According to a study by the Vancouver Economic Commission, a number of British Columbia’s fastest growing cities are requiring builders to use higher levels of high-efficiency building products under the BC Energy Step Code.
The BC Energy Step Code is recently introduced provincial regulation that allows communities to require builders to exceed the code’s minimum legal energy-efficient requirements.
As a result, the cities are helping drive a $3.3 billion new market for high-efficiency building products. The study says this is expected to create 925 manufacturing jobs in BC and 770 ongoing installation jobs.
“We’re seeing a real surge in exceptionally energy-efficient buildings and stable, well-paying jobs for people to manufacture, install, and service the materials and components that go into them,” said Luke Dolan, owner of Capital Home Energy and the B.C. director of the Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors.
According to a press release from the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, energy advisors work with builders to ensure their projects cost-effectively meet the requirements of the BC Energy Step Code.
“As more B.C. communities start requiring higher levels of energy efficiency in new construction, we’re expecting to see many more energy advisors, and other positions for people who have the skills to manufacture or install building products and technologies or are willing to learn them,” Dolan added.
Corey Diamond, executive director of Efficiency Canada says the BC Energy Step Code has set a new national bar for new building energy efficiency. “The province has proven out an innovative new model for transforming communities for a low-carbon future, and other provinces and territories can confidently follow in its footsteps.”
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing says the BC Energy Step Code is seeing significant uptake and support from industry, utilities, and all levels of government. The 24 communities that have to date adopted the regulation collectively represent more than 70 per cent of new residential construction activity in the province.
The province has set a goal that all new buildings must reach an exceptionally high level of energy efficiency performance by 2032.
Be the first to comment