ZEIC Board Adds Former BC Hydro CEO Bob Elton and Climate Expert Deborah Harford
June 17, 2025
BC and Denmark Join Forces to Explore the Future of Thermal Energy Networks
June 25, 2025
We’re proud to share Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC)’s first-ever impact report, a milestone that reflects our upward journey since launching programming in early 2022.
Since inception, ZEIC has been on a journey to accelerate climate action through collaboration and innovation with an equity focus. What began as a bold vision to drive urban decarbonization in Metro Vancouver has grown into a dynamic hub of collaborations that:
Over the past three years, we’ve worked alongside communities, governments, and industry to turn ambition into action—scaling solutions, building momentum, and laying the groundwork for lasting systems change.
“As someone who manages a team working full time on green buildings, the ZEIC family has been helpful in many ways, but the most important might be providing concrete examples of what is possible and how it is achieved. I like to refer project team members and owners to case studies whenever they say something is too hard or can't be done.”
—Jason Packer, Recollective Consulting
IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
ZEIC powers nine programs and initiatives, deploying a range of tools to turn bold climate goals into tangible action. These highlights offer a window into our larger impact up to December 2024, as captured in the full report.
1. Events Sparking Climate Innovation
- Embodied Carbon Awards: Celebrating pioneers reducing construction emissions
- Thermal Energy Networks NY + BC: Cross-border exchange on transforming energy systems
- Women4Climate: 20+ learning events to empower climate action leadership
2. Supporting Scalable Climate Solutions with Lasting Benefits
Since 2022:
- Funded 112 grants
- Dispersed $2.1M toward impactful projects
- Leveraged $1.5M in co-funding for grant projects
3. Developing tools to inform low-carbon building decisions
- Commercial Building Electrification Guide: A future‑proof roadmap for commercial building
- Low Carbon Material Sourcing Guide: Practical toolkit for climate-smart building materials
- BC Green Building Calendar: B.C.’s go-to hub for low-carbon building events and industry training
4. Our Followers
More than 12,000 people—from industry, government, nonprofits, and beyond—have engaged in our capacity-building, research, and convening activities.
Our Impact Report offers a snapshot of our early momentum, and a call to work together on change that no single organization can achieve alone.
