Powertech Labs Inc.

Powertech Labs Inc. is one of the largest testing and research laboratories in North America, situated in British Columbia, Canada. Our 11-acre facility offers 15 different testing labs for a one-stop-shop approach to managing utility generation, transmission and distribution power systems. Powertech is home to a broad range of scientists, engineers, and technical specialists, with capabilities in electrical testing, cable condition assessment, mechanical and materials engineering, software development, power system studies, chemical analysis, gas systems engineering, and smart utility services.

Idea: Energy Usage Reduction Gamification 

Squamish has published goals to reduce community GHG emissions significantly by 2050. This project aims to combine the engaged community and their care for their environment by supplying technology and tools to support continuous evolution towards a smart community.

Gamification is a modern method for implementing smart communities. This is based on the idea that when empowered by technology to measure and monitor energy use, consumption and patterns, the community members will guide themselves continuously towards higher energy efficiency across a variety of community energy use scenarios.

This project will implement a number of technologies throughout the community in stages. The technology portfolio will first implement a connected community. Then it will implement smart energy technologies such as electric vehicle charge stations, residential/commercial/industrial energy saving devices and an appropriate management platform. Finally, a ‘competitive game’ will be hosted between community members in teams to define, monitor and measure energy use and energy usage reduction via the available technology across the District.