CANADA, 21 March – Six buildings will soon be renovated to make them safer, more energy efficient, and more resistant to extreme weather.
Six design teams were selected to create retrofit designs for six low to mid-rise social housing units in Kamloops and Coquitlam.
The Province, BC Housing and the City of Vancouver announced the next phase of the Reframed Lab initiative. It is a building retrofit program that was launched in June 2020.
The six design teams will exchange ideas on cutting carbon pollution (including technological solution such as heat pumps, heat recovery systems and low-carbon material), driving down energy consumption and improving climate-change resilience, and will also explore innovations in seismic upgrades.
Tenants of buildings will not have to move from their homes during renovations. Most of the work will be done on the buildings exteriors. Work is expected to begin in fall 2022.
The 2021 request for proposals process selected the design teams. They will then create solutions for their buildings with support from dozens more construction-sector partners. Below are the details of the design teams, their assigned buildings, and their locations:
- Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. Crossroads Inn, Kamloops, operated under ASK Wellness Society
- Evoke Buildings Engineering, Le Chateau, Coquitlam, operated MVHC
- Williams Engineering Canada: Crown Manor New Westminster, operated under MVHC
- Morrison Hershfield Manor House, North Vancouver, operated and maintained by MVHC
- Entuitive: Tikva Housing Society operates Dany Guincher Place in Vancouver
- Low Hammond Rowe architects: Medewiwin Victoria, operated and managed by Pacifica Housing
The Province will support the design and capital costs of the project with funding from the Capital Renewal Fund. This 10-year investment of $1.1-billion is dedicated to the preservation and improvement of B.C.’s 51,000 units.
The Provinces CleanBC Building Innovation Fund, (CBBIF), also provided $460,000 for this initiative. CBBIF Fund provided $9.65 Million to developers, builders, and researchers to help them demonstrate and market new low-carbon and energy efficient building technologies. Their goal is to make made-in-B.C. more affordable, accessible, and acceptable. Building technologies that can be scaled up in order to meet provincial climate targets, prepare for future building regulations, and drive economic development.
The City of Vancouver will provide technical and regulatory guidance to assist the work, which aligns with its climate and housing affordability goals. The cities of Victoria and Coquitlam, New Westminster as well as North Vancouver, North Vancouver, and New Westminster will also provide regulatory support to the projects in their respective communities.
Quotes:
David Eby is the Attorney General and Minister Responsible For Housing
These six projects are supported by cutting-edge technology. We will be using this model for deep energy upgrades. This includes retrofitting six B.C. social housing buildings. This will improve air quality, energy efficiency, and tenant comfort. It will also reduce operator expenses.
George Heyman Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
We collaborated with various agencies, organizations, and orders of government to support innovative ways to improve housing options. CleanBC is investing in better, greener social housing. This will reduce climate pollution and create new job opportunities in clean-buildings. It also improves resilience to ensure that people are better prepared for a changing climate.
Bruce Ralston, Minister Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
Supporting made-in-B.C. We were increasing the B.C.’s ability to innovate in the building sector. CleanBC goals are being met by the building industry, which will provide good, family-supporting employment. Our goals are to increase availability and affordability for made-in-B.C. Low-carbon building solutions that are easily scaleable to achieve provincial climate targets, and drive economic development.
Kennedy Stewart, Mayor, City of Vancouver
Reframed Lab and our partnership show that collaboration is key to tackling climate change. Affordable housing must be more resilient to extreme weather events like the heat dome, which brought record-breaking temperatures to B.C. Last year. We retrofitted multi-unit residential buildings around Vancouver and B.C. to improve occupant safety, comfort, and protect and improve our existing building stock.
Jill Atkey is the CEO of BC Non-Profit Housing Association
“The climate crisis is upon us and non-profit housing residents are the most vulnerable to its effects. The non-profit housing sector is also one of the largest energy users in B.C. We will be able to create a pathway forward for people to be protected and our footprint to reduce with the six projects we announced today.
Tom-Pierre Frapp-Snclauze, B.C. director, Pembina Institute
B.C. is thriving in the midst a climate emergency. With local know-how, products and expertise for the global renovation wave, B.C. is well placed to lead in this climate emergency. Deep retrofits are a smart way to reduce carbon pollution and energy bills. They also have the potential to provide health benefits, resilience against climate risks, and extended life for our vital housing infrastructure.
Quick facts:
- The Reframed Lab is designed to explore the technical feasibility and economic viability ofrenovations which integrate energy efficiency, climate adaptation, and seismic safety.
- Retrofit projects aim at reducing annual energy demand by more then 50% and carbon emissions to an average of 80%.
- Envelope upgrades can reduce thermal heat loss, drafts and moisture, as well as improve indoor air quality and reduce utility costs.
- Fuel-switching strategies can be integrated with envelope improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase heating-system efficiency.
- To reduce costs, we will incorporate seismic resilience as necessary and optimize the envelope work.
- Climate adaptation measures are designed to improve indoor air quality and protect residents from heat waves, floods, and forest fires.
- These buildings have a total of 189 units and range in size between 11 and 50 units.
Learn More
For more information about the Reframed Lab, please visit: https://reframedinitiative.org/lab/
Visit: to learn more about the Province’s efforts to address the housing crisis and provide affordable homes for British Columbians. https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/
For more information about the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 visit: www.cleanbc.ca
Visit:https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/clean-buildings
