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I will comment on the second barrier -“Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is Not People’s Top Priority – Solar Colwood”. I made a comment along these lines in a previous thread. Living in a southern coastal community, I am not surprised by this for two main reasons: first, we have a climate moderating impact from the ocean and thus do not need our houses to insulate us from extreme cold or heat. Secondly, this same region also has a significant proportion of the most expensive real estate and high cost of living in the province, so if someone is looking at energy refits, building with new efficiency or renewable energy, there is less financial incentive, or the pay-back period is longer with the moderating climate.
I almost wonder if the only way that this can be overcome in this region is to work to make these sort of actions become social norms, using incentive programs, educated planners and & building inspectors, cheaper assessment tools, local government incentives. A lot of this is being done, but I have to admit that keeping track of what program(s) is available and what has ended or not available in this region can be onerous.