Making homes more comfortable, use less energy, and last longer: Northwest Energy Retrofit Forum provides information and hands-on learning opportunities
May 22, 2024
The housing crisis is usually associated with building more affordable new housing but communities can also do more to improve the homes they already have. Energy retrofits can significantly improve comfort, reduce energy consumption and the cost of heating and cooling, and even extend a home's lifespan.
The Northwest Energy Retrofit Forum in early June will be the largest event of its kind in the region, bringing together some of BC’s leading experts on building science, renovation and trades training to host discussions and hands-on training for contractors and trades, building officials, housing managers, and anyone else involved in the regional construction industry.
The event’s catalyst is the commitment of the Nisga’a Nation to retrofit most of their approximately 700 homes to make them longer-lasting, more comfortable, and less expensive to heat and cool. Building a Legacy North—a collaboration between the Community Energy Association and the Northern BC chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association—is responding by hosting two sessions in Terrace, BC in early June that will enhance the capacity for high-performance building across the entire region.
Northwest Energy Retrofit Forum
Deep Energy Retrofits at scale: opportunities, considerations, and challenges
June 4, 2024 - Terrace Sportsplex
Residential Enclosure Retrofits: A Hands-On Experience
June 5, 2024 - Terrace Sportsplex
“Housing is definitely an issue that has been plaguing First Nations communities for decades and I am excited that this Forum will practically show how we can make our homes better,” says Eric Nyce, Director of Capital, Housing and Facilities Operations for the Nisga’a Lisims Government.
“The experience and expertise of the people coming to this Retrofit Forum represent a living ‘how-to manual’ on how to effectively retrofit homes with energy in mind,” says Nyce.
Among the presenters will be Mark Bernhardt, incoming president of the BC chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association.
“Early in my career, I was told you couldn’t build high-performance homes but that was more than 10 years ago and we have built a business doing only high-performance homes. There's so much opportunity for better quality, healthy and resilient homes in all regions; having the ability to retrofit a large number at once will provide experience that will be highly valuable far beyond the local community,” says Bernhardt.
Community-based greenhouse gas emissions come primarily from operating motor vehicles and heating buildings. In BC, 11 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the existing building stock. Significant improvements in energy-efficiency and emissions can be gained by undertaking a deep energy retrofit, which often includes switching from fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable sources for heating and cooling.
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About the Program
Building a Legacy North was established three years ago to support high-performance, energy efficient, and low-carbon construction in both new and existing buildings in Northern BC. It offers information and training opportunities for rural, cold-climate communities in Northern BC on building science, Energy Step Code, Zero Carbon Step Code, and related topics. The initiative is a collaboration between the Community Energy Association and the Northern BC chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association.
Thank you to our partners
The Northwest Energy Retrofit Forum is supported by the Nisga'a Lisims Government, FortisBC, BC Hydro, Real Estate Foundation of BC, and the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
Contact
For all inquiries, please contact:
Gaëtane Carignan,
Community Energy Association
gcarignan@communityenergy.ca