A Week Promoting Energy Conservation & Community Awareness

From October 23 to 29, shoppers in Downtown New Westminster might get a chillier welcome than they’re used to at their local stores.

The customer service won’t have changed, but members of the Downtown New Westminster BIA will join 17 other business improvement areas (BIAs) in the province in turning down their thermostats for Turn Down the Heat Week.

As an initiative of Business Improvement Areas of British Columbia (BIABC) in partnership with FortisBC, the goal of Turn Down the Heat Week is to encourage businesses and their customers to don a sweater and save energy. Each BIA also has its participating members collect donations of warm clothing for a local charity—in the case of Downtown New Westminster BIA, businesses will be collecting items for the Lookout Society.

“Turn Down the Heat Week allows participating BIAs to change their own habits to save energy, but also to give back to their communities,” says Corry Hostetter, president of BCBIA. “Local business owners are connecting with those who live in their area every day, and are able to share their enthusiasm and knowledge about saving energy by making small changes like putting on a sweater. We’re very fortunate to have the support of FortisBC to create this grassroots conservation campaign across BC, in communities large and small.”

^^Above: photo from last year's collection

Shayne Williams, Executive Director for the Lookout Society says “As the weather gets colder we’re reminded that not everyone has the same luxury to simply turn up the thermostat to stay warm. We work to keep vulnerable people safe in New Westminster, and all across the Lower Mainland, by providing housing and health services. It is particularly important during the winter months to help keep people warm, safe and dry.”

^pictured above: Executive Director for the Lookout Society, Shayne Williams

“Turn Down the Heat Week shows a real commitment to saving energy and we're glad to be a part of it,” says Danielle Wensink, director, conservation and energy management, FortisBC. “We encourage all businesses to consider how they use energy every day for heating, water and even cooking and pledge to take at least one or two simple steps to save where it counts the most for their operation.”

Turn Down the Heat Week is in its fourth year. Previously the campaign was held in February each year, but the decision was made to move it to October at the start of the cold season. “Fall is when most of us turn on the thermostat, so moving the campaign to October means we can help people set up good habits when the temperature first begins to drop,” says Hostetter.

^Above: photo by nielwenzel

What does this mean for you?

We're encouraging our residents to come down to participating local businesses and bring any items of warm clothing to donate and check out some of the ways that our members are saving energy.

Participating DT New West Businesses

Sweaters and warm clothing can be collected at those businesses starting on Sunday, October 23rd.

^Above: Gathered Roots Acupuncture collection in 2015

More information about Turn Down the Heat Week, including participating BIAs can be found at bia.bc.ca/turndowntheheatweek, via BIABC’s Facebook page or Twitter account, or by following the hashtag #turndowntheheatweek.