ZEBx

Reducing embodied carbon and advancing the circular economy are increasingly important efforts in the sustainability realm - but how do they relate to each other in practice?  

Decarbonizing buildings in colder climates presents unique challenges and opportunities. Ground-source heat pumps (i.e., geo-exchange) and cold-climate air-source heat pumps are emerging as critical solutions to reduce emissions, while maintaining performance in cold climates. 

Deep energy retrofits are a critical piece of achieving our carbon pollution reduction targets and improving the comfort of homes and workplaces. Programs offered as part of the BC Retrofit Accelerator provide guidance to building owners to identify and plan for retrofit projects to significantly reduce building emissions, including commercial and multi-unit residential strata, rental, non-market, and off-reserve Indigenous housing.

There is currently a growing trend in the construction industry to specify materials with low embodied carbon emissions to help decarbonize the building sector and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Buildings, and the energy they use, account for 18% of Canada's GHG emissions. Electrification is currently the most viable pathway to significantly reduce GHG emissions from existing buildings in BC. But the process of electrifying existing buildings is anything but straightforward, and the supply of consultants that can undertake such projects is already lagging behind demand.  

Are you interested in projects that demonstrate feasible ways to reduce embodied carbon?

Our next Decarb Lunch features the Passive House certified Marpole Community Centre, which served as a pilot project to test the City of Vancouver Embodied Carbon Guidelines.

We all know that deep retrofits of detached homes are rare. They are also essential in decarbonizing the built environment.  

Building a strong business case for decarbonizing a commercial property requires a solid grasp of project costs, decarbonization strategies and cost recovery opportunities. In BC, where we have a very low-carbon electrical supply, a strong business case for serious emissions reductions depends on the right balance between electrification and energy conservation measures.  

Come out to ZEBx's second Decarb Lunch webinar of the month where we’ll be talking to the founder of Vernon-based non-profit HomeZero Collective and their Clean Energy Neighbourhoods pilot project. This initiative aims to make home retrofits faster, easier, and more affordable for neighbourhoods across the City of Vernon, BC and share lessons from their experience far beyond its borders.

The upcoming Passive House Canada conference will be held at the University of Victoria's new, Passive House-certified student housing and dining complex consisting of the Cheko’nien House and Sngequ House.