of large scale solar inverters used in solar panel farms around the world

Veridian Corporation

• The newest addition to Veridian’s head office building was constructed to meet the LEED Silver certification standard. The company also maintains a 400-panel solar installation that occupies 45,000 square feet of the building’s rooftop, generating enough power for approximately 20 average households

• Veridian encourages alternative transportation where possible, including participation in online Smart Commute carpool (with reserved parking for car-poolers), two electric vehicle charging stations, a transit subsidy program, bicycle parking, and a head office bike lending program

• Veridian offers employees interest-free loans to purchase energy-efficient appliances for their homes or energy efficient automobiles, electric bikes or scooters