The ZEBx Podcast ZEBx: The Zero Emissions Building Exchange

Season 2, Episode 9
Recorded on Dec 1, 2022
In October 2022, ZEBx released the sixth case study from the CleanBC Net-Zero Energy-Ready Challenge Winners series. Funded by CleanBC and managed by Integral Group, the program showcases ten exemplary buildings that aim for the highest levels of the BC Energy Step Code and beyond. But the OSO development isn’t just highly energy-efficient – it’s also climate-friendly and climate-resilient. Although the building ticks all the boxes, what we think is most special about this development is that the developer/builder, Vidorra Developments, has figured out a way to build these high-performance buildings for less than what it costs to build a code-minimum building.

ZEBx was joined by co-host Integral Group to hear about the OSO development and Vidorra’s journey to this unique status in the building industry.

View the slide deck here to accompany this podcast



Speakers:

Rod Nadeau, Managing Partner, Innovation Building Group

Phil Armstrong, Director of Planning and Development, Town of Golden

Caspar Viereckel, Building Official, Town of Golden



Hosts:

Lisa Westerhoff, Principal, Integral Group

Roberto Pecora, Director ZEBx



Podcast Recording, Editing and Production:

Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEBx



- ZEBx is part of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) -

Season 1, Episode 4
Recorded on Jan 20, 2022
The biggest source of future operational emissions from the building sector will come from existing, rather than new buildings. Retrofits which prioritize massive reductions in operational emissions are essential to address the climate crisis and will need to be scaled up dramatically over the next decade. In British Columbia, electrification is the most effective strategy to achieve deep, immediate, and real emissions reductions.

This Deep Emissions Retrofit Dialogue was co-hosted with  BC Hydro and was the fourth in a six-part series focused on deep emissions retrofits. The three presenters kicked off the dialogue with presentations focused on managing refrigerants, ensuring affordability for low-income households and BC Hydro’s integrated resource planning.ZEBx co-hosted this event with the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).

View the slide deck here to accompany this podcast



Dialogues and Speakers:

Managing Refrigerants as BC Scales up Deep Emissions Retrofits

Presented by Bhavin Degadwala and Justin TK Chin, Integral Group

Addressing the Affordability Impact of Deep Emissions Retrofits on Low-Income Households

Presented by Jordan Fisher, FRESCo Building Efficiency

BC Hydro’s Integrated Resource Plan: Flexible Resources for an Uncertain Future

Presented by Alex Tu, BC Hydro



Hosts:

Robyn Wark, Manager of Advanced Demand Side Management, BC Hydro

Roberto Pecora, Director ZEBx



Podcast Recording, Editing and Production:

Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEBx



- ZEBx is part of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) -x

Season 2, Episode 8
Recorded on Oct 28, 2022
ZEBx has showcased many high-performance buildings over the years, but with the addition of photovoltaics on the roof, Evolve takes the cake. It even combines heating, cooling and ventilation into one system – which is quite rare in residential buildings, but possible if aiming for ultra-energy efficiency. Despite its outstanding achievements, this project isn’t as unique as you might think… for UBC at least.

With the Skeena Residence at its Okanagan campus under its belt, and now this one, UBC is proving to be a leader in walking the talk. With a highly ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2035 (yes, you read that right), these are the kinds of buildings that will lead them to their goal. ZEBx and UBC’s Campus and Community Planning Group were joined at this Decarb Lunch by the architect, ZGF, and the builder, Peak Construction Group.

In the February 2021 Decarb Lunch, ZEBx featured this project while it was under construction. If you’re interested in learning more about the design features of the building, check out the slides from our past event.

View the slide deck here to accompany this podcast



Speakers:

Iain MacFadyen, Principal, ZGF Architects

Doug Wilson, President, Peak Construction Group



Hosts:

John Madden, Director Sustainability and Engineering at UBC’s Campus and Community Planning Group

Roberto Pecora, Director ZEBx



Podcast Recording, Editing and Production:

Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEBx



- ZEBx is part of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) -

Season 2, Episode 7
Recorded on Sep 23, 2022
Many households in British Columbia burn fossil fuels (mainly gas) in furnaces, fireplaces, boilers, domestic hot water heaters, and kitchen appliances. In order to meet climate targets set for 2030 and 2050, a swift shift to electric alternatives is needed.

