May 2022 View in Browser Hi friend,
Welcome to the May edition of HPSC Monthly. This month, we bring you these top stories and more:
Featured News
Last chance - survey closes Wednesday!
Share your thoughts and enter to win 1 of 10 Tim Hortons gift cards.
Help industry decision-makers understand what is important to you and your residential retrofit career or business. Complete a brief survey to share why you participate in whole-home energy retrofits ─ or, why you don’t.
Who Should Take the Survey? Owners or employees of residential retrofit businesses (e.g., renovation, HVAC, insulation, windows and doors, or energy advising) operating in British Columbia, Canada, including contractors/installers, suppliers/distributers, or manufacturers.
About the Survey The survey will take approximately 7 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept anonymous. The survey is open until Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at noon (12:00pm). Upon completing the survey, you will have the opportunity to provide your email address for the chance to win 1 of 10 Tim Hortons gift cards. You are not required to provide your email address to participate in the survey. HPSC & Program Updates
Heat Pump Rebate Program Changes Coming This Fall
The Home Renovation Rebate and CleanBC Better Homes programs will be making program updates to heat pump requirements on October 1, 2022. These updates are being implemented to help ensure that homeowners are installing the best energy efficient models in their home and to help align with the Greener Homes program.
The following program updates for ductless and ducted heat pumps will come into effect on October 1, 2022:
Ductless mini-split heat pump requirements All ductless mini-split heat pumps must:
Ductless multi-split heat pump requirements All ductless multi-split heat pumps must:
Central ducted heat pump requirements All central ducted heat pump systems must:
Dual fuel ducted heat pump requirements All dual fuel ducted heat pump systems must:
Reach out to program representatives if you have any questions or comments about the new requirements effective October 1, 2022:
BC Hydro: alliance@bchydro.com FortisBC: homerebates@fortisbc.com Province of BC: betterhomesBC@gov.bc.ca Thank you to those that were able to join this year's virtual Contractors' Forum. Your comments and engagement were greatly appreciated.
Missed out? View the event recording, slides, links, and Q&A transcript here. Industry News
FortisBC Continues to Increase its Supply of Renewable Natural Gas
FortisBC is working toward their goal of reducing their customers’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in support of the province’s CleanBC Roadmap to 2030. One of the ways is by offering their customers the option to sign up for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)* – a carbon-neutral energy source that is made from naturally decomposing organic waste – as part, or all, of their gas service.
RNG blends seamlessly with conventional natural gas. FortisBC gas customers do not have to change any of their equipment to take advantage of RNG and lower emissions. Plus, RNG is affordable. There is an RNG blend to suit every customer’s budget.
FortisBC is currently on pace to exceed its target of having 15 per cent of its gas supply being renewable and low carbon by 2030 and is working towards having about 75 per cent of its supply be renewable or low carbon by 2050.
Learn more at fortisbc.com/whatisrng
*Renewable Natural Gas is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create carbon neutral Renewable Natural Gas (also called biomethane). Recruitment Resources
Struggling to find qualified labour for your retrofit business? We put together a list of free - or inexpensive - resources that might help.
Online Job Posting Sites and Resources
In-Person Job Fairs
Found an effective resource for recruiting? Let us know so we can spread the word to others in the industry.
