The ZEBx Podcast

ZEBx: The Zero Emissions Building Exchange
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The ZEBx Podcast

We bring together people from across the building industry to identify solutions and opportunities in the zero emission buildings space. In our podcasts we speak with people across the BC building industry and beyond, and learn how they navigate the barriers to advance the development of cost-effective, attractive, zero emission buildings at scale. ZEBx is a centre designed to rapidly accelerate the knowledge, capacity and passion for zero emission buildings and is part of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre.

  1. MAR 4

    Where Embodied Carbon Meets Circular Economy- ZEBx Decarb Lunch Feb 13, 2025

    Season 5, Episode 2 Recorded on Feb 13, 2025 Overview Reducing embodied carbon and advancing the circular economy are increasingly important efforts in the sustainability realm - but how do they relate to each other in practice?   For example, directly reusing structure and envelope components to serve new functions is the most carbon-efficient end-of-life scenario for a building. However, if this isn’t an available option to owners, builders, and designers – the next best thing is to reuse materials and design flexible and adaptable structures that can be deconstructed at the end of a building’s use. By holding onto materials at the end of life and optimizing their reuse potential, not only will this disrupt industry with a flow of low-carbon materials, but this will also increase diversion of construction and demolition waste from landfills and reduce extraction and use of virgin materials.    In this Decarb Lunch we learn more about the relationship between embodied carbon and circular design principles and how embodied carbon reductions can be achieved through deconstruction, reuse, and designing for disassembly.  Thanks to the generous support of BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver, this event was free.  Resources Slides ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ Speakers Stephanie Dalo, Carbon Leadership Forum BC Program Manager, ZEIC HostsNatalie Douglas, ZEBx Program Manager, ZEIC Podcast ProductionGordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEIC

    57 min

  2. FEB 6

    Decarbonization in Cold Climates - ZEBx Decarb Lunch Jan 24, 2025

    Season 5, Episode 1 Recorded on Jan 24, 2025 Overview Decarbonizing buildings in colder climates presents unique challenges and opportunities. Ground-source heat pumps (i.e., geo-exchange) and cold-climate air-source heat pumps are emerging as critical solutions to reduce emissions, while maintaining performance in cold climates.  In the first ZEBx Decarb Lunch of 2025, we dive into real-world examples of these systems in action in British Columbia’s northern and interior regions. Jeff Quibell of Falcon Engineering shares insights from implementing geo-exchange systems in some BC school districts, while Keith Bate of Creative Energy discusses the use of air-source and water-source heat pumps on a groundbreaking project at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Both speakers highlight the role these technologies play in reducing peak energy demand, improving efficiency, and overcoming the challenges of cold-weather applications.  The session covers both the details of the mechanical systems and the need to build trust with end-users as these technologies are introduced to regions they haven’t been used before. Learn how their experiences can inform your approach to adopting and integrating innovative systems for decarbonizing buildings in colder climates.  Thanks to the generous support of BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver, this event is free of charge.  Resources Slides ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Speakers Jeff Quibell, Energy Principal, Falcon Engineering  Keith Bate, Director of Engineering, Creative Energy  Hosts Mariko Michasiw, B2E Program Manager, ZEIC Natalie Douglas, ZEBx Program Manager, ZEIC Podcast Production Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEIC

    1 hr

  3. JAN 3

    Laying the Groundwork: A New Deep Retrofit Service in BC - ZEBx Decarb Lunch Dec 12, 2024

