With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/740454
SOURCES: VANCOUVER ECONOMIC COMMISSION, RENEWABLE CITY STRATEGY, BLOOMBERG, BC DISTILLED, FORTISBC, MODO 16 BCBUSINESS NOVEMBER 2016 A Chance of Clouds As Vancouver, and the world, move to a green economy, not all busi- nesses will see sunny days by Felicity Stone V ancouver is plan- ning to become the world's greenest city by 2020 and obtain 100 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2050. Meanwhile, California economist and business consultant Bill Roth sees 2017 as a turning point in the green economy—that's when the millennial gen- eration, which looks for buying solutions that save money, improve human health and are sourced responsibly, displaces the boomer generation as the largest economic group. From 2010 to 2013, green jobs and local food jobs in Vancouver increased 19 per cent, from 16,700 to 20,000, according to the Vancouver Economic Commission. Here's a look at what types of businesses are projected to be winners in the green economy over the next several years—and which ones stand to lose. MATRIX WINNERS CRAFT BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES Craft beer sales increased 39.6% in 2013 and are aver- aging 20% annual growth since 2006. B.C. has 34 craft distilleries with 10 more in the works. RESTAURANTS SERVING HEALTHIER FOOD North Vancouver-based A&W, which serves hormone-free and antibiotic-free meat and eggs from vegetar- ian chickens, reported same-store sales growth in 2015 of nearly 8%. GREEN ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS/ LABOURERS The number of jobs for architects and engineers is expected to grow 20- 30% between 2013 and 2020, slightly less for contractors. CAR SHARE SERVICES In Vancouver, Car2Go opened in June 2011 with 225 vehicles and 2,000 members, and grew to 578 vehicles and 44,000 members by January 2014, making it the largest of its kind in North America. Modo was founded in Vancouver in 1997, with 2 cars and 16 members; it now has 17,000 members and a fleet of 500 cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, hybrids and electrics. BIKE MAKERS AND SHOPS HUB reported at least 42 bike shops in the city of Vancouver alone in 2013. RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCERS AND INSTALLERS Installed solar power capacity is expected to grow on average 8.3% per year till 2035, followed by 5.7% for wind, 3.7% for geothermal, 2% for hydropower and 1.4% for renewables such as wood waste, landfill gas and agricultural byproducts. FOOD TRUCKS/ CARTS By 2013 Vancouver had 120 carts and 42 mobile trucks. FARMERS' MARKETS Vancouver ven- dor sales grew 13%, from $6.3 million in 2012 to $7.1 million in 2013. ELECTRIC VEHICLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT B.C. is home to the 2nd- largest fuel cell cluster in the world, with 70% of global research and devel- opment spending occurring in the province. The City of Vancouver is trialling over 70 public charging stations.