Training & Events
Check out the new BC Green Building Calendar, a resource to find all of the latest events and training related to green building subject matter, including: emissions, energy efficiency, resiliency, high-performance design, and more. Gas Heat Pump Workshop for North American Contractors & Engineers Online | May 25, 9:30am-1:00PM | FREE
Workshop attendees will learn about the commercialization status of 16 GHP manufacturers, how GHPs work, and market opportunities for gas heat pumps. Industry experts will review the features and benefits of GHPs available for commercial and light industrial customers. Additional speakers will discuss installation, maintenance, and design considerations, as well as reducing emissions while saving money with GHPs. Attendees will earn 3.5 Professional Development Hours (PDH). Online or In-Person, Toronto | June 23-34 | $355+
Aligned with Canada’s 2050 net-zero emissions goal, the plan to retrofit more homes has been accelerated and a program to help owners manage the disruptive deep retrofit process while reducing costs by bundling similar retrofits across homes is very much needed. The second annual Retrofit Canada Conference will focus on:
Online | On Demand | Free | Available to HPCN registrants/members only This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of air sealing for Part 9 (single family detached and attached) residential building retrofit contractors. The goal of this course is to inform contractors working in retrofit rebate programs of both the recommendations and best practices for air sealing to enhance consumer satisfaction and comfort, maximize energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions, and improve home durability. Register with the HPCN to access the course: homeperformance.ca/contractornetwork TECA Principles of Moving Air This course will benefit those working in the New, Retrofit or Repair portions of the industry. It was developed to give those who are designing or installing duct systems the ability to create quiet, efficient systems which deliver the required volumes while using the least fan energy. Today, furnaces, heat pumps and ventilation systems require larger volumes of air to be moved. Duct fitting shape, the number of fittings, air filters, coils all contribute to reduced flow in ductwork.
The course is intended to help participants perform accurate and code-compliant heat loss and heat gain calculations. The BC Building Code calls for CSA F280-12 for calculation of heat loss and heat gain, for Part 9 buildings. The TECA Heat Loss / Gain software has been designed to give users an accurate and simple way to calculate heating and cooling loads by the CSA F280-12 calculation methods. HRAI Residential Heat Loss & Heat Gain Calculations Based on the CSA Standard F280-12, students get a firsthand introduction of the basic principles of building science and heat loss/gain. Through various in-class exercises, the student will learn how to determine the thermal resistance (R value) of various building assemblies, such as walls and ceilings. Accurately, calculate room by room heat loss and gain while considering the influences of occupancy, exposure, ventilation, air leakage across the building envelope and more.
Through this online course, participants are introduced to the basic principles of residential ventilation. The course starts by defining the concepts known as “House as a System”; the flow of air, heat and water and how these impact natural ventilation (i.e., air leakage). The course includes a description of the theory of mechanical airflow including air pressure, duct resistance and fan ratings. A review of the impact on combustion appliances, humidity levels and indoor air quality is also provided. Quality Installation of Insulation Retrofits in BC Homes This course covers best practices for the quality installation of insulation in residential retrofit applications specific to single-family homes in British Columbia. Supported by the Province of BC, BC Hydro and FortisBC, this course is part of HPCN training requirements that will become mandatory for select rebate programs in 2022. Quality Installation of Forced Air Furnace and Air Source Heat Pump Retrofits in BC Homes This course covers best practices for the quality installation of furnaces and air-source heat pumps in residential retrofit applications specific to single-family homes in British Columbia. Supported by the Province of BC, BC Hydro and FortisBC, this course is part of HPCN training requirements that will become mandatory for select rebate programs in 2022. 2021 Revised - Best Practice Guide for Replacement Window and Doors It specifically addresses the unique challenges presented by BC’s coastal climate, which has inspired advancements in building envelope technology that have been adopted around the world. CHBA BC Renovation Fundamentals Online | On-Demand | $349 The goal of this course is to provide renovators like you with an introduction to the basic knowledge needed to perform your job as a business owner or manager. By completing this course you'll gain a foundational understanding of the best practices for running a professional and successful renovation business in Canada. Note: there is a final exam at the end of the online course. Course topics include:
Become a Program-Qualified Energy Advisor This list of training and events is compiled for your information. The HPSC is not affiliated with any of the third party organizations providing training or hosting events. This communication is being sent to individuals who have consented to receiving periodic industry updates and information from the Home Performance Stakeholder Council. Click here to unsubscribe from future Home Performance Stakeholder Council marketing emails. We promise not to take it personally. |