Open Technologies’ and Vancity’s report Stuck: Why home electrification is lagging in British Columbia and what must be done to break the deadlock on residential carbon retrofits explores the homeowner journey from gas to electricity and the actions needed to accelerate a transition to low carbon homes. This webinar focused on both the homeowner and contractor experience in retrofitting to clean electric alternatives. You will hear from Open Technologies and two BC contractors who will share their insights on real-life challenges and solutions on the path to home decarbonization.

This event was hosted by B2E and the Home Performance Stakeholder Council (HPSC)

View the slide deck here to accompany this podcast



Speakers:

Donovan Woollard, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Open Technologies

Heathe Thompson, Director at Combined Comfort Systems

Steve Warner, Owner/Manager at Rapid Cool Mechanical



Hosts:

Mariko Michasiw, B2E Program Manager at ZEBx

Greg Bloom, Manager of Industry Relations at HPSC



Podcast Recording, Editing and Production:

Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEBx



- ZEBx is part of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) -

Season 1, Episode 3
Recorded on Nov 24, 2021
The biggest source of future operational emissions from the building sector will come from existing, rather than new buildings. Retrofits which prioritize massive reductions in operational emissions are essential to address the climate crisis and will need to be scaled up dramatically over the next decade. In British Columbia, electrification is the most effective strategy to achieve deep, immediate, and real emissions reductions.

This Deep Emissions Retrofit Dialogue was the third in a six-part series focused on deep emissions retrofits. It was co-hosted with the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). The three presenters kicked off the session with presentations focused on HPSC’s Home Performance Contractor Network, the Canadian Green Retrofit Economy Study co-authored by CaGBC and the Delphi Group, and the Heat Pump Technology Attraction Study co-authored by Dunsky Energy + Climate and FRESCo.

ZEBx co-hosted this event with the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).

View the slide deck here to accompany this podcast



Speakers and Dialogues:

Building a Network of Qualified Contractors

Presented by Greg Bloom, Home Performance Stakeholder Council (HPSC)

Canadian Green Retrofit Economy Study: Preliminary Findings

Presented by Ben Clark, Delphi Group

VEC Heat Pump Technology Attraction Study: Preliminary Findings

Presented by Stephanie Willis, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors



Hosts:

Akua Schatz – Vice President, Market Engagement and Advocacy, CaGBC

Roberto Pecora, Director ZEBx



Podcast Recording, Editing and Production:

Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEBx



- ZEBx is part of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) -

Season 1, Episode 2
Recorded on Oct 26, 2022
The biggest source of future operational emissions from the building sector will come from existing, rather than new buildings. Retrofits which target massive reductions in operational emissions are essential to address the climate crisis and will need to be scaled up dramatically over the next decade. In British Columbia, electrification is the most effective strategy to achieve significant, immediate, and real emissions reductions.

This event was the second in a six-part series focused on deep emissions retrofits. The presenters shared best practices for reducing emissions from homes, from both a building-specific and local government perspective.

ZEBx co-hosted this event with the Home Performance Stakeholders Council (HPSC).

View the slide deck here to accompany this podcast



Speakers and Dialogues:

Lessons Learned in Decarbonizing a Personal Residence

Presented by Gary Hamer, BC Hydro

Deep Emission Retrofits: Critical Mechanical Design Considerations

Presented by Rob Pope, Ecolighten Energy Solutions

Local Government Approaches to Enabling Home Retrofits in the Decade of Action

Presented by Maya Chorobik, Community Energy Association



Hosts:

Jovan Cheema - Managing Director of HPSC

Roberto Pecora, Director ZEBx



Podcast Recording, Editing and Production:

Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEBx



- ZEBx is part of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) -