BC Retrofit Accelerator Launches to Kick-Start Energy Upgrades and Climate Action in BC Buildings

September 18, 2024

The BC Retrofit Accelerator will assist owners and managers of commercial and residential properties—including strata councils—to make energy and climate upgrades, benefiting owners and tenants

Today the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) launched the BC Retrofit Accelerator (BCRA), a three-year $20 million program aimed at kick-starting climate and energy upgrades across hundreds of the province’s commercial and residential buildings.

With funding from Natural Resources Canada, the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, Metro Vancouver, ZEIC, and others contributors, the BCRA will provide hands-on guidance to the owners and managers of larger commercial and residential properties—including strata-owned, rental, non-market, and off-reserve Indigenous housing.

The Big Idea: Decarbonization Plans for 500 Large Buildings and 125 Deep Energy Retrofits

Over the next three years, the BCRA aims to deliver decarbonization plans for 500 large existing buildings, each showing a path to zero emissions by 2050 aligned with major capital renewals. The program will provide expert coaching for all stages of a retrofit project: such as identifying technology and financing options and support through procurement and implementation. By navigating building owners and managers through the upgrade process, the BCRA aims to spark deep energy retrofits—including the installation of heat pumps or distributed renewable energy systems—in 125 larger properties across the province.

Tackling Barriers Head On by Supporting Building Owners and Managers—Including Strata Councils

Many property owners and managers, including strata councils, want to upgrade and decarbonize their buildings by transitioning to all-electric heating, cooling, ventilation, or water heating. But they grapple with a range of barriers, including low awareness, complexity, and challenges in sourcing financing. This comes at a time where the need for cooling has become a priority due to intensifying heat waves and degraded air quality.

Accelerating a Retrofit Market Transformation

ZEIC’s BC Retrofit Accelerator is teaming up with 15 public, private, and non-profit partners to target and lower those barriers. The BCRA will work to lower barriers to efficient, resilient, and low- and zero-carbon existing buildings while helping grow the industry’s capacity to deliver them. It will also support the development of a capable workforce and advance data and research.

The BCRA support aligns and connects with BC Hydro programs, such as the recently launched MURB Retrofit Program in partnership with the Province, Solar & Battery Program, and other offers to support multi-family buildings.

By supporting deep energy retrofits in buildings, the BCRA will support progress on local, regional, and provincial climate targets.

Visit zeic.ca/retrofitaccelerator for more information or to enrol.

Quotes

Funding Partners:

“Energy efficiency means cost savings for Canadians across the country. At a time when we are facing challenges with affordability and climate change, the Canada Green Buildings Strategy meets Canadians where they are at and delivers the action they need, at the pace and scale they are demanding. Canada’s first-ever Green Buildings Strategy is a plan to save people money on home energy bills, create jobs and seize the economic opportunities that a clean and sustainable economy presents—and ZEIC’s BC Retrofit Accelerator is a project that does just that.”
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Government of Canada
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“The BC Retrofit Accelerator program supports important work to renovate buildings and create cleaner, healthier, safer spaces. We’re already seeing leaders across Metro Vancouver take action to retrofit buildings — providing economic benefits while reducing climate pollution and protecting residents. We are pleased to support the BCRA to accelerate this shift and support the region’s climate goals.”
Mike Hurley, Chair, Metro Vancouver Board of Directors
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“The climate is changing, and the buildings that we live, work, and play in need to change too. By timing cost-effective energy and climate upgrades with regular building renewals, property owners and managers can deliver healthier, more comfortable homes and workplaces while advancing climate action. It just makes sense. We’re thrilled to launch the BC Retrofit Accelerator to provide hands-on guidance to those who own, manage, and oversee BC’s larger buildings.”
Melina Scholefield, Executive Director, Zero Emissions Innovation Centre
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Service Delivery Partners:

“The launch of the BC Retrofit Accelerator marks a pivotal moment for the non-profit housing sector in British Columbia. We are thrilled to work with the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre to support non-profit housing providers as they implement deep energy retrofits, increase their energy efficiency, create more climate-resilient buildings, and enhance the comfort and safety of their residents.”
Jill Atkey, CEO, BC Non-Profit Housing Association
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“The Building Owners and Managers Association of BC (BOMA) is pleased to announce the launch of our Decarb Accelerator Program as part of the BC Retrofit Accelerator, in collaboration with the Zero Emission Innovation Centre (ZEIC). This program provides meaningful support for commercial building owners and managers to identify and substantially reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions. The collective efforts of this collaboration with ZEIC substantially expands BOMA’s reach and resources to more effectively impact our industry and reduces its carbon emissions.”
Damian Stathonikos, President, Building Owners and Managers Association of British Columbia
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“The Condominium Home Owners Association of BC is excited to be a part of the BC Retrofit Accelerator working closely with Zero Emissions Innovation Centre to support stratas. Energy upgrades, reducing emissions, and cutting operating costs are priorities for all property owners. By providing coaching support for strata corporations, we will walk owners through major retrofits during major building renewals processes. This will include implementing building energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements, which will help reduce GHG emissions.”
Tony Gioventu, Executive Director, Condominium Home Owners Association of BC
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“LandlordBC, the acknowledged voice for private sector rental housing providers in BC, is pleased to collaborate with the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) as part of the BC Retrofit Accelerator to expand our suite of decarbonization planning support services to accelerate the retrofit and decarbonization of rental buildings. Deep energy retrofits will enable more climate-resilient rental buildings while protecting our residents against intensifying climate impacts and we applaud ZEIC for its leadership.”
David Hutniak, CEO, LandlordBC
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Metro Vancouver Green Economy Booming at 185,000 Jobs

Address:

ZEIC is a member of the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) network: