Folks, I'm tired of re-upping this article.

It's 2026, we've been talking about 'the importance of BS' since the 1980s. 

It's still not mainstream enough in the industry. 

Building Science and the Case for Comprehensive Training

There are countless horror stories out there. Stories of black mold creeping silently through walls, of rot undermining structural integrity, of musty air triggering asthma and illness, and even cases of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Many of these problems arose from energy efficiency upgrades and airtight houses intended to do good. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, as the first generation of energy-conscious homes rolled out, the phrase “house-as-a-system” wasn’t in anyone’s vocabulary yet. Well-intentioned builders tightened up homes but didn’t account for how air, moisture, and heat would behave in the new reality.

And so we got mold, rot, stink, decay, and a raft of valuable lessons.

But you know what the real horror story is in my books?

Here we are, 40+ years later, and the same kinds of building failures are still happening. People are still carrying out the same good-intentioned upgrades and ending up with the same disastrous unintended consequences.

That’s why we need good training in building science—because people’s health, comfort, and even lives are at stake. Building professionals must understand how the house functions as a dynamic, interactive system, not just as a collection of parts. And this isn’t just theory—it’s practice.

Building Science in Canada: Cold Climate Heroes

Canada has been a global leader in building science, especially for cold climates. Among the most influential figures in this field is Dr. Joe Lstiburek, mechanical engineer and forensic building scientist. Joe is known for his blunt (and often hilarious, always - uh - ‘strongly worded’) commentary on building failures and his fierce advocacy for building science education based on real-world testing.

Over the years, he’s shared many candid stories about his own early missteps where materials and/or systems didn’t behave as expected and the results were expensive, uncomfortable, or downright dangerous. Nobody beats Joe up better than Joe, turning his adventures into teaching tools. He’s one of the best BSers in the business.

How Training Changed My Perspective

When I studied Building Technology at BCIT, way back in the 1990s, one of the very first things I was taught was how to read a psychrometric chart. You know you’re deep into building science nerdery when you find joy in plotting out dew points and relative humidity levels on paper.

That foundational training gave me the tools to challenge building science principles, experiment, and refine my understanding. I didn’t get to experience the big "a-ha" of the house-as-a-system revolution, it was already established by the time I entered the field. I was still in high school when Joe Lstiburek was carrying out the disasters that gave him his storytelling chops.

I’ve benefited deeply from his (and others) hard-won insights, though, returning to them again and again as I saw the effects of poorly thought out air sealing and insulation upgrades, non-existent drainage plane details, and general defiance towards the laws of physics.

Good training in building science cultivates a healthy respect for physics and the damage that water and temperature differences can do to a house. Repetition of core concepts and putting them into practice builds muscle memory as much as any gym routine. It helps professionals make better decisions when faced with complex, competing priorities.

Real-World Impact: Why Training Matters

A home is more than a shelter—it’s a massive financial, environmental, and emotional investment. For someone living in it, a poorly built or badly renovated house can mean health problems, constant repairs, or ignored repairs, energy bills through the roof, and dwindling value.

For homeowners or renters, for lenders, insurers, municipalities, and entire communities, an uninhabitable house is a liability. Yet, here we are.

Training in building science ensures that professionals at every stage of the construction process, from design to build to renovation, understand the consequences of their decisions. Whether it's managing airflow to prevent condensation, selecting vapor-permeable materials in the right climate zone, or installing mechanical ventilation that works with—not against—the thermal envelope, it all requires science-informed judgment.

House-As-A-System: Still Not the Norm

We still hear those same stories today: mold behind brand-new insulation, basements turned into swamps by overzealous air sealing, attics choked with moisture because nobody accounted for where that warm, moist air was going. This isn’t new. It’s just poorly applied, incomplete knowledge.

When builders, renovators, and homeowners don’t understand how interconnected systems interact inside a house, problems follow. That’s why the house-as-a-system approach must become standard practice instead of a niche specialty or nice-to-have knowledge.

A house is a major investment for the homeowner, lender and municipality, to start with – then there’s the local economic development associated with constructing, maintaining and renovating, which involves more lending, and selling, which involves a whole bunch more people: realtors, appraisers, home inspectors...the list goes on.

Understanding building science is essential for anyone involved in a construction project, from design to completion. Building science knowledge is also critical in managing construction projects, including legal and regulatory compliance.

Physics don’t change. The good news about that, is some dreadful consequences are very easy to predict, analyse, and overcome because they can be expected, because many of the ways that heat, air and moisture flows interact can be predicted. Understanding internal gains and human responses is crucial for optimizing building performance.

Introduction to Building Science

Building science is at the heart of creating buildings that truly work for people and the planet. As an interdisciplinary field, it draws from various engineering disciplines, architecture, and even the social sciences to understand how buildings function as complex systems. Building scientists study everything from the properties of building materials to the way building components interact, all with the goal of optimizing building performance and energy efficiency.

This field is essential for anyone involved in the design, construction, or operation of buildings. By applying building science principles, professionals can ensure that buildings are not only structurally sound and visually appealing, but also sustainable and healthy for occupants. A mix of experiments, computer simulations, and real-world measurements are used to develop evidence-based approaches that improve how buildings perform and reduce their environmental impact.

As new technologies and materials emerge, building science continues to evolve, offering innovative solutions to the challenges of modern construction. Whether it’s improving thermal insulation, enhancing indoor air quality, or reducing energy consumption, building science provides the fundamental knowledge needed to create better buildings for everyone.

Why Building Science Is Non-Negotiable

Building codes have ramped up energy performance targets and homeowners are looking to protect the investment in their home. It used to be a nice-to-have, but now, those energy targets make building science non-negotiable. If you don’t understand how air, moisture, and heat interact, you shouldn’t be in the business of designing, building, or renovating homes.

The laws of physics don’t change. We know how moisture behaves. We know what happens when warm air hits a cold surface. We know what insulation does and doesn’t do. And we know that people breathe, sweat, cook, bathe, and live inside buildings. Their comfort and health are deeply tied to how well the building manages those realities.

If we ignore that knowledge—or skip the training—we are setting people up for expensive fixes, premature system failures, and even tragedy.

Training for Real-World Complexity

Modern training in building science covers far more than thermal resistance and basic airflow. It spans:

• Building envelope performance: How to manage the transfer of heat, air, and moisture across walls, roofs, windows, and foundations.
• Energy efficiency strategies: From passive solar design to high-efficiency HVAC and beyond.
• Indoor air quality and occupant health: Understanding contaminants, filtration, ventilation, and moisture control.
• Climate-specific design: What works in Nova Scotia might fail miserably in the Okanagan—or Nunavut.
• Resilience and future-proofing: Designing for climate extremes, power outages, floods, fires, and aging populations.
• Codes and compliance: Navigating local, provincial, and national regulations with an eye toward best practices.

The Economics of Building Science

Investing in training may seem costly upfront. But the return on that investment is massive:

• Fewer call-backs and warranty claims
• Lower liability for builders and designers
• Higher customer satisfaction
• Better resale value for homeowners
• Improved durability and reduced maintenance over time

And on the macro level, building science training helps communities reduce GHG emissions, lower utility bills, increase housing affordability, and improve public health outcomes.

Who Else Needs Building Science Training—and Why

It’s not just builders and renovators who need to understand the principles of building science. Here’s why others should, too:

• Architects & Designers: To ensure form meets function, aesthetics are durable, and passive strategies are integrated from the start.
• Energy Advisors & HVAC Professionals: To model accurate energy use, recommend the right systems, and prevent mismatched mechanical solutions.
• Real Estate Agents & Appraisers: To recognize and communicate the added value of high-performance homes to buyers and investors.
• Homeowners: To make informed decisions about renovations, upgrades, and maintenance. Education empowers.

Building science education for these roles leads to stronger collaboration, fewer miscommunications, and better outcomes for occupants. Not everyone needs to have the same depth of understanding, but a shared language helps!

Building Science as an Economic Development Driver

A community with a strong culture of building science:

• Protects local housing stock through durable, efficient, and healthy homes.
• Reduces energy poverty by lowering household energy costs.
• Spurs innovation in construction and retrofit industries.
• Creates skilled jobs and aligns with green economy growth.

Governments and municipalities investing in building science training—whether through code requirements, incentives, or workforce development programs—are also investing in long-term economic stability.

What Should Good Building Science Training Include?

1. Core Knowledge
   • Thermodynamics
   • Moisture dynamics
   • Building materials science
   • Human comfort principles
2. Practical Application
   • Hands-on training with envelope details
   • Diagnostic tools (blower door, IR camera, psychrometer)
   • Building modelling software
   • Site assessments
3. Case Studies and Failures
   • Real-world scenarios that explore what went wrong and why. For example:
   • The 1983 Leaky Condo Crisis in British Columbia, where a combination of poor flashing details, inadequate rain screens, and misunderstood vapor barriers led to billions in repairs. [CMHC Research Report, 2005]
   • Fungal contamination in R-2000 homes in Atlantic Canada in the 1980s due to lack of ventilation systems in super-tight homes. [NRC/IRC Publication NRCC-35823]
4. Cross-Disciplinary Learning
   • Integration with HVAC design, structural engineering, and code compliance
   • Working in teams to simulate real-world project dynamics
5. Mentorship and Continuing Education
   • Ongoing learning is vital. Building science evolves with materials, assemblies, and equipment.

The Need for Comprehensive Training

In today’s construction industry, comprehensive training in building science is more important than ever. Architects, engineers, and builders face increasing demands to deliver buildings that are energy-efficient, comfortable, and environmentally responsible. Without a solid grounding in building physics, materials science, and mechanical systems, it’s all too easy to make costly mistakes that compromise building performance and occupant health.

Effective training programs go beyond the basics, covering a wide range of topics from sustainable building practices to the intricacies of indoor air quality. They equip professionals with the specific skills needed to navigate the complexities of modern construction, ensuring that every decision from material selection to HVAC system design supports energy efficiency and a healthy indoor environment.

By investing in comprehensive training, educational institutions and professional organizations help raise the standard across the industry. This not only leads to better buildings, but also helps reduce the environmental impact of construction, supports efforts to combat climate change, and ultimately protects public health. In a world where the built environment plays such a crucial role in our daily lives, there’s simply no substitute for well-trained building professionals.

Importance of Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of building science, and for good reason. Buildings are among the largest consumers of energy worldwide, and improving their efficiency is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen our environmental impact. By focusing on energy efficiency, we can create buildings that use less energy for heating, cooling, and lighting—without sacrificing comfort or functionality.

Achieving energy efficiency involves a combination of smart design, high-performance building materials, and advanced mechanical systems. Incorporating renewable energy systems, such as solar heating or photovoltaic panels, can further reduce a building’s reliance on non-renewable resources. Building owners and occupants also play a vital role by adopting energy-saving habits and making informed choices about how they use their spaces.

The benefits of energy efficiency go beyond environmental responsibility. Lower energy consumption translates to significant cost savings over the life cycle of a building, and energy-efficient properties often command higher market values. By making energy efficiency a priority in building design and construction, we not only help protect the planet, but also create healthier, more comfortable spaces for everyone.

Building Envelope and Construction

The building envelope is much more than just the outer shell of a building—it’s a critical system that separates the indoor environment from the natural environment outside. A well-designed building envelope acts as a barrier against unwanted heat loss, moisture transfer, and air infiltration, all of which can have a major impact on energy consumption, indoor air quality, and occupant comfort.

Every component of the building envelope, from walls and windows to roof systems and doors, must be carefully chosen and assembled to ensure optimal performance. The construction processes and materials used can make or break the effectiveness of the envelope. For example, poor installation of insulation or air barriers can lead to drafts, condensation, and even mold growth, undermining the building’s energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

By paying close attention to the design and construction of the building envelope, professionals can create buildings that are more resilient, comfortable, and energy-efficient. This not only benefits the people who live and work inside, but also helps reduce the overall environmental impact of the built environment.

Energy Modelling and Analysis

Energy modelling and analysis are powerful tools in the building science field, enabling professionals to predict and optimize a building’s energy use before construction even begins. By using sophisticated software, building scientists and engineers can simulate how different building components, mechanical systems, and design choices will affect energy consumption, cooling loads, and indoor air quality.

This process allows for evidence-based decision-making, helping to identify the most effective strategies for improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Energy modelling can also support life cycle costing, giving building owners a clear picture of long-term energy savings and operational costs.

In both new and existing buildings, energy modelling is invaluable for evaluating the impact of upgrades, retrofits, or the integration of renewable energy systems. It provides a roadmap for achieving high-performance buildings that meet or exceed building codes and sustainability standards. Ultimately, energy modelling and analysis are essential for anyone committed to advancing sustainable building practices and creating a healthier, more efficient built environment.

The Path Forward: Training, Certification, and Collective Action

In Canada and beyond, educational institutions, certification programs, and industry organizations offer high-quality training in building science.

Where to Start

• Online and In-Person Courses
  • Blue House Energy Online Courses
  • BCIT Building Science Graduate Programs
  • Passive House Canada Training Pathway
  • Canadian Home Builders’ Association Net Zero Training
• Professional Certifications in Canada
  • CPHC (Certified Passive House Consultant)
  • REA (Registered Energy Advisor)
  • LEED Green Associate / AP
  • HRAI HVAC Design Certification
• Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
  • BC Housing requires CPDs (Continuing Professional Development credits) for license renewal.
  • Look for industry-approved programs offering credits for architects, engineers, and energy advisors.

Online Building Science Topics to Explore

• "airtight home design best practices"
• "cold climate building envelope strategies"
• "high-performance home retrofit training"
• "how to prevent mold in energy-efficient homes"
• "building science certification Canada"

Final Word: A Call to Action

Building science isn’t optional. It’s foundational. It’s a public health measure, a climate action strategy, and an economic development lever all rolled into one. If you work in or around the built environment in any capacity, it’s time to level up.

• Builders and Renovators: Make building science a non-negotiable part of your workflow. Train your teams. Ask better questions. Fix problems before they start.
• Architects and Designers: Collaborate early. Understand the thermal and moisture dynamics of your envelope and how your aesthetic choices impact them.
• Homeowners: Don’t just buy finishes—invest in performance. Ask for third-party verification. Get educated before you renovate.
• Policy Makers and Municipal Leaders: Build funding programs, update codes, support workforce development. Good building science is good public policy.

In a warming world, in aging housing stock, in overburdened energy grids, in a post-pandemic indoor-air-aware society, building science is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s the baseline. And good training is where it starts.

Let’s build it right.

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From Barriers to Blueprints was presented by a trio of provincial partners: Canadian Home Builders Association-NS (CHBA-NS) with Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR).

The goal for the day: “to bring together government representatives, industry leaders, developers, builders, renovators, and housing advocates to share insights, spark collaboration, and explore real, actionable solutions to the most pressing housing issues across our province.”

The sessions explored:

• Breaking down interprovincial trade barriers
• Advancing innovative and affordable housing models
• Identifying actionable strategies to improve access to attainable housing
• Strengthening collaboration between industry and government

It was a very full day, and while I missed the session by CHBA National’s CEO, Kevin Lee, I did get the gist of it second hand through the sidebar conversations I had:

• Federal housing policy and how it impacts the industry.
• Need to eliminate regulatory red tape and streamline approval processes to support faster home construction.
• Systemic trade barriers that affect affordability and supply.
• Innovation and improved efficiency in construction methods can help improve affordability across the country

(CTV coverage of the event here.)

The Big Picture Challenges Facing Our Industry

The most interesting portions of pretty near every conference or speaking event, for me, are the panel discussions and the follow up Q&A sessions. This one did not disappoint.

A wide-ranging panel responded to the question prompts given by CHBA-NS Executive Director, Crystal Ingram: Suzanne Gravel (NSAR), Pedro Barata (Habitat for Humanity), Vicki Elliot-Lopez (NS Dept of Growth & Development) , Alex Lawson (Political Intelligence), and Justin Johnston (CHBA-NS).

Highlights for me echo a lot of what we discuss internally here at Blue House Energy: how to get more people into the home construction and renovation trades. What are the blockers, what are the stepping stones, where are we making progress. BHE is just a wee cog in this big, sprawling industry, but maintaining a clear, focussed view of the larger picture is critical to us as we map our way forward.

We want to make sure that we are offering, providing, and delivering online training to Canadians and the home building/renovation industry in the most accessible and useful ways possible.

It was good to hear that our internal conversations echo many of the big picture issues, while at the same time, the bigger picture got clearer for our future direction!

Sooooo many challenges to face.

Aging workforce, fewer work-ready tradespeople joining the workforce, competition from other trades for new people, low productivity, lack of exposure and engagement for young people, educational bias towards university vs trades college, red tape, affordability…

The red tape and affordability elements are overlapping and overwhelming. Political promises and political will can (and do) devastate the market. For example, the First Time Home Buyers GST/HST Rebate (FTHB).

A Cautionary Tale of Good Intentions

The FTHB rebate will remove the GST (or the federal part of the HST) on new homes at or under $1 million, and lower it on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million for all first-time home buyers. (FYI: It’s available if the agreement of purchase and sale for the home is entered into with the builder on or after May 27, 2025 and before 2031.)

The first time the federal government mentioned cutting the GST on houses under $1million was in the election campaign back in March. Then again with the announcement of the Build Canada Homes (BCH). Then again when the legislation was tabled. It was passed in May 2025, but is not yet enacted (Nov 2025), as it is waiting on royal assent. Which may or may not come in this legislative sitting. Find out the current status here.

So what does this mean in in the day-to-day?

Prospective home buyers who will qualify can’t access the rebate. Builders can’t offer buyers a credit for the new rebate, which would lowering the purchase price. A lower purchase price can be crucial for mortgage qualification in high ticket, big markets like Vancouver or Toronto.

If you don’t think that this has stalled home buyer plans to purchase, you need to shake your head clear of the drywall dust and read the news - housing starts have tanked. There are several reasons that have combined to cause the drop, but rest assured the decision to hold off on buying/building until that tax credit is in effect is one of them.

For the first time in decades, builders who have consistently been scheduling project starts 3 to 6 months (and more) in advance are twiddling their thumbs. They’re now waiting hopefully for the surge. But market slow downs lead to layoffs and closures for thousands of small businesses riding the rails of profitability. This further bruises this big, crucial industry when those laid-off don’t come back because of the volatility.

The Workforce Challenge: Reaching Microbusinesses

And that brings the focus back onto the workforce elements.

While other industries can lean on medium and large businesses to carry out change and training/licensing requirements, home construction and renovation in Canada has very few medium and large firms. Mostly it’s one of two microbusiness models:

• One person wearing several hats and running a crew or two
• One person taking on the role of project manager, relying on subcontractors instead of in-house crews.

Both of these models are tough to reach into to add any form of training, mentoring, upskilling, or participation in workforce development or coop student programs. And very few builders have any formal (or informal) training on how to mentor or teach. Or formal training in business management. Or time for any of it.

Business model aside, there are too few seats in formal learning institutions to boost the workforce numbers we need. That’s always been the case, but now, with attrition, it’s worse, because of the number of retiring mentors. Red Seal carpenters make up a small proportion of our workforce, meaning direct entry - that first sweeper-upper job that leads to labourer that leads to framer that leads to crew chief - is the typical way that folks fall into the trades.

These are not news items.

They are certainly worth reiterating.

Work-Ready Trades : What Does That Actually Mean?

‘Work-ready trades’ was one of the terms I heard a lot, referring in part to immigration missions to bring in skilled home construction workers from other parts of the world. These workers may be skilled, but they don’t know cold climate housing. Meaning there’s a cycle of learning, and that’s not taking place in colleges, it’s taking place on site (if at all). The burden is on the employer, and as noted, the majority of Canadian home builders don’t have the capacity or funding to take on that extra load.

‘Work-ready trades’ also applies to the small volume of new tradespeople coming out of Canadian high schools, colleges, technical institutes, and CÉGEPs, as well as universities. It matters what’s being taught, how it’s taught, and by whom. One of the biggest beefs I hear from builders who hire fresh-out-of-school is this: please please please teach them basic math and how to use a tape measure and a speed square. That’s not ‘work-ready’!

Home building is also in direct competition with many other industries where medium and large companies with HR support can scoop up both newcomers and recent grads.

So we’re back to direct entry.

The folks who don’t go to school, who get trained (for worse/for better) on the job, on the fly, maybe through manufacturer’s workshops. The bulk of the on-site workforce has no formal education past high school. They’re not going to leave a decent paying job to go back to school.

Let’s look at some numbers. Carpentry is a non-compulsory trade, meaning a worker does not legally need a Red Seal certification to work in the field.

There’s no record of how many active Red Seal carpenters there are. We know that there are somewhere around 2 million Red Seal tradespeople in the workforce, but that’s spread across 54 trades. And ‘carpenter’ does not equal home builder.

Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA) notes that there are currently just under 45,000 registered apprentices or trade qualifiers for carpentry in Canada. There are more than 600,000 people working in the field (with 1.5 million in the industry). Registered carpentry apprentices make up less than 1% of the industry that relies on carpenters.

We’re not populating the bulk of our workforce from apprenticeship programs, and we’re not getting enough people coming into the industry as we need by continuing to pull from the ‘traditional’ pool of industry entrants.

Getting Them Interested Early

We need to expand the pool of people coming in and, at the same time, establish ways to give them some fundamental skills and knowledge. Those skills like how to use math and basic tools like a tape measure and a speed square. Absolute fundamentals. How to calculate area, volume, how to square a corner. How to read a set of plans. These are the key things on employers’ wish lists.

How do we do this? We get ‘em early. Grade 8, according to Laura King, Operations Manager at Skills Canada Nova Scotia, is the time to engage.

That was one of the themes of the panel discussion, and Laura and I went on to a deep dive conversation.

Engage and expose a wider group of young people to the world of making things. I can guarantee the interest will far exceed schools’ capacity to deliver. It already does: some schools offer trades programs, others don’t.

In my kid’s former high school, there are 280-300 students enrolled in grade 10 every year. That’s the first year they can apply for the Construction Trades program. The school has a dedicated workshop building where the students learn skills by building a 4-room ‘motel’. There are two cohorts/year of 16 students, so 32 of nearly 300 students, 10-11% of the school population, have a chance to get into construction trades.

That ratio is on par with the ratio of construction trades jobs in the workforce. But only 5 of 17 senior high school programs have construction trades options, so that means Halifax is producing somewhere around 1/3 of the kids-with-skills than the workforce needs. In my kid’s year, there were many more applicants to the Construction Trades program than seats, and we knew several very disappointed kids.

There was lots of talk about the need to give more kids exposure to the trades. I agree with that (wholeheartedly!), AND we need to build capacity. To do that, we need to expand who can do co-op semesters, how credits can be earned in the field, and create more opportunities for real-time, real-world participation in building projects.

How can we do that?

Give them the experience of the mental challenges of building, the reason why Pythagoras theorem is something that all carpenters use, the 3-d puzzle solving, the project management/scheduling.

Give them the experience of hammering, lifting a wall, completing a project, working as a team. As panel member Alex Lawson from Political Intelligence said: we used to be a nation of makers. Now we can’t find enough people to make the things we need. Academics-biased education has taken it’s toll over the past few generations.

We need to make trades a first-choice career path.

Post high school, or maybe even in high school, how about a path that is built on Germany’s dual vocation school model? In this model, trainees split their time between vocational school and a company workplace, creating a balanced approach to skill development.

The structure is flexible: students might attend school one or two days per week, or participate in "block" classes like our apprentices do. At school, they focus on theoretical and general subjects, while their time at the company provides hands-on training directly relevant to their chosen profession.

Building Real Skills: The Tiny House Construction Program

I’m Chair of the Housing Construction Council of Nova Scotia, and our organization has, over the past 18 months, created an amazing program for workforce development that teaches underemployed folks the fundamentals of home building. It’s called the Tiny House Construction program. This is what I’m talking about: hands on, supervised instruction, worth high school credits or banked hours towards apprenticeship blocks. We’re proud to say that 80% of graduates to date are employed after the program.

Bonus points: every cohort creates at least one livable house that is handed over to a community organization versus a pretend 4-room motel that gets dismantled at the end of the program. That’s what happens to the end-product of the high school construction trades students. Because the schools don’t have funding for materials, they have to re-use the ones they’ve got. I don’t know anyone (outside theatre kids) who are happy about making pretend.

Work-ready graduates in 18 weeks. Entry level, yes. Willing and able bodies, yes. People with a solid grounding in basic skills and understanding of how to take a house from sticks to finishes. An employer’s dream.

Looking Ahead to 2026: Your Success Stories Wanted

To build capacity, we need to build exposure and we need to expand opportunities for young people to get hammers in their hands.

What’s going on in your neck of the woods to expand capacity, innovate on education, invite under-represented groups to the table, get people excited about home construction as a first-choice career path?

Let me know! I want to spend 2026 writing blog articles and hosting podcast episodes that showcase regional success stories.

If you’re a contractor or energy advisor working in BC’s retrofit space, you’ve likely heard the buzz: the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) has expanded. Two new membership pathways are now live:  one for General Retrofit contractors (GRs) and one for Energy Advisors (EAs).

That’s a big deal.

Why?

The Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) is an upskilling initiative for home performance professionals in British Columbia (BC). Contractors and Energy Advisors complete specified business accreditation and training qualifications to join a database of qualified professionals.

Members are eligible for training reimbursement up to $1,200 per eligible individual (until May 2026, while funding lasts). Plus, members are displayed in a homeowner search tool on the HPCN and CleanBC websites.

That means if you’re not on the list, you’re missing out. Not just on visibility and trust — but on work.

So what does it take to get on the list so your clients can take advantage of the various rebates? You must complete all required steps and training to ensure you are eligible for the program.

Let’s talk training qualifications for the Home Performance Contractor Network membership. Specifically: why whole house energy retrofit training is a smart and strategic investment you can make in your business right now, whether you’re a General Retrofit contractor or an Energy Advisor working in BC.

HPCN membership signals to homeowners that you meet high standards for quality and compliance. They can expect professional service, expertise, and peace of mind when working with you.

First: What is the HPCN and how are contractors listed?

The Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) is a vetted, industry-developed list of qualified retrofit contractors and energy advisors, a database to provide a trusted resource to find professionals who meet specific standards and undergo ongoing quality review. HPCN is part of a coordinated push to improve the quality and consistency of energy retrofits in BC so homeowners can save energy costs and be sure their homes are comfortable, safe, and healthy.

HPCN contractors are expected to maintain professional conduct, including adherence to ethical business practices, proper licensing, insurance, and ongoing quality assurance. With this comes the responsibility to uphold high standards and ensure continuous qualifications. The work provided by HPCN contractors must always meet specific quality and compliance requirements.

Behind the network is the Home Performance Stakeholder Council. The Home Performance Stakeholder Council (HPSC) plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the network, conducting ongoing review and quality assurance checks to ensure all HPCN members remain in good standing. This means homeowners can confidently hire a contractor from the public search tool, knowing they are choosing a professional who has committed to high standards and meets all the limited criteria set by the program.

If you’re a contractor interested in becoming a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member, here’s how to get access. The links below go over who is eligible, what’s required for membership, how to keep good standing, and how contractors listed can offer their clients access rebates. 

Check out the path for General Retrofit contractors.

Check out the path for Energy Advisors.

Whether you’re an energy advisor looking to sharpen your skills, or a retrofit contractor ready to stand out from the crowd, HPCN membership means credibility, visibility, and opportunity.

But it’s not automatic. You’ve got to put in the work, and that includes training.

If you’re interested in becoming part of this trusted network, you can join the HPCN and access valuable resources. AND: get your training reimbursed!

Why Whole House Retrofits Require Whole House Thinking

 Here’s the reality: you can’t change one part of a house without affecting the others. Want to tighten up air leaks? You’d better know how that impacts ventilation. Swapping out windows? That’s not just a finish upgrade — it changes thermal bridging, air sealing, and condensation risk.

That’s where whole house thinking comes in — and where retrofit-specific building science training becomes non-negotiable.

Without the right knowledge, even well-intentioned upgrades can lead to:

• Moisture buildup and mold Poor indoor air quality
• Overheating or under-heating
• System imbalance (think: new HRV in a leaky house = wasted effort)
• Improper insulation installation, which can cause energy loss and comfort issues

A deep retrofit done without deep understanding can actually make things worse. With the right training, though? You avoid those unintended consequences and give your clients homes that are healthier, more efficient, more durable — and more comfortable.

Why Whole House Energy Retrofit (WHER)?

The Whole House Energy Retrofit course by Blue House Energy, in partnership with Built Green Canada, was designed for exactly this moment — to meet the demand for deeper, smarter retrofits in BC, and to prepare contractors and energy advisors to do them right.

The main part of the course focusses on typical housing types and situations. But that doesn’t cover every type of housing, and you can’t apply a one-size-fits-all to solutions in a province that contains all of Canada’s climate zones. The issues facing a gut-rehab of a heritage bungalow in Victoria are nowhere close to the retrofit requirements of a house in Fort Nelson. Miles apart. Literally and figuratively.

WHER is one of two recognized options for fulfilling the advanced training requirement for General Renovation Contractors under the HPCN. In addition, some contractors must hold a specified trade designation to participate in the HPCN. WHER is also an optional course for Energy Advisors (but it was built by someone who started out as an EA).

Here’s why WHER makes sense for busy pros:

✅ On-demand + self-paced: No webinars to book off. You learn when it works for you.
✅ ~30 hours of real retrofit science: Not theory, not fluff. Just what you need to do better work.
✅ Flexible, adult learning instructional design: expand your knowledge, confirm what you know. Review or deep dive of any topic - up to you.
✅ Designed for existing homes: Heritage, log, rubble, PWFs? We’ve got you.
✅ Interactive learning: Worksheets, challenges, an expert-moderated forum, curated resource library, and an AI study bot.
✅ Open-book exam: 150 questions. 70% pass. Reimbursable for HPCN members.

How It Compares: WHER vs. CHBA-BC’s Building Science for New Homes

If you're a General Renovation Contractor pursuing HPCN membership, you’ve got two approved options for your advanced training:

Training That Meets You Where You Are

At Blue House Energy, we know what it’s like to work on the tools. Most contractors and renovators are micro-businesses, with fewer than 4 employees. That means time off for training is money lost.

If you (or your crew) aren’t on the tools, how can you get your hours in or keep your clients happy?

Our course is built for your reality.

We’ve been online since 2012. Since then, more than 10,000 people, everyone from new kids out of highschool to seasoned tradespeople to designers to new energy advisors, have chosen our self-paced online training.

We’re serious about building science — and seriously enjoyable learning.

Accessing Incentives: Unlocking Financial Benefits for Contractors

In British Columbia’s fast-evolving retrofit industry, accessing incentives is a game-changer if you're looking to grow your business and deliver more value to homeowners. The Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) is at the heart of this opportunity, connecting you to a range of financial incentives for their clients, including heat pump rebates and other rebate programs designed to support energy-efficient home upgrades.

To unlock these incentives, you must first become a registered member of the HPCN. For some sectors – HVAC, Insulation, and Window and Doors - membership isn’t just a badge of credibility—it’s a requirement for accessing many of the rebate programs offered by partners like BC Hydro, Fortis BC, CleanBC, and Pacific Northern Gas. To qualify, you need to meet specific training qualifications, hold valid general liability insurance, and have the appropriate trade designation. These standards ensure that contractors listed in the HPCN directory meet the minimum requirements for quality and professionalism.

The process is straightforward: contractors interested in joining can visit the HPCN website to explore available rebate programs and understand eligibility criteria.

For contractors, being part of the HPCN opens the door to more than just rebates. Members gain access to exclusive resources and industry updates that help them stay ahead of best practices and new technologies. The organization also provides important information and feedback, helping contractors continually improve their services and maintain high standards of quality.

In today’s competitive market, joining the HPCN and leveraging available incentives is essential for contractors who want to stand out, access rebates, and deliver top-tier service. Staying informed about the latest programs and maintaining good standing within the HPCN ensures you’re always ready to meet your clients’ home upgrade needs—and grow your business in the process.

 Try Before You Buy: Free Trial Available

Not sure about self-paced learning? (We’re biased — but you might be surprised.)

👉 Check out our 3-day free trial No credit card. No obligation. Just a peek inside the platform to see how it fits your style.

Ready to Get What You Need to Get Listed?

Whether you’re starting your HPCN journey or finishing your checklist, the Whole House Energy Retrofit course is your shortcut to advanced training — without cutting corners.

Sign up for WHER here

Sustainable Housing: Technical Focus and Scope

Like Blue House Energy, Retrofit Canada’s work primarily focuses on Part 9 buildings (small buildings and residential structures). This specialization allows them to develop deep expertise in residential sustainability solutions, aiming to provide effective solutions through best practices in the building and construction industry. Check out the growing list of Retrofit Canada case studies here, it’s a mix of finished projects, feasibility studies, and a few non-residential buildings as well.

There is a pressing need to build exponentially more homes to address the global housing crisis. Sustainable housing is how we ultimately create affordable housing in the long term by reducing energy consumption, conserving water, minimizing waste, and creating healthier living environments for occupants. New construction and retrofit projects can use both traditional and innovative materials and methods to ensure long-term sustainability. It's not rocket science - it's building science, and we've got the technical part of things sorted.

Making it affordable is another question, and that's got to include how we value the total cost of building ownership, not just up-front capital costs.

While initial construction or retrofit costs may be higher than 'business as usual' projects, the financial aspects of building and maintaining homes are critical to include in the value calculation. More durable and resilient materials choices combined with reduced energy and water costs end up playing a significant role in affordability over the lifespan of the building.

The three pillars of sustainability are environment, social, and economic. The key principles of sustainable housing include conservation of energy, water, and resources in ways that address the three pillars, for example:

• Eco-friendly practices and technologies that minimize environmental impact and promote healthy living environments are also critical.
• Reducing health care demand by improving indoor air quality and reducing occupants’ exposure to harmful substances.
• Various approaches to sustainable houses, including multi-unit buildings (densification), prefabricated homes, and tiny homes offer unique features and advantages, including energy efficiency and lower construction costs.

Housing infrastructure can either worsen existing issues or serve as a pivotal solution to the global housing crisis. Since the late 1980s, sustainable projects, policies, and plans have been implemented across different regions of the world, showcasing the potential of sustainable housing solutions.

Various strategies in the design and construction of sustainable housing, such as passive design strategies and community engagement approaches, contribute to overall sustainability. Prefabricated homes are less exposed to adverse weather conditions during the brief assembly process, enhancing their durability.

The global scale of challenges and solutions related to sustainable and affordable housing highlights the interconnectedness of housing issues with climate change and the need for innovative approaches worldwide.

Introduction to Sustainable Housing

Sustainable housing refers to the design, construction, and operation of living spaces that minimize negative environmental impact and promote social equity. Sustainable housing aims to reduce energy consumption, conserve water, and minimize waste, creating healthier living environments for occupants.

Sustainable housing not only benefits the environment but also provides long-term cost savings and improves the overall quality of life for residents.

Sustainable housing strategies include energy conservation in the building envelope, energy efficiency in the mechanical systems and appliances, and reducing waste through renewable, reusable, or repurposed materials. These strategies can be achieved through the adoption of existing technologies and sustainable practices. For instance, incorporating energy-efficient systems like solar panels in a Net Zero Energy house or retrofit can significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower utility bills.

Key Principles of Sustainable Housing

Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of sustainable housing, achievable through the use of energy-efficient appliances, insulation, and building materials. This not only reduces energy consumption but also lowers utility bills, making homes more affordable to maintain.

Sustainable housing also emphasizes the use of renewable materials, such as recycled content, and aims to reduce waste during both construction and operation phases. Water conservation is another critical principle, which can be achieved through careful plumbing system design, low-flow fixtures and rainwater harvesting systems.

Social equity is a fundamental aspect of sustainable housing, ensuring that affordable housing options are accessible to all, regardless of income or social status. By prioritizing social equity, sustainable housing projects can help bridge the gap between different socioeconomic groups.

Governments and organizations play a key role in promoting sustainable housing by providing incentives like tax credits and subsidies for homeowners and businesses that adopt sustainable practices. By reducing reliance on non-renewable resources and lowering our carbon footprint, sustainable housing creates healthier living environments for current and future generations.

The Hunt for Energy Efficiency in Deep Retrofit Projects

Back to Retrofit Canada: Peter and his team are actively searching for more deep retrofit opportunities. This initiative involves collaboration with Tim Wilson, the executive director of Retrofit Canada, and other industry professionals to identify and pursue promising leads for sustainable building upgrades.

Currently, the database includes a variety of case studies showcasing successful deep retrofit projects across Canada, including residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. The core focus is on deep energy retrofits, which involve comprehensive upgrades to improve a building's energy performance, often with a focus on achieving net-zero readiness.

The case studies cover diverse topics like site-built, panelized, and deep energy retrofits, and some also address embodied carbon, climate adaptation, and energy poverty.

The residential case studies include single-family homes, heritage cottages, and multi-unit buildings. Commercial and institutional case studies include municipal buildings, schools, and universities, often focusing on energy performance contracts and facility renewals.

Does your project demonstrate any of the following topics?

• Panelized and Site-Built Retrofits: Retrofit Canada includes case studies comparing site-built and panelized retrofit approaches, showcasing the benefits of both.
• Embodied Carbon: Some case studies consider the embodied carbon of materials used in retrofits, aiming for sustainable and low-carbon solutions.
• Climate Adaptation: Some case studies address climate resilience, with retrofits designed to withstand changing climate conditions.
• Energy Poverty: Some case studies focus on addressing energy poverty by making homes more affordable and energy-efficient.
• Smart Buildings: Natural Resources Canada includes case studies on data-driven smart buildings and their role in optimizing energy performance.

If you’d like to talk to Retrofit Canada about including your project as a case study, use this link.

Building Science Insights: Windows and Comfort

When asked about his favorite aspect of building science, Peter highlighted the importance of mean radiant comfort, particularly regarding window performance. He emphasized that various factors, such as energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable materials, and overall environmental impact, are essential for designing and constructing sustainable housing.

But windows have always been - and remain - the weak link in the building envelope.

He expressed concern that much of the window industry might be missing opportunities to improve building comfort through high-performance windows and air tightness - two crucial elements for creating comfortable, energy-efficient homes.

Additionally, the use of energy-efficient materials, passive design strategies, and community engagement approaches collectively contribute to the overall sustainability of housing initiatives.

Personal Experience with Home Upgrades

Peter shared his own experience with home improvements, describing his current project to achieve net-zero status through geothermal systems and solar installations, and how his sustainable home is being built with innovative materials and practices.

The financial aspects of building and maintaining homes are crucial, especially when considering the low construction costs of straw bale homes and the impact of energy and water costs on the financial sustainability of affordable housing.

His property, located near the Riverdale Net Zero House and Sundance Housing Co-op, is a good example of some of the practical challenges of upgrading existing homes, including working with older window systems that may not benefit from replacement despite newer technologies being available.

Industry Challenges and Opportunities

Among the biggest industry challenges is the tendency to implement single measures without considering the bigger picture, aiming to provide effective solutions through best practices in the building and construction industry. This approach often results in missed opportunities for comprehensive, effective improvements for the sake of ‘low hanging fruit’.

The use of energy-efficient materials, passive design strategies, and community engagement approaches collectively contribute to the overall sustainability of housing initiatives.

Peter emphasized the importance of thorough planning and system-wide thinking in retrofit projects, considering various factors essential for designing and constructing sustainable housing.

The Retrofit Canada Conference: A Platform for Innovation

The discussion touched on the upcoming Retrofit Canada Conference (June 9th and 10th in Toronto).

This event, while not organized by Retrofit Canada itself, promises to explore the intersection of policy, finance, and technology in transforming Canada’s retrofit sector, considering various factors essential for designing and constructing sustainable housing. There are two streams: residential retrofits and commercial/large-scale projects.

Documenting Deep Retrofits: A Collaborative Effort

The conversation began and ended with a discussion about the documentation of deep retrofits. Peter explained that while they aim to make the process as self-directed as possible, some formatting and follow-up work is still necessary. This documentation effort represents a crucial step in advancing sustainable building practices, even if it requires additional resources and support.

By creating ‘recipes’ for retrofit packages, the learning curve goes down and the number of successful whole house energy retrofits goes up.

Community Engagement and Participation

Community engagement and participation are vital for the successful implementation of sustainable housing projects. By involving residents in the planning and execution stages, we can ensure that their needs and concerns are addressed, leading to more effective and accepted solutions.

Education and awareness campaigns are crucial for raising awareness about the benefits of sustainable housing. Workshops, training sessions, and public meetings can provide platforms for residents to learn about sustainable practices and contribute their input on projects.

By addressing potential barriers, such as lack of access to affordable housing options or limited awareness about sustainable practices, community engagement can help ensure that sustainable housing projects are inclusive and effective.

Looking Forward

As the home energy retrofit industry evolves, the key is developing comprehensive, replicable solutions that consider both technical requirements and practical implementation. We need a balanced approach, aiming to create comfortable, energy-efficient homes for Canadians through best practices in the building and construction industry.

Peter and the Retrofit Canada are a significant part of the ongoing efforts to improve Canada’s housing stock, considering various factors essential for designing and constructing sustainable housing. 

What deep energy retrofit projects are you working on? Share links in the comments, we'll showcase your project here too!

Listen to Season 4, Episode 2, with Trevor Trainor, here, or on Spotify.

Understanding the Northern Challenge

The construction landscape in Canada's northern regions presents unique challenges that demand innovative solutions. With temperatures regularly plunging well below freezing and extended periods of darkness, buildings in these areas must be expertly designed and constructed to withstand extreme conditions while maintaining comfort and efficiency.

The Science Behind Northern Building Practices

One of the most crucial aspects of northern construction is understanding the intricate relationship between heat, moisture, and building materials. As Trainor explains, this isn't simply about adding more insulation - it's about creating a carefully balanced system that manages air flow, prevents moisture accumulation, and maintains structural integrity in extreme conditions.

Key Considerations in Northern Construction:

• Unvented roof systems designed specifically for northern climates
• Strategic moisture management through proper ventilation
• Careful selection and placement of exterior insulation
• Integration of traditional knowledge with modern building science

The Role of Hygrothermic Modeling

Modern building science relies heavily on hygrothermic modeling - a sophisticated approach to understanding how heat and moisture move through building materials over time. This scientific method allows builders and designers to predict potential issues before they arise, leading to more effective and durable construction solutions.

Indigenous Housing: A Complex Challenge

Key challenges include:

• Limited access to materials and skilled labor
• Need for culturally appropriate design solutions
• Extreme weather conditions affecting construction and maintenance
• Balancing traditional practices with modern building requirements

The Future of Northern Construction

As climate change continues to impact northern regions, the importance of adaptive and resilient building practices becomes increasingly critical. The industry is moving toward:

• Greater integration of data-driven decision making
• Enhanced collaboration between building science experts and local communities
• Development of new materials and techniques specifically for northern applications
• Increased focus on sustainable and energy-efficient solutions

Best Practices for Northern Construction

Based on Trainor's expertise, several key practices emerge as essential for successful northern construction:

1. Comprehensive Planning

Every project must begin with thorough analysis of local conditions, including climate data, site characteristics, and community needs.

2. Material Selection

Choose materials that can withstand extreme temperature variations and are suitable for the specific challenges of northern environments.

3. Moisture Management

Implement sophisticated moisture control strategies to prevent issues like condensation and mold growth.

4. Quality Control

Maintain rigorous quality control throughout the construction process, with particular attention to air sealing and insulation installation.

About Trevor Trainor

Trevor Trainor is the President of Bawating Building Science, a company specializing in building science solutions for extreme northern climates. With extensive experience in Indigenous housing conditions throughout Northern Ontario and Arctic regions, Trevor has established himself as an expert in adapting construction practices for harsh environments.

Prior to founding Bawating Building Science, Trevor worked alongside the illustrious Dr. John Straube at the University of Waterloo. During this collaboration, he contributed to groundbreaking research in building envelope systems and hygrothermal performance modeling, particularly focusing on cold climate applications.

His current work focuses on innovative approaches to building science, particularly in the development and implementation of unvented roof systems for northern housing. Trevor's expertise in hygrothermic modeling and research has contributed significantly to understanding heat and moisture movement in building materials under extreme conditions.

As a leading voice in northern construction practices, Trevor combines technical expertise with practical experience to address the unique challenges of building in remote and climatically challenging regions. His work demonstrates a commitment to creating sustainable, durable housing solutions that respect both modern building science and local needs.

Listen to Season 4, Episode 2, with Trevor Trainor, here, or on Spotify.

In an era where climate change and energy efficiency are at the forefront of global concerns, the role of Energy Advisors has become increasingly crucial. These professionals serve as the bridge between homeowners, builders, and energy-efficient solutions, helping to create more sustainable living spaces across Canada. Recently, we had the privilege of hosting an enlightening panel discussion with four distinguished experts in the field, who shared their invaluable insights about the evolving landscape of energy advising.

The Evolution of Energy Advising: From Past to Present

The energy advising profession has undergone significant transformation over the years. Shawna Henderson, CEO of Blue House Energy and one of Canada's pioneering energy advisors, reflects on the industry's evolution. "When we first started, energy efficiency was barely on the radar. Now, it's become integral to building codes and construction practices."

This sentiment is echoed by Toby Smith of Building Knowledge Canada, who emphasizes how the role has expanded beyond basic energy assessments. "Today's Energy Advisors need to understand complex building science principles, stay current with evolving technologies, and effectively communicate with various stakeholders."

The Technical Foundation: Knowledge and Expertise

Amelie Caron, owner of Ecosynergy, stresses the importance of technical proficiency in the field. "Energy advising isn't just about checking boxes," she explains. "It requires a deep understanding of building science, thermal dynamics, and how different building systems interact."

The profession demands a unique combination of skills:

• Technical knowledge of building science principles
• Understanding of energy modeling software and tools
• Ability to conduct thorough home assessments
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent communication skills for client interaction

Navigating the Professional Landscape

Cindy Gareau, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors (CACEA), provides valuable insights into the industry's structure. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between Service Organizations (SOs) and individual advisors.

"The relationship with your Service Organization is crucial," Gareau notes. "They provide the framework for your work, but it's essential to ensure their values and practices align with your professional standards."

Catch the whole discussion!

Career Growth and Opportunities

The panel highlighted various career paths within the industry:

• Residential Energy Advisor
• Commercial Building Specialist
• Energy Modeling Expert
• Training and Education Provider
• Policy and Program Development

Industry Challenges and Solutions

The discussion revealed several key challenges facing the industry:

• Training standardization across regions
• Keeping pace with evolving technology
• Managing client expectations
• Navigating regulatory changes

However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation and growth. "The complexity of our work is increasing," notes Toby, "but so is the recognition of its importance."

The Impact on Climate Change and Sustainability

Energy Advisors play a crucial role in Canada's climate action strategy. Their work directly contributes to:

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Lower energy consumption in buildings
• Improved home comfort and durability
• Enhanced property values

Future Trends and Industry Direction

The panel identified several emerging trends that will shape the future of energy advising:

• Integration of artificial intelligence in energy modeling
• Increased focus on embodied carbon
• Growing demand for net-zero building expertise
• Enhanced integration with smart home technologies

Advice for Aspiring Energy Advisors

The panelists offered valuable advice for those considering entering the field:

• Invest in comprehensive training and education
• Develop a strong network within the industry
• Stay current with industry developments and technologies
• Focus on building practical experience
• Maintain professional integrity and high standards

The energy advising profession stands at a crossroads. As building codes evolve and climate concerns intensify (and deeper retrofits of our existing building stock are required in response to both), the role of Energy Advisors as consultants as well as 3rd party verifiers will expand.

__________________________________________________

 📥 Free Resource: What to Consider When Selecting a Service Organization

Download this guide from CACEA covering:

• Required qualifications and certifications
• Step-by-step career pathway
• Types of business relationships
• Industry resources and networking opportunities
• Success tips from CACEA

Here comes a short, hopefully not too boring civics lesson. This is crucial to understanding how and/or why political change will impact our industry.

The first thing to clarify are the differences between federal and provincial jurisdictions.

• The federal government is responsible for developing a national-level model building code, doing the heavy lift of research and guidance for the provinces.
• The federal government makes national policy, which informs a national budget, which is then put into action through funding initiatives that go to the provinces.
• Housing regulation (implementing and enforcing building codes) is a provincial jurisdiction, each province or territory has it’s own building code, built off the model code developed at the federal level. Depending on their charter, cities can also have their own building by-laws or standards.

Policy and Funding

With regards to energy and net zero, here’s how it shakes out the national level: in 2016, Canada and the provinces committed to the ‘Pan Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change’.

Released in 2017, the Framework is a 10-year commitment to growing the economy while reducing carbon emissions. This includes an aspirational goal of hitting net zero across all sectors, including net zero energy ready housing by 2030.

National-level policy in pretty much every sector is driven by this framework.

The current Liberal housing strategy – Canada’s Housing Plan – made up a significant part of the 2024 budget. The plan aims to solve the housing crisis by investing in programs to increase housing supply, expand the workforce, preserve and build affordable housing, protect renters, and address homelessness.

Housing is a provincial jurisdiction. The federal government cannot dictate how houses get built.

Each province or territory has funding in it’s budget for housing. Each one is also the recipient of federal funding for housing. Under the 2024 Canada’s Housing Plan, cities and municipalities can also be direct recipients of federal money.

Canada’s Housing Plan does not tie funding to energy performance targets. A different federal funding initiative could include energy performance targets as criteria for eligibility (that’s what the Greener Homes grant and loan program did/does). This is the only way that the federal government can stipulate how houses are to be built.

Performance targets are incorporated into building codes.

Codes and Regulations

As part of the Pan-Canadian Framework, the provinces agreed to harmonize their building codes with national regulations so that a Net Zero Energy Ready standard could be possible.

Provinces and territories have agreed to reach net-zero energy-ready standard by 2030.

The National Building Code (NBC), is a model code, with an update released every 5 years. The model code is adopted or adapted by the provinces and territories, and that’s when it becomes the legal instrument that dictates structural and fire safety, and now, energy performance.

Building codes (unlike fire codes) work on a ‘go forward’ basis, meaning that structures built under old codes don’t have to meet new code requirements unless/until the structure is undergoing a major alteration/renovation or is being re-purposed. Buildings always have to be brought up to compliance the current fire code.

The National Building Code is fairly neutral when it comes to politics, mainly because it’s developed via a thorough consensus process on that 5 year cycle. The content is developed by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC). This independent commission collaborates with hundreds of volunteer industry experts and public members across nine standing committees, each of which has several task groups and working groups.

What’s Included in the Building Code?

Prior to energy efficiency measures being included in the NBC, it was a prescriptive document for structural and fire safety. To build legally, you followed the tables and charts that dictated foundation parameters, framing spacing, fire separation, and so on. ‘Thou shalt’ language.

After mechanical ventilation and energy efficiency measures were included, things had to change a little, because all of a sudden, there were variations on approaches based on things like climate, regional fuel types, different mechanical equipment optons, air sealing approaches, and a wide range of insulation materials with differing characteristics.

‘Thou shalt’ still works for structural and fire, but the code changed to ‘objective-based’ language meant code compliance could be met by demonstrating that an approach or assembly or design met the objective of the code (ie, ‘ensure energy efficiency’).

It turns out that that’s not quite enough, either. It can be expensive to ‘demonstrate code compliance’, there were some significant gaps and there was no guidance on the level of ‘energy efficiency’ to be met.

What’s a ‘Performance-Based’ Building Code

We moved to ‘performance based’ code in 2020. Now we have explicit tiered energy performance targets that are confirmed by energy modelling prior to, and after, construction. Some jurisdictions also include mandatory air tightness testing with a blower door.

While there are several ways to confirm the energy performance target, in home construction (Part 9), code compliance is primarily via an EnerGuide for Houses Rating, which includes energy modelling and air tightness testing to verify the performance.

It feels important to note here that ‘building to code’ is always the bare minimum legal standard, even with energy performance targets.

The Path to Net Zero

The two-pronged goal of the tiered National Building Code is exactly the same as the BC Energy Step Code:

1. To incrementally improve building energy performance
2. To establish a viable path towards net-zero energy-ready construction standards.

Each ‘tier’ is an improvement on energy performance of a building.

The top tier is the Net Zero Energy Ready target - with roughly 60% lower energy use than a Tier 1 house.

The NBC 2025 will be released shortly. It includes three key additions:

1. Operational GHG targets
2. An absolute EUI (energy utilization index) compliance pathway
3. Enhanced retrofit considerations (Part 10: Alterations to Existing Buildings)

It’s important to note that provinces and territories can adopt/adapt the NBC 2025 at will after it has been released by the National Research Council.

What Provinces Have Adopted NBC 2020?

NBC 2020 has been adopted by all provinces (except BC and Quebec). Ontario incorporated NBC 2020 into it’s new building code January 1, 2025.

The Yukon has also adopted NBC 2020, while the building code in the other territories and Quebec meet energy efficiency requirements found in NBC 2015.

Let’s talk about BC:

BC introduced the Energy Step Code in 2017. Five steps, with the goal of hitting Step Five,or Net Zero, by 2032.

As of May 2023, the BC Building Code requires 20%-better energy efficiency for most new buildings in BC (Step 3 for houses and Step 2 for large buildings). The BC Building Code also incorporated Zero Carbon Step Code guidelines in May 2023.

In addition, major cities, like Vancouver and Toronto, have their own stringent performance-based building by-laws or standards.

Performance-Based Building Code: Flexibility + Guidance

All large-market regions require housing to hit a minimum energy performance target. That’s baked into the applicable building code.

It’s a bit of a patchwork, with some provinces adopting only Tier 1, some starting at Tier 2, and others adopting all tiers for builders to choose from. It’s important to note that he initial tier chosen as minimum performance target can be changed at will by each province.

The harmonized, tiered model building code eliminates the need for jurisdictions to develop their own regulations to pursue energy efficiency objectives.

Using performance-based targets for energy efficiency and carbon reduction gives builders, renovators, and property owners flexibility. Meeting a performance target versus following a set of ‘thou shalt’ tables means a builder could choose to install best-in-class high performance windows and doors instead of increasing the insulation throughout the building. Or maximize the insulation levels and hit a low air tightness target.

Tiered energy performance targets allows for a path to net zero that works best for the client, climate and circumstances.

Can The Current Building Code Be Abolished

Short answer: No.

The building code is not going to change back in the near term. Builders are bound to meet code requirements around energy performance.

Longer answer:

Provinces and territories are constitutionally responsible for regulating building construction and enforcing building codes.

I’m not a legal scholar or constitutional expert. But I can say this:

The model building code is relatively well insulated from immediate or even long-term upheaval due to political change. It’s on a 5 year cycle, there is a large number of people volunteering on committees, and the consensus decision-making model. The provinces are in charge of enforcing building codes and standards and have their own cycles of revision, updating, and reviewing.

It would require a massive upheaval of Canada’s legal and regulatory frameworks - right down to the constitution - for the current performance-based building codes (model or enacted provincial codes) to be abolished.

Future of Net Zero Housing in Canada

Let me say it again: there is no federal legislation with regard to Net Zero Housing.

However, building codes with a baseline energy performance standard are now law, or will be law, due to harmonization efforts and commitments made by provinces and territories.

Current housing policy at the federal level is driven by the net zero energy ready goals of the Pan-Canadian Framework. (This includes the harmonization of building regulations across the country via the adoption of the model NBC.)

The current government has the Green Building Strategy in place to encourage the path to net zero energy and carbon emissions.

Canada’s Housing Plan is in place to accelerate the rate of new construction.

The funding associated with the current federal initiatives around energy and buildings has been allocated with most of it locked into multi-year contracts across the country

Breaking millions of dollars’ worth of contracts a costly endeavour.

The tiered code also allows us to create standards and guidelines that also ease the learning curve.

Federally-funded projects are aimed at supporting industry to get to Net Zero. There are several regional accelerator programs as well as national programs such as CHBA’s 3-year project ‘Enabling Tiered Codes – Implementation and Market Preparedness’ are aimed at easing the way to Net Zero Ready houses through “Builder Option Packages” and training.

With this kind of support in place, the industry is able to move the Net Zero agenda. I’d say that’s a good thing for ‘real’ change vs. change based on incentives and politics, given what happened with the Greener Homes Grant program.

Triple Threat Housing Crisis

A change in government will bring in a new mandate, whomever wins.

There is no clear policy identified by the federal Conservatives with regards to housing and energy. Most of the focus of any discussion is on the energy sector and the carbon tax.

In that regard, according to editor-at-large Sean Speer of The Hub, a right-leaning media platform: “market forces are now driving emissions reductions faster than top-down technocrats could ever aspire to.”

The plain fact is, that whatever party makes up the government in 2025, nobody can ignore the three headed beast of housing: not enough supply, not enough workforce, not enough affordability.

The long-term implications of affordability and energy security can be addressed in part by a slightly higher capital cost for minimal operating costs over the lifespan of a new or retrofit building.

As shown in BC over the years, and through programs like the CHBA’s Net Zero labelling program, the incremental costs of getting to higher performance buildings get smaller as the learning curve goes down. This is partially why we have a tiered code - to build in an easy learning curve for builders and renovators.

However, the threat of US tariffs is a real cause for concern. Tariffs and material supply chain disruptions translate directly into higher costs to build, creating a whole cascade of consequences that will likely mean fewer housing starts. The opposite of what we need.

Update: and just like that, another aspect of the real world and the economic impacts of energy efficiency kicks in as to why we're still on the Path to Net Zero, regardless of political change:

The Ontario government announced plans to nearly triple its annual investment in energy efficiency with $10.8 billion in funding for demand-side management programs, while also reducing electricity system costs by an estimated $23.1 billion over 24 years. Rebates will be turned on 28 Jan 2025.

Efficiency Canada's Sr. Director of Policy Strategy Brendan Haley in The Energy Mix:

"They are doing this because it is a lower cost option than power plants and transmission lines and it saves the entire electricity system money. It’s better than supply-side options because you pay people instead of power plants."

Building Science Radio is designed to meet the needs of industry professionals and DIY homeowners looking to deepen their knowledge of building science, construction technology, and high-performance housing.

It's for folks who are on the go, in your truck, on the site.

No time to take courses, and YouTube is great, but you can't watch it while you drive!

Whether you’re a builder, renovator, contractor, or homeowner, Building Science Radio offers practical, expert-driven insights to help you build smarter, healthier, and more energy-efficient homes—all from the convenience of your truck, job site, or living room.

Why Building Science Radio?

In today’s fast-evolving construction landscape, keeping up with building codes, energy standards, and client expectations can feel overwhelming.

There's a lot of information out there, and it can be hard to sift the sales pitch from the science. That’s where Blue House Energy and Building Science Radio comes in.

We don't sell products. We sell industry-vetted online training.

This on-demand streaming service provides hours of accessible, on-the-go learning curated by industry experts. It’s perfect for:

• Builders, renovators, and contractors needing quick, actionable knowledge to enhance their projects.
• Technical sales professionals aiming to stay ahead of industry trends and better serve their clients.
• DIY homeowners planning upgrades or renovations for a more comfortable, energy-efficient home.

What’s Included?

A subscription to Building Science Radio unlocks access to an incredible library of resources, including:

1. Hours of Audio Content: Covering building science, construction technology, healthy indoor environments, mechanical systems, and more.
2. Exclusive Archive of This Must Be The Place: Enjoy all 52 episodes of Blue House Energy’s popular podcast hosted by Shawna Henderson, an industry expert with over three decades of experience.
3. Early Access to New Content: Topics include low-carbon new construction, electrification, resilient housing, and net-zero energy strategies.
4. Live Q&A/AMA Sessions: Subscribers gain exclusive access to live events with Shawna and other experts in the field.
5. Bonus Materials: Downloadable resources and links to enhance your learning.

How Building Science Radio Helps Industry Professionals

For builders, renovators, and contractors, Building Science Radio is your on-the-go solution for professional development. Here’s how it can elevate your work:

• Stay Ahead of Code Changes: Learn about the latest energy efficiency and building code updates.
• Save Time and Money: Avoid costly mistakes with actionable advice from industry veterans.
• Impress Clients: Gain the expertise to confidently answer client questions and deliver high-performance homes.

Why Homeowners Should Listen to Building Science Radio

Planning a renovation or home upgrade? Building Science Radio makes complex concepts simple.

You’ll discover how to:

• Create a healthier, more comfortable living space.
• Reduce energy costs with smart building practices.
• Understand the science behind your home’s systems.

Expert-Led Content You Can Trust

The voice behind Building Science Radio is none other than Shawna Henderson, Blue House Energy’s CEO and lead subject matter expert. With over 30 years of experience, Shawna is a trailblazer in the industry, known for her hands-on expertise in energy-efficient building design, deep energy retrofits, and net-zero construction.

And you don't just have take our word for it - Blue House Energy is a recognized provider of continuing education and professional development in Canada and the US.

What Makes Building Science Radio Unique?

1. Accessibility: Whether you’re commuting, working on-site, or relaxing at home, you can learn anytime, anywhere.
2. Practicality: The content is tailored to solve real-world challenges faced by industry professionals and homeowners alike. Easy access through Spotify
3. Affordability: Subscriptions start at just $16/month or $120/year.
   
   
   

Special Early Bird Offer

To celebrate the launch of Building Science Radio, we’re offering an exclusive early bird deal:

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What Listeners Are Saying

During our beta phase, early users of Building Science Radio shared glowing feedback:

“This is exactly what I needed. The content is accessible, practical, and easy to apply on the job site.” – MB

“Having expert advice on demand has saved me so much time—I'm excited to pass this along to my clients.” – SC

Get a Load of BS in Your Ear for A Year!

Whether you’re improving your professional skills or tackling a DIY project, Building Science Radio is your key to smarter, healthier, and more efficient building. With content grounded in real-world application, it’s the perfect gift for yourself—or anyone in the building industry—this holiday season.

Ready to build smarter?

Deep energy retrofits are a crucial step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a more sustainable future. As buildings are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in many cities, it is essential to adopt energy-efficient measures to minimize their environmental footprint. Deep energy retrofits involve comprehensive upgrades to existing buildings, significantly improving their energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Deep energy retrofits require a whole house approach to be successful.

When scheduling a home renovation project, there are many factors to consider: weather, cost, holidays, labour, and material availability. Homeowners don’t always have the luxury of choosing a start and finish date. Their project schedule revolves around the availability of their renovator and contractors.

It’s the law of supply and demand:

Spring is the busiest time of year typically when it comes to home construction, as Canadians come out of hibernation. Warmer temperatures and defrosting landscapes mean work can begin on foundations.

Times for Renovation

When it comes to a home renovation, the time frame will affect the method, budget, and extent of the work. There’s no one size fits all solution. Here’s some general truths:

• The demand for renovations increases in the early spring when the weather becomes more pleasant.
• Construction peaks in the summer, when school is out, and the weather is at its best, and continues into the fall.
• Winter is when everything slows down - homeowners want to be wrapped up before winter holidays, and contractors want to have jobs signed off before the end of the year.

Unveiling the Right Months for Home Retrofits

Fall or spring are the best seasons to work outside - temperatures are reasonable, in most parts of Canada the weather is also reasonable.

When it comes to a significant energy retrofit, like adding exterior insulation under new cladding, the best time to do the work is in the fall. October is the best month - weather is usually decent, temperatures aren’t too bad, and the timing is perfect.

Here’s why:

The benefits associated with the cost of doing the retrofit work will be immediately apparent with lower energy bills. It’s the beginning of heating season! That means financing that kicks in or cash outlays coincide with energy savings. With this timing, there is lower impact on the household budget and cash flow. The first month of savings might not be very much, but you’re going into the deep freeze when the savings will be most obvious.

Big-ticket energy retrofits that are undertaken in the spring mean that homeowners are paying for financing for 4 to 6 months before seeing the energy savings kick in. That needs to be calculated into the equation to ensure that it’s not a stressor or risk factor.

Fall is the ideal season for energy retrofit work, but only if you plan early. This involves getting started with planning and estimates in the spring and completing contracts, finance, and estimates in the summer.

So in mid-September I sent out an email blast to invite people to tell me why they’re passionate about what they do. I got loads of ‘not right now busy, but definitely next time.’ I know how busy most folks are, I really should have asked them back in July sometime and pestered them for weeks.

Some folks managed to squeeze in a bit of time and thought, so thank you to everyone listed below!

I’ll keep asking, with more lead time. And I’ll keep posting these short profiles of colleagues, peers, friends, and new acquaintances in energy efficiency! Because we’ve got to share successes and make connections and build strong allies across dozens of disciplines, trades, and roles.

May one or more of these stories inspire you on your own journey.

I hope that by featuring a range of people in my network that I can not only spark interest in people looking to get into this field, but also generate more cross-pollination between folks.

One thing that strikes me is how widely the ‘origin’ stories of folks vary. Nobody in this list was (is) on a straight-line trajectory (I know some deeper background stories because I've interviewed some of these folks for my podcast, This Must Be The Place). The thing that stitches them all together is passion and curiousity and interest in making people’s lives better.

Also: what a bunch of nerds. The highest quality. Y’all are my favourite.

Thanks all for taking the time to make this article a real thing.

Here we go, in no particular order:

ANGELA BUSTAMANTE  C.E.T, MEA, RVDT, LEED AP+BD+C

Technical Director of Builder Services, Building Knowledge Canada

This is a role that forces the attention to detail and involvement in so many aspects of the industry from energy to hvac to building codes, incentive programs, voluntary programs, municipal goals to all move the building industry forward.

After eighteen plus years with Building Knowledge Canada I’m still baffled at how much the industry of energy, HVAC, codes relates to Building Science and House as a System.  My enjoyment of the being a part of the industry and throughout all my roles from drafting, admin, scheduling, energy software, HVAC design, Energy Advisor, committees, it still all comes down to Building Science.

Building Science is a science that you just can’t change.

You can really mess things up in a build or through a program or even a code for that matter but you cannot change the science behind it.  I love being in the mix of the chaos of communication between parties and bringing one focus – building science – the why and then the how it can be applied to the necessary application.

CMHC provided early research and coined the term the “house-as-a-system”, which basically implies that all the systems in a building are interconnected and influenced by their environment. Changes to any one system component will affect other systems and the cumulative effect of the systems working together is greater than the effect of any single system.

In other words a short example, if you are working on the building envelope you can’t forget the HVAC designs and the mechanical systems and how they relate and impact one another.

In relation, a particular profession, may it be an architectural designer, an HVAC designer, Plans Examiner/Inspector and Energy Advisor or Builder’s team of contracts/scopes/site/trades all play a vital role in keeping “House As A System” together for the right reasons and minimalize risks. I enjoy being the central base.

Website: www.buildingknowledge.ca

(Listen to my conversation with Angela on This Must Be The Place)

CHRIS BENJAMIN

Senior Energy Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre

I am the Senior Energy Coordinator focused on energy efficiency in buildings. Our energy team of eight people is divided between supply-side (replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy) and demand-side (using less energy by being more efficient) work. I lead a sub-team of four people.

Our work focuses on alleviating energy poverty, helping communities (like faith groups) save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making their buildings more efficient, electrifying home heating and switching to heat pumps, preparing the labour force for a zero-carbon transition, and ensuring Nova Scotia and Canada make the needed energy policy and investments for a zero-carbon future.

But my passion is a good story. I strongly believe the words of Laguna Pueblo author Leslie Marmon Silko, who wrote that stories "are all we have, you see, all we have to fight off illness and death." She was writing of a specific Native American context, but stories shape and define our understanding of everything. As much as I love science and the depth of knowledge it has given human beings, stories are how we interpret the world.

My work is really about bringing people—smart, dedicated people with strong hearts and minds—together to share stories about energy needs, use, challenges, and solutions.

My favourite book on sustainability is Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, the story of humanity told by a gorilla.

*Chris Benjamin is a husband, dad, dog friend, and the author of six books (half of 'em true). He's a senior energy coordinator at Ecology Action Centre.*

SONJA WINKELMAN, EP

Senior Director, Net Zero Housing, CHBA

In 2014 I joined the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) to head up its newly formed Net Zero Council (NZC). Having worked in the energy efficient housing field (EnerGuide, Built Green, R-2000, Net Zero) for 10 years at that point, I was excited about working with a larger audience of builders.

Leading the development of CHBA’s Net Zero Home Labelling Program as well as the associated training courses and marketing efforts has been one of my proudest career accomplishments. The Program provides the industry and consumers with a clearly defined and rigorous two-tiered technical requirement that recognizes Net Zero and Net Zero Ready Homes, and the builders and renovators who provide them.

In addition to the educational offerings including our Net Zero Leadership Summit, and the marketing resources, participants say they really value networking with like-minded professionals that they can bounce ideas off, share challenges with, and get inspired from.

Today, more than 2,100 homes in Canada have been labelled, the program has expanded to include renovations and multi-unit residential buildings (with a new alternative compliance path), the NZC is celebrating its 10th year, and I now have a team of 5 hard-working lovely people helping to help make the program even better for our members! We’ve added more IAQ components to the program, and most recently, we’ve been working on operational and embodied GHGs, as well as best practices for climate change resiliency.

The work we do is always evolving, which is part of the challenge and excitement that motivates me.

On a personal note, I’ve been driving an all-electric car since 2016, I’ve lived in an all-electric semi-detached Net Zero Ready Home since 2022, and I received the Environmental Professional (EP) designation from ECO Canada in 2019.

Here's a link to our consumer-oriented blog posts: https://blog.chba.ca/category/net-zero/

(Listen to my conversation with Sonja on This Must Be The Place)

NATALIE LEONARD, P. ENG.

Founding Partner, Passive Design Solutions

I am an engineer by education and a design/builder by trade.  My work has been greatly influenced by my extensive world travels.  Travel experiences have impacted her view about the fair and equitable use of resources- especially how many resources we use in North America for housing in comparison to the rest of the world.

For the past 20+ years, I have been on a mission to figure out how we can reduce our share of energy use in housing in a cost- effective way.  A way that would allow mainstream implementation in the market. The climate crisis has her even more motivated.

My desire to reduce the housing carbon footprint led me to start the company: Passive Design Solutions (PDS) 15 years ago.  I am Canada’s first Certified Passive House Consultant and Builder.  As the founder of Passive Design, my (and now our) mission is to make sustainable, high-performance homes affordable for everyone.  My engineering background, hands-on design and construction experience, and practical approach to building has made Passive Design the industry leader it is today.

Passive Design has created a series of single-family Net Zero home plans. We work with affordable housing projects to bring net zero housing to everyone, not just owners with deep pockets.  We believe that in order for these home designs to be widely adopted, they need to be: beautiful, practical, cost effective, easy to build, easy to maintain.

“ If I had known how hard building the first Passive House project (in Canada) would’ve been, I wouldn’t have have done it.  After 3 – 4 builds, I wondered why I thought it was hard at all! After 15 years and 400 projects later, we’ve come a long way.”

I have performed every role in the company at various points in time. Passive Design began as a design-build firm and has transitioned to an architectural design firm based on my initial vision to make a bigger impact on the climate crisis by working on more projects. I now specializes in affordable, multi-family projects to which I contributes my engineering, construction support, energy consulting, and project management expertise.  My passion is making high-quality and energy efficient housing more affordable and accessible in the mainstream.

I am passionate about this work because it makes a difference to our planet. I enjoy working with our team and clients with shared values.  Working on projects that are highly collaborative and without ego is most rewarding for me.  Creating well designed spaces that are net zero energy use and provide housing for the underserved populations and everyday people is my favorite work.

Here’s a link to our work:

https://blog.passivedesign.ca/blog/tag/net-zero

BRENDAN HALEY

Senior Director of Policy Strategy, Efficiency Canada

I am a Senior Director of Policy Strategy at Efficiency Canada, a national energy efficiency research and advocacy organization. My passion is what you some call “policy entrepreneurship”. I like finding policy areas that are neglected and meaningful, where I can make a difference, and then figuring out how to introduce good solutions, at the right time in a particular political environment.

I like working on energy efficiency policy advocacy because not that many other people are doing it. I get to advocate for inspiring and positive solutions because energy efficiency delivers benefits for affordability, health, and equity.

When a policy change happens, it is often quite clear we played a key role in it. Over my career, I played a role in advocating for the creation of Efficiency Nova Scotia (Canada’s first energy efficiency utility). I know that if it wasn’t for our work we probably wouldn’t have seen a low-income energy efficiency program funded in the last budget, the creation of an acceleration fund for building code adoption, or the creation of deep retrofit accelerator programs across Canada.

Of course, progress in energy efficiency is really accomplished by the people working in the buildings, or implementing programs, or working in government. I know I play a niche role on the advocacy and research side by contributing to public policy debates and discussions.

It is important to never be satisfied because most policies are far from perfect. It is important to understand the benefits of limitations of previous policy wins and then strive to make them better and perhaps transform them completely. I always try and understand what currently exists and what is possible, while always thinking about how to achieve what might seem impossible today.

My favourite book on sustainability is “The Social Costs of Private Enterprise” written by K William Kapp in 1950. This was an early presentation of the idea that pollution is an external cost created by markets. His solution was to stop the problems before they start through policies where private business and governments work to change the structure and direction of markets, in contrast to incremental policies, like pollution taxes, to manage social and environmental “externalities”.

Links

Where I work: https://www.efficiencycanada.org/

Where I post

linkedin.com/in/brendan-haley-3b6b0721

https://twitter.com/br_haley

https://bsky.app/profile/brhaley.bsky.social

(Listen to my conversation with Brendan on This Must Be The Place)

JACK ZHOU, MEA

President, A & J Energy Consultants Inc.

As a Master Energy Advisor in Canada and the President of A & J Energy Consultants Inc., my work revolves around transforming Canadian homes into high-performance, energy-efficient living spaces. With a background spanning from hands-on residential construction to teaching energy-efficient housing techniques, I’ve spent nearly two decades working to accelerate the transition to sustainable housing.

My passion is rooted in the belief that every home can—and should—be both energy-efficient and comfortable, without compromising affordability. I thrive on finding cost-effective solutions that not only reduce energy consumption but also enhance the quality of life for homeowners. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the tangible impacts of energy modeling and sustainable design come to life through the houses we work on.

One of my favorite parts of this journey is collaborating with like-minded builders and homeowners who are committed to sustainability. Seeing the lightbulb moment when they understand the long-term benefits of energy-efficient homes is priceless. Education is also a huge focus in my work—whether it’s mentoring other energy advisors, teaching techniques globally, or working as a technical committee member, I aim to share knowledge that helps create a sustainable future.

Website: www.ajec.ca/

ANDY COCKBURN

Senior Director, Education and Impact, NAIMA Canada

A little over 20 years ago, I was working for a Canadian company that was building high-performance homes in panels to ship out all over the world – Russia, Japan, Ireland, the USA and more.  We were assembling the parts and pieces of “Super-E” houses on a small factory floor, labelling and shipping panels on flatbed trucks and in sea cans.  The energy performance of these houses was baked into the construction process, and we were operating to strict tolerances and standards of quality to keep envelope performance as high as possible.

The time I’ve spent working on site and in shops has given me a good grounding in the practicalities of energy efficient housing, thinking about how things go together and troubleshooting weak spots in built assemblies. The world of energy efficient construction and renovation / retrofit fascinates me, especially as I learn more about systems like Passive House, R2000 and Net Zero and how we might create buildings that can use the sun for heating, solar power and possibly even independence from the grid.

I have gravitated toward a role as a bridge builder, doing my best to fill the gap between scientific white paper and boots on the ground.  I’m using all my skills and knowledge as a builder, a woodworker, a designer and a teacher to help people understand. Through training, collaboration and many, MANY drawings, I have worked to communicate the importance of energy efficiency in housing.  And I love what I do!

NAIMA CANADA Green Building Skills Training

NAIMA Canada Building Science Resources

(Listen to my conversation with Andy on This Must Be The Place)

SHANNA GREATHOUSE

Founder, Pigybak

As the founder of Pigybak, a tech marketplace built around community collaboration, my role revolves around making home improvement projects easier, more affordable, and most importantly—sustainable. My passion for sustainability started long before Pigybak, rooted in the understanding that small, consistent changes can have a big impact, especially when amplified by community efforts. This philosophy of combining environmental responsibility with efficiency guides much of what we do at Pigybak.

One of my favorite parts of my work is seeing the direct impact Pigybak has on communities. Whether it's helping neighbors bundle projects to reduce emissions or creating incentives for contractors to adopt greener practices, it’s rewarding to see people come together in pursuit of shared goals. Our social feature, Pigybak Ride, is a perfect example of this. It encourages neighbors to collaborate on home projects, reducing the number of trips contractors need to make, which in turn cuts down on emissions. Every contractor using our app's scheduling feature is the equivalent of planting 30 trees—small changes with a big, collective impact.

In a blog post, The Neighbor Effect: Four Ways Group Home Projects Can Save Time, Money, And Stress, I shared how coordinating with neighbors can lower costs and environmental impact at the same time. It’s amazing to see that by bundling services like roof repairs, painting, or even yard work, homeowners not only save time and money but also help cut emissions by up to 10%. It’s the ultimate win-win for everyone involved.

I’m excited to celebrate how far we've come but also recognize how much more we can do. Pigybak is built on the belief that together, we can all make our homes—and our world—a little greener. From helping small contractors optimize their routes to reducing the need for multiple service calls, our platform is driving real change.

I’m always happy to chat more about the intersection of tech, community, and sustainability.

Here’s to a more energy-efficient future!

Website: www.pigybak.com

NICK RUDNICKI

Project Manager and Climate/Carbon Nerd, Bentley Built

I have been building for the last 15 years. Pretty early in that time I realized the massive potential for what we build to meaningfully impact the climate crisis which was looming and now is resounding. At first the focus was on making sure that all projects that I oversaw were installed to the highest standard of energy efficiency and air tightness that it could bear. That priority got quickly updated when I learned about the potentially massive impact of the embodied carbon within the building materials we choose to use.

Once the impact of embodied carbon became clear it was no longer responsible of me to keep building new buildings with architect-preferred steel and spray foam. The embodied carbon penalty is simply too high. This forced me to shift focus on developing and deploying carbon-responsible pre-fab panels for not only my own projects, but for other builders that wanted to have most of their projects building science dealt with off-site.

This is work that I am continuing to pursue in my new role as Project Manager at Bentley Built, where the team is working on upgrading and proving out the pre-fab panelization we already use in our projects. Through this I am working towards accelerating the deployment of high performance buildings, with the lowest (hopefully negative) embodied carbon and the best use of the limited labour capacity we currently have.

Website: https://bentleybuilt.ca/

EMMA CONWAY

Energy Advisor, Senior Project Manager, E3 Eco Group Inc.

I graduated from the University of Victoria with a BA specializing in Urban Development and Environmental Studies. Drawing from this experience I now work as an Energy Advisor delivering Step Code, EnerGuide, BuiltGreen and CHBA Net Zero programs. I specialize in high performance Single Family Homes and Townhomes. I strive to make the homes we live in more energy efficient and environmentally friendly by selecting more sustainable building materials and practices.

I enjoy the variety of work an Energy Advisor encounters on a day-to-day basis. This includes working with clients to select different ‘upgrade option packages’ to find a solution that is both energy efficient and cost effective, completing mid-construction blower door testing to increase the airtightness of the home which in turn reduces operational costs, and when a home reaches completion providing the final EnerGuide Rating label for the home, demonstrating the final as built energy performance.

I’m passionate about sharing my 10 years of construction knowledge with the industry. My favourite part of the job is providing airtightness and building science education through E3 Eco Group as well as being a part time instructor through the British Columbia Institute of Technology. It is important that all trades, consultants, and contractors achieve higher levels of understanding and skill as we move through the higher levels of Step Code.

I look forward to the future of building practices in BC as we strive to be Net Zero energy ready by 2032. Working at E3 Eco Group, I helps clients strive towards higher levels of Step Code compliance. This work includes providing recommendations for builders to enhance envelope thermal performance, mechanical performance, and increased airtightness to meet the different levels of Step Code.

Looking ahead, I see embodied carbon reduction as the next important target that the industry will need to address. Although this seems to be a time of rapid change in the building community, I look forward to providing support to help transform the building industry to reach even higher levels of energy performance and sustainability.

Website: www.e3ecogroup.com

LORRIE RAND

Habit Studio, Director of Sustainability, ReCover Initiative, Design Director

I am a designer and building science specialist and I divide my time 50/50 between Habit Studio and the ReCover Initiative. I’m also an instructor with Passive House Canada, this fall I’m teaching courses on deep retrofits and thermal bridge analysis.

In my work as Habit Studio’s Director of Sustainability, I work with our team to design high performance homes and other buildings. We have designed over 20 homes to Passive House levels of energy efficiency, and we are nearing completion on our first Passive House retrofit to an 1850s Halifax house which we are converting into our offices. Energy modeling is projecting a 92% reduction in heating demand, total energy reduction of 87% and 88% GHG emissions reductions. We’re very excited that we’ll be moving in this fall.

I am the Design Director for the ReCover Initiative. ReCover has grown quickly, and this fall we are launching the Atlantic Canada Deep Retrofit Accelerator to break through the barriers to implementing deep retrofits at scale across the region. Every day is a new adventure right now with ReCover, as we bring on new team members and prepare to start delivering on new programs and services.

