June 2022 View in Browser Hi friend,
Welcome to the June edition of HPSC Monthly. This month, we bring you these top stories and more:
Featured News
HPCN Membership Required for Heat Pump Rebates
Beginning July 1, 2022, customers who want to apply for a heat pump rebate under the Home Renovation Rebate and CleanBC Better Homes program will need to have the work completed by a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member.
For more information on the requirement, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit our HPCN Guide.
We are experiencing a high volume of HPCN registrations in the lead-up to this deadline and appreciate your patience as we follow-up with each applicant. If you have questions about the status of your application, contact the HPSC at hpcn@homeperformance.ca or 604-755-3469. HPSC & Program Updates
Introducing our new Coordinator, Braidey Sturgeon. She will be assisting with Home Performance Contractor Network registrations and operations.
With her experience as a small business owner, we are pleased to have Braidey's administrative and customer service expertise on the team. A special thank you to everyone who completed last month's survey on Industry Motivations for Whole-Home Retrofits. If you entered to win a Tim Hortons gift card upon completing the survey, check your email inboxes and spam folders to see if you were randomly selected for a prize. Industry News
Help Wanted in the Capital Regional District
The Capital Regional District (CRD) is getting set to launch a region-wide Residential Energy Retrofit Program, to provide single-family homeowners with retrofit support services to help navigate the retrofit process from start to finish and address some of the challenges that both homeowners and contractors face when it comes to retrofitting homes. A trained energy specialist will work with homeowners to identify retrofit measures, plan short and long-term upgrades, access financing and incentives, select between quotes, and have work completed.
The CRD is well aware that this program’s success will hinge on the ability to attract the attention and support of the local contractor industry. They want to hear from you on the next stage of this program’s development! The CRD will be reaching out directly to regional contractors, distributors, and energy advisors throughout the summer to refine the program and ensure they address the challenges homeowners and industry face in scaling up retrofits in the CRD, with the intent to launch the program this fall. They invite you to get involved in this process: provide your contact information here or contact Matt Greeno at mgreeno@crd.bc.ca. Green Retrofit Economy Study
HPSC Board Member, Akua Schatz, contributed to a new report by the Canadian Green Building Council and the Delphi Group, Green Retrofit Economy Study, which profiles key pathways that will equip the green building ecosystem with insights into the workforce and supply chain needs across Canada’s retrofit economy.
The report anticipates that Canada will see a shortage of skilled workers in the near term, even without an increase in retrofit projects. These include carpenters, HVAC trades, plasterers and drywall installers, and mechanical engineers and technicians. Enhancing expertise and knowledge across the retrofit spectrum, including among decision-makers, designers, financing experts and consultants, will help to address the complexity and capital constraints associated with retrofit investments.
Investments in a robust, accessible, and an affordable supply chain are also needed to drive innovation and secure access to the products and services needed to complete green retrofits at scale. The report identified more than 25 technologies and products that are directly relevant to low-carbon retrofits, including building automation systems, heat pumps, heat and energy recovery systems, wall recladding systems, thermal bridging technology and integrated photovoltaics.
Read the full report here. Training & Events
Ventilation: Is it enough today? Webinar | June 16 9am PST | FREE
Join Nick Agopian of Mitsubishi for this free webinar hosted by HRAI. The session will focus on the indoor built environment and the important role ventilation plays in indoor air quality. Plus, it will explore how the costs of heating and ventilation can be managed with energy recovery ventilation. 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. High Performance Building Workshops Abbotsford | June 22, July 26, Aug 24, and Sep 14 | $150-$500
The City of Abbotsford is hosting a series of in-person high performance building workshops focused on building envelope practices, applicable to both retrofits and new construction. Sign-up for all four sessions or choose individual dates. Presented by Hamid Heidarali of Hamid Design Build in partnership with the Canadian Homebuilders Association of BC Fraser Valley, FortisBC, and the HPSC. 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. |