City gets grant funding for energy-efficient construction
By City of Castlegar
The City of Castlegar received $46,000 from FortisBC’s BuiltBetter Communities Program to help the local building community get a head start in preparing for the implementation of the BC Energy Step Code.
The BC Energy Step Code is a voluntary performance-based standard introduced by the Province of B.C. which will change the way we build and support more energy-efficient construction, saving home and business owners money and reducing energy consumption. The City committed to adopting Step 1 of the BC Energy Step Code by December 2020 which will require modeling of energy performance and airtightness to ensure that buildings will meet or exceed the minimum energy-efficiency requirements in the base B.C. Building Code. It is anticipated that the Building Code will require new construction to be net-zero ready by 2032.
The FortisBC funding will be used to educate and train local builders, contractors, architects, realtors and others involved in the construction industry. “The marketplace recognizes the affordable and reliable energy services delivered by FortisBC and the preference for using natural gas in buildings,” says Bea Bains, Manager Energy Products & Services at FortisBC. “As such, the company is uniquely positioned to help our customers reduce their energy use in buildings by partnering with communities such as the City of Castlegar in a cost-effective and market-driven manner”.
“The City of Castlegar is currently developing a 100% Renewable Energy by 2050 Plan and this funding helps ensure our development community is ready for more energy-efficient construction before it is mandated by the Province,” says Meeri Durand, Manager of Planning, Development and Sustainability. “This work supports the City’s Official Community Plan and commitment to innovation in energy efficiency.”
City of Castlegar will collaborate with regional partners to provide builder breakfasts, workshops and on-site demonstrations over the next year. All events will be held virtually or in a manner that supports COVID-19 public health requirements. The first event will be:
In-Person Builders Breakfast
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 8-9 a.m.
Co-hosted with the Community Energy Association
Pre-registration is required at castlegarconnects.ca/bc-energy-step-code to meet public health requirements. Sign up to receive notifications of upcoming events here.
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