Northwest Region Continues Building Capacity for Improving Existing Homes
April 3, 2025
Shawn Wiebe of Holistic Building Performance, a registered Energy Advisor and certified Passive House consultant with 20 years of experience as a general contractor, will be one of the instructors for the upcoming training session in Terrace.
A unique collaboration of First Nations, local governments, educators, contractors, and the Community Energy Association (CEA) is leading to more training aimed at boosting regional capacity and confidence to upgrade existing homes.
The four-day Hands-On Envelope Retrofit Training course being delivered in Terrace next week is the latest in a series of local training and information-sharing events. Presented by the BCIT Zero Energy/Emissions Buildings Learning Centre, the Nisga’a Nation, and CEA, hosted by K5T, the course will help housing maintenance professionals, tradespeople, apprentices and contractors master the skills and knowledge needed to perform energy-efficient housing retrofits that meet local needs and challenges. The two instructors have nearly 50 years of carpentry experience between them.
“A building envelope comprises the walls, roof, windows, doors, and foundation – all the components that separate the indoors from the outdoors,” says CEA facilitator, Gaëtane Carignan. “Eliminating drafts and boosting the insulation in existing homes is a big part of making them more comfortable, energy-efficient, and affordable to heat and cool.”
The 40-seat course is sold out, indicating a high level of interest in the topic in communities throughout northwestern BC.
The training is part of an ongoing series that started with the Northwest Energy Retrofit Forum last June. This was followed by training that explored how houses work as a system, and a workshop in late 2024 that identified factors that affect the true costs of retrofits in various communities around the region. Proposed future courses will examine different mechanical systems, such as heat pumps, and their operation in northern communities.
Thank you to our partners
Community Energy Association supports this event through the Building A Legacy North initiative, which is a collaboration with the Northern BC chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association. Core funding is provided by BC Hydro.
Note for media
Media are welcome to attend an open house on Thursday, April 10, that will feature a summary of the coursework and a facilitated discussion led by the course instructors.
The open house will start at 10 a.m. at the K5T (Kitselas Five Tier System LP) facility at 4404 Queensway Drive, Terrace, BC.
