Tell Summerland Council to support a more ambitious Zero Carbon Step Code

The Summerland Council needs our support to pass a more ambitious climate-safe buildings policy.

If approved, the Zero Carbon Step Code will ensure that new buildings are constructed to run on clean electricity instead of polluting methane gas – tackling one of the biggest sources of climate pollution in cities. But predictably, Fortis reps are showing up in communities across B.C., fighting tooth and nail to block this policy and keep hooking up gas lines to new homes. Council needs to hear from as many people as possible before the vote calling on them to pass a more ambitious policy without delay.

Emissions from homes are the third-largest source of carbon pollution in B.C. – approximately 12% of climate pollution – and indoor gas appliances also hurt our health, so switching from fracked gas to clean electricity should be an obvious step. Already over 30 communities from Nelson to Rossland have taken the lead by passing low carbon construction policies – it’s time for Summerland to join them.

Will you send an email to the Summerland Mayor and Council now telling them you support a more ambitious Zero Carbon Step Code?

Email Summerland's Mayor and Council now

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Your letter is more effective when it's been personalized by you. The most impactful letters include details about your life, why you care personally, or how you'll be impacted by this decision.

Mayor

Doug

Holmes

Summerland

Councillor

Erin

Trainer

Summerland

Councillor

Martin

Van Alphen

Summerland

Councillor

Richard

Barkwill

Summerland

Councillor

Adrienne

Betts

Summerland

Councillor

Doug

Patan

Summerland

Councillor

Janet

Peake

Summerland

Dear {contact_data~title} {contact_data~lastName},

I am urging you to go further than the current options in the staff report by adopting Emissions Level 2 sooner than February 2026, and reaching the highest standard, Emissions Level 4, before the end of 2026.

As a Summerland resident, I want to see our community take meaningful action to build affordable homes and buildings for a climate-safe future. I also want to see us keep pace with other forward-looking communities that are already requiring low-carbon construction – nearly half of British Columbians now live in places with these policies. It’s time for Summerland to join them. Accelerating the Zero Carbon Step Code is one of the most cost-effective and practical steps Summerland can take to meet our climate commitments while helping residents save on energy bills.

Local builders are already showing this is realistic: in 2024, nearly 70 percent of new homes met EL-2 or higher. Waiting will only saddle future homeowners with costly and cumbersome retrofits down the road to upgrade from gas to electric heating and hot water. It would also leave us behind places like Nelson, Rossland, and over 30 other B.C. communities. Even our own municipal utility has confirmed it can support this shift.

Passing a strong Zero Carbon Step Code will protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable residents. Not only do we already have the affordable technology to heat our homes with electric heat pumps instead of gas furnaces and boilers, but heat pumps will save lives during future heat domes by providing cooling too.

I urge you to direct staff to update the Building Bylaw to require EL-2 as soon as possible, and set a timeline to reach EL-4 by the end of 2026, joining over two dozen other communities across the province. By acting now, we can build safer, more comfortable, future-ready homes and show real leadership among B.C. communities.

Thank you,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}, {user_data~Zip or Postal Code}

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