Vancouver, B.C. — More homes in B.C. are embarking on climate and energy efficiency upgrades. During its first year of operation, the BC Retrofit Accelerator (BCRA) saw over 700 large buildings enroll in the program.
The 700 buildings comprise over 48,000 homes in apartments and condos, as well as 960,000 sq. m. of commercial real estate.
“Building owners planning system renewals and upgrades are increasingly grappling with the impacts of extreme weather, from heat waves to wildfire smoke, which are becoming more frequent and severe,” said Melina Scholefield, executive director of the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC).
Buildings are responsible for 25 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Metro Vancouver and eight per cent province-wide. Launched last year by the ZEIC, the $20 million BRCA program offers hands-on guidance to owners and managers of larger commercial and residential properties on adopting energy-efficient technologies, such as heat pumps, electric water heating, and advanced heat recovery and ventilation systems.
The program will also provide expert coaching for all stages of a retrofit project, including identifying technology and financing options, as well as support throughout procurement and implementation.
The BRCA has a three-year mandate, which aims to deliver 500 decarbonization plans and support deep energy retrofits at 127 properties across B.C.
“In New Westminster, we’ve seen first-hand how this kind of support can empower strata councils and building managers to move forward with the retrofits our communities need,” said Sarah Maleska, community energy and emissions specialist of the city of New Westminster.