    Season 4, Episode 13 Recorded on Dec 12, 2024 Overview Deep energy retrofits are a critical piece of achieving our carbon pollution reduction targets and improving the comfort of homes and workplaces. Programs offered as part of the BC Retrofit Accelerator provide guidance to building owners to identify and plan for retrofit projects to significantly reduce building emissions, including commercial and multi-unit residential strata, rental, non-market, and off-reserve Indigenous housing. At the last ZEBx Decarb Lunch of 2024 we heard about the gap that the BC Retrofit Accelerator and its numerous partners – like BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) and Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) – seeks to fill, the benefit they provide to organizations like housing societies, and the crucial role they play in the ideation phase of project development before engaging professional consultants. Representatives from BCNPHA and AHMA presented on how they can assist with early-stage project development and financial planning, and talked through an example of a roadmap to achieving zero emissions, as well as the benefits and potential challenges. If you’re a retrofit development consultant, a local government looking to support building retrofits, housing provider looking to embark on some retrofits, or just someone interested in how we can accelerate and scale building retrofits, this is a webinar for you. Thanks to the financial support of BC Hydro, NRCan, and the City of Vancouver, this event was free of charge. Resources Slides ⁠here⁠ Speakers Edward Beckett, Building Energy Manager, BC Non-Profit Housing Association Atoine Archie, Capital Projects Manager, Aboriginal Housing Management Association Shahed Shafazand, Energy Project Advisor, Aboriginal Housing Management Association Hosts Natalie Douglas, ZEBx Program Manager, ZEIC Darla Simpson, BCRA Program Manager, ZEIC Podcast Production Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEIC

    58 min

  4. 12/03/2024

    Avoiding Common Pitfalls of Green Material Specification - ZEBx Decarb Lunch Nov 20, 2024

    Season 4, Episode 12 Recorded on Nov 20, 2024 Overview There is currently a growing trend in the construction industry to specify materials with low embodied carbon emissions to help decarbonize the building sector and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In the second ZEBx Decarb Lunch of November 2024, Tom Place of EQUILIBRIUM describes how to minimize carbon emissions of steel, concrete and mass timber in North America by understanding the key influence of project location, transportation, and regional availability of materials. Listeners can expect to gain knowledge to benefit their own projects in terms of time, cost and carbon and help drive industrywide improvement through smarter selection of materials. This session highlighted the pitfalls and unintended consequences from green material specification and explain how to avoid creating increased carbon emissions and supply chain issues from inefficient materials sourcing both today and with new future technologies. Thanks to the financial support of the City of Vancouver, and North Family Foundation, this event is free of charge. Resources Slides here Speakers Tom Place, EQUILIBRIUM Hosts Natalie Douglas, ZEBx Program Manager, ZEIC Stephanie Dalo, CLF BC Program Manager, ZEIC Podcast Production Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEIC

    1h 1m

  5. 12/03/2024

    Commercial Building Electrification Guide Launch - ZEBx Decarb Lunch Nov 14, 2024

    Season 4, Episode 11 Recorded on Nov 14, 2024 Overview Buildings, and the energy they use, account for 18% of Canada’s GHG emissions. Electrification is currently the most viable pathway to significantly reduce GHG emissions from existing buildings in BC. But the process of electrifying existing buildings is anything but straightforward, and the supply of consultants that can undertake such projects is already lagging behind demand. To help build the capacity needed to decarbonize BC’s existing building stock, the Building to Electrification coalition (B2E), in partnership with the City of Vancouver, BC Hydro, and Metro Vancouver, has developed a brand-new guide. The Commercial Building Electrification Guide offers transferable methodologies and insights from early adopters to help consultants and building owners effectively implement electrification projects. Come and hear from the authors of the guide, who developed it in consultation with industry experts. Thanks to the financial support of BC Hydro, NRCan and the City of Vancouver, this event was free of charge. Resources Guide and slides are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Speakers Stephanie Poole, Principal, SES Consulting Mike Reimer, Principal, FirstLight Energy Hosts Natalie Douglas, ZEBx Program Manager, ZEIC Mariko Michasiw, B2E Program Manager, ZEIC Bryan Flannigan, Building Decarbonization Alliance (BDA) Podcast Production Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEIC

    1h 1m

  6. 11/12/2024

    Marpole Community Centre - The ZEBx Decarb Lunch, Oct 10, 2024

    Season 4, Episode 10 Recorded on Oct 10, 2024 Overview Are you interested in projects that demonstrate feasible ways to reduce embodied carbon? This Decarb Lunch features the Passive House certified Marpole Community Centre, which served as a pilot project to test the City of Vancouver Embodied Carbon Guidelines. Forest Borch from reLoad Sustainable Design and Caroline Inglis from Diamond Schmitt Architects outlined how the project team worked together to meet their ambitious embodied carbon reduction goal and shared five key lessons learned that demonstrate that achieving the City of Vancouver’s target of a 40% reduction of embodied carbon in new buildings by 2030 can be achieved today! Thanks to the financial support of ⁠⁠⁠BC Hydro⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠City of Vancouver⁠⁠⁠, this event was free of charge. Resources Slides ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Speakers Caroline Inglis, Architect, Diamond Schmitt Forest Borch, Project Manager, Reload Sustainable Design Host Natalie Douglas, ZEBx Program Manager, ZEIC Stephanie Dalo, CLF BC Program Manager, ZEIC Susan MacDougall, Focal Engineering Podcast Production: Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEIC

    1 hr

  7. 10/28/2024

    A Deep Retrofit in West Vancouver – A 1929 Home Leaps Ahead to 2032. The ZEBx Decarb Lunch, Sep 25, 2024

    Season 4, Episode 9 Recorded on Sep 25, 2024 Overview We all know that deep retrofits of detached homes are rare. They are also essential in decarbonizing the built environment.   This is why we’re excited to showcase this West Vancouver home in our second Decarb Lunch of September 2024. The building, originally constructed in 1929, has been transformed to such a degree that if it were newly built today, it would nearly meet the highest standards of the Zero Carbon and Energy Step Codes. It has achieved this by disconnecting from the gas grid, adding a high-performance building envelope and installing an electric heat pump for both heating and cooling.  Listen in to hear more about the challenges and successes of this unique project.   Thanks to the financial support of ⁠⁠BC Hydro⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠City of Vancouver⁠⁠, this event was free of charge. Resources Slides ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ Speakers Erica Wolowidnyk, EW Architecture  Bradley Jones, Alchemy Construction  Host Natalie Douglas, Program Manager, ZEBx Barb Silverthorn, Capture Energy Podcast Production: Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEIC

    57 min

  8. 09/27/2024

    Decarbonizing a Historic Vancouver Skyscraper – The Business Case. The ZEBx Decarb Lunch, Sep 16, 2024

    Season 4, Episode 8 Recorded on Sep 16, 2024 Overview Building a strong business case for decarbonizing a commercial property requires a solid grasp of project costs, decarbonization strategies and cost recovery opportunities. In BC, where we have a very low-carbon electrical supply, a strong business case for serious emissions reductions depends on the right balance between electrification and energy conservation measures.   In the first Decarb Lunch after the 2024 summer break, SES Consulting and KingSett Capital dive into the basics of building a strong business case for decarbonization and how it’s being applied to a commercial building retrofit in Vancouver. Thanks to the financial support of ⁠BC Hydro⁠ and the ⁠City of Vancouver⁠, this event was free of charge. Resources Slides ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Speakers Stephanie Poole, Principal, SES Consulting Kit Milnes, Vice President Sustainability & Resilience, KingSett Capital  Hosts Natalie Douglas, Program Manager, ZEBx Damian Stathonikos, Director, BOMA  Jennifer Davis, Director, Decarb Accelerator Program, BOMA Podcast Production: Gordon Patrick Newell, Communications at ZEIC

    59 min
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About

We bring together people from across the building industry to identify solutions and opportunities in the zero emission buildings space. In our podcasts we speak with people across the BC building industry and beyond, and learn how they navigate the barriers to advance the development of cost-effective, attractive, zero emission buildings at scale. ZEBx is a centre designed to rapidly accelerate the knowledge, capacity and passion for zero emission buildings and is part of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre.

Information

  • Creator
    ZEBx: The Zero Emissions Building Exchange
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © ZEBx: The Zero Emissions Building Exchange
  • Show Website
    The ZEBx Podcast

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