The most fun part of my job is also the most challenging – building science puzzles are sneaky and it’s super satisfying to solve them. I feel lucky that I get to make a tangible contribution to reducing the impacts of climate change, while helping improve people’s lives by making buildings safer, healthier and more comfortable. Lastly, one of the best things about both of my companies is that they are both women-founded and women- led.

For details on Habit’s office renos visit us here
https://www.habitstudio.ca/falkland

Sign up for ReCover’s launch events and round-tables here
https://www.recoverinitiative.ca/events/upcoming-events

(Listen to my conversation with Lorrie on This Must Be The Place)

PAUL SEHR

Founder, Jouliea

I am a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Jouleia.com. My passion is home electrification and helping homeowners through the energy transition.

With the climate crisis accelerating and homes representing 13% of Canada's emissions, retrofitting and electrifying homes is essential.

I experienced firsthand how difficult it was to electrify my home and decided to create Jouleia to help others. I did manage to cut emissions in my century old home by 98% and energy use by 86%, but only after spending a lot of time researching solutions and searching for installers.

The biggest issue for heat pump adoption is that most people wait until their equipment breaks, and then hastily replace it under duress with no time to research alternatives. This locks in inefficient, fossil-fuel heating for another generation.

Jouleia is an online heat pump education tool and planner which also connects homeowners with expert advice, quality installers and local incentives.

It helps people understand when their equipment is at high risk of failure and helps them understand the tradeoffs of moving to heat pumps.

Jouleia is available directly to homeowners, but also partners with municipalities and utilities so they can educate their constituents on heat pumps.

As founder I wear many hats, my favourite part of the job is interacting with customers and seeing them appreciate the benefits of modern, efficient, all-electric upgrades!

Website: www.jouleia.com

CINDY GAREAU

Executive Director, Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors (CACEA)

I am proud to be the executive director of the Canadian Association of Consulting
Energy Advisors (CACEA – the “A” at the end is silent).

For the past 5-years, I have had the privilege of representing and working with an incredible group of professionals who are necessary, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do. CACEA is a special organization, and our members are at the top of their game.

Our Canada-wide members are committed to helping homeowners, renovators, builders, and Part 9 industry stakeholders make GOOD decisions. They are recognized as credible and respected EAs servicing existing homes and new construction because they are held to a higher standard than ‘regular’ NRCan licensed EAs:

• holding Errors and Omissions insurance
• requiring18 hours of continuing education annually
• providing an annual confirmation that they’re in good standing with NRCan
• abiding by our Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

We also have an elite group of highly qualified Master Energy Advisors (MEA) – a valued resource for me and the larger Part 9 building sector. CACEA supports members, as well as non-members and the larger community, by providing valued information, upskilling, best practices, and training opportunities; a supportive network; and advocacy with all levels of government, program providers, and industry stakeholders.

We are also committed to facilitating a sustained profession – reducing the impact of incentive-driven “boom and bust” situations, by facilitating ancillary training opportunities that equip EAs to provide additional services such as a Whole-house CSA F280 Calculation and Integrated Design Process Facilitation qualifications.

While I provide operational, governance, strategic, and advocacy support for CACEA, I too am passionate about promoting the industry at large and working with organizations across Canada to value the contributions and services of EAs beyond that of incentive and program verifiers.

EAs are the boots on the ground and Canada’s champions to help address the climate crisis and achieve our lofty goals and targets. I will continue to find ways to strengthen and elevate the profession and represent this unique and important profession.

Feel free to visit our website or contact me at manager@cacea.ca to learn about CACEA and our members; discuss advocacy needs; or simply say “hello”!

Website: www.cacea.ca

(Listen to my conversation with Cindy on This Must Be The Place)

If you’d like to be featured in Blue House Energy Blog’s next roundup of profiles, please let me know in the comments!

 

Are you tired of the mundane day-to-day routine? 

Are you searching for a career change that combines your passion for problem-solving, insatiable curiosity, and desire to make a positive impact on people's lives? Look no further! Blue House Energy can help get you started on the journey to become an Energy Advisor in Canada.

Yes, we know the national Greener Homes Grant is gone. Guess what? Energy Advisors were around long before that program. Their knowledge and expertise in applied building science, plus building code changes, maintain the importance of the Energy Advisor role in the field. 

Regulations and Energy Advisors

Building codes are moving towards tiered energy performance targets and mandatory blower door testing is likely a part of our world soon as well. 

Many regional incentive programs for energy efficient upgrades or renovations use the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) EnerGuide Rating System (ERS) to benchmark retrofit levels. That includes all projects that are funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and many Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) municipal loan programs. 

These programs require blower door testing for air sealing and ventilation targets as well as energy modelling using HOT2000 software to benchmark the house before and after renovations in the case of an existing home. 

For new construction, builders rely on Energy Advisors to help them meet energy efficiency targets that are required by the provincial or territorial building code. Some cities, like Vancouver and Whitehorse, have even more stringent energy efficiency requirements in their building by-law regulations.

There’s a World of B.S. (Building Science) Out There

As an Energy Advisor, you'll delve into the fascinating world of building science, unravelling the mysteries of heat flow, and uncovering hidden air leakage and moisture problems. Curiosity will be your driving force, propelling you to new heights of expertise in the field.

The more you know about building science and how the house works as a system, the more you’ll want to know!

Energy Advisors: Masters of Home Improvement Puzzles

Energy Advisors are master puzzle solvers, armed with exceptional analytical skills to dissect complex situations and find innovative solutions. By diagnosing energy inefficiencies and identifying strategies to improve comfort and reduce costs for homeowners, you'll change their living spaces for the good and positively impact their lives.

One of the core qualities of Energy Advisors who love what they do is a drive to educate and empower others. By sharing your expertise, you'll guide homeowners towards comfortable, healthy, energy-efficient homes, saving them money and contributing to a sustainable future for our planet.

Why choose Blue House Energy? 

We’ve helped over 10,000 professionals strengthen their building science muscle since we started in 2012. Our comprehensive training program will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel as an Energy Advisor. Our Energy Advisor Exam Prep program has kickstarted the careers of more than 1,000 individuals since 2018, setting them on the path to becoming nationally recognized experts in housing and energy.

The demand for Energy Advisors is still growing across various sectors, including consulting, research, design, construction, and entrepreneurship. With upcoming code changes for new construction and renovations, there are long-term opportunities for growth and success in this field.

Change Your Home Construction and Renovation Career

If you’re looking to update or change your role in the home construction and renovation industry, this could be the career path for you! 

Schedule a call with Carla Harder, our program coordinator, and discover how Blue House Energy can guide you towards a successful future as an Energy Advisor. 

Click the link to book your call today!

Join us now and unlock the full potential of becoming an Energy Advisor with Blue House Energy.

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Canada has a goal to have Net Zero Energy houses. It’s in the building code now, as Tier 4 (National Building Code) and Step 5 (BC Energy Step Code).

What does that mean?

It means that a house produces as much energy in a year as it consumes. And what’s the best way to create such a house?

By using better envelopes and windows, building designers can reduce energy loads and avoid overheating, leading to a more comfortable and energy-efficient living space.

We can optimize the power of the sun to provide energy in several ways.

That means two primary goals need to be met:

1. Passive solar design that bakes in the best strategies to collect, store, and distribute heat.
2. Active solar energy systems that provide electrical or thermal energy (or even both!).

Learn the Fundamentals of Passive Solar Design and How to Size a Solar System

Our course: Introduction to Renewables in Housing covers the fundamentals of both goals. Whether you’re a builder, renovator, or designer, working in the industry, or a homeowner looking to get the best out of your major investment, this course is for you!

The two-module course is a comprehensive overview of the key principles and strategies involved in achieving the twin goals of minimizing energy loads and maximizing energy production.

This course gives you a solid foundation to designing your next project or new home to be Net Zero Energy or Net Zero Energy Ready (also known as Zero Net Energy in the US). Learn how to design a passive solar house and then, how to size a solar system.

Here’s a breakdown of the content of Introduction to Renewables in Housing:

Module 1: Solar Design Fundamentals

The Sun in the Sky

Introduction to the solar cycle, how it works, and how we are able to capture the energy of the sun in a variety of ways, including renewable energy sources as wind.

What’s that?

Yes. The sun drives wind patterns.

The design process starts with the building’s relationship with the sun and how it relates to orientation, seasonal and diurnal (night and day) considerations.

Making Solar Energy Useful

The collection, storage, and distribution of solar gain, which is a critical component of both sustainable housing design and solar energy systems. Understanding these principles is the key to how to design a passive solar house.

Be Cool Like Nature

emphasizes natural ventilation and shading techniques, which can help keep a building cool and comfortable while reducing the need for air conditioning.

Active Solar Heat

The use of solar thermal systems for heating air and water, covering everything from flat panel and evacuated tube systems to open and closed-loop systems.

Module 2: Onsite Energy Generation

On-Site Energy Generation

An overview of system design fundamentals and explains the differences between grid-connect, grid-active, off-grid, microhydro, and BIPV systems.

Photovoltaics (PV) for Houses

A deep dive into solar energy system components: types of solar PV panels, arrays, and the balance of system components. Learn how to determine if a house is a good candidate for PV, how to pre-plan for PV, and how to select the right panel types and sizes.

How Much PV Is Enough?

How to size a solar system using a rough size calculation to determine the appropriate size for the energy needs of the building.

What’s Blowing in the Wind?

An overview of turbine types, site planning, and rough sizing. Wind energy is a less common way of generating energy on-site, as it is not suited to all locations as it requires more space for the turbine tower installation.

Whether you're a homeowner, a builder, a renovator, or a building designer, Introduction to Renewables for Housing will provide you with a solid foundation for creating sustainable and energy-efficient living spaces.

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Housing now!

As the demand for renewable energy continues to grow, homeowners are increasingly exploring solar energy to reduce their carbon footprint and lower energy costs. Solar energy is not just one-size-fits-all. There are two primary approaches to taking advantage of the sun's rays:

Passive Solar: where you design in strategies to use the ‘free' heat from the sun.

Active Solar: a mechanical system that allows you to harness thermal or electrical energy from the sun for use in a building.

Understanding the differences between these systems (and it's not passive vs active solar heating - you can have both!) is essential when considering the best solution for your home.

What is Passive Solar Energy?

Passive solar energy is a design approach. 'Passive' solar refers to design strategies that harness solar energy for heating, cooling, and lighting in a building without mechanical devices. The passive solar energy component is baked right into the fabric and design of the building.

Passive solar energy relies on the orientation and space planning of the building to take advantage of solar radiation and turn it into solar heat, while active solar heating systems rely on mechanical equipment to convert sunlight.

How Passive Solar Design Works

Passive solar systems rely on a building's design to collect, store, and distribute solar energy. This can include positioning windows to face south (in the Northern Hemisphere) to capture maximum sunlight during the winter months, using thermal mass (such as concrete or stone) to store heat, designing the building to take advantage of natural ventilation for cooling and air movement, as well as using shading and insulation to regulate indoor temperatures.

Passive solar energy is a design approach. 'Passive' solar refers to design strategies that harness solar energy for heating, cooling, and lighting in a building without mechanical devices. The passive solar energy component is baked right into the fabric and design of the building.

Passive solar energy relies on the orientation and space planning of the building to take advantage of solar radiation and turn it into solar heat, while active solar heating systems rely on mechanical equipment to convert sunlight.

How Passive Solar Design Works

Passive solar systems rely on a building's design to collect, store, and distribute solar energy. This can include positioning windows to face south (in the Northern Hemisphere) to capture maximum sunlight during the winter months, using thermal mass (such as concrete or stone) to store heat, designing the building to take advantage of natural ventilation for cooling and air movement, as well as using shading and insulation to regulate indoor temperatures.

This means approaching building design in a slightly different way than usual. A passive solar home requires strategies that turn the house into a thermal energy collection, storage, and distribution center: a passive solar heating system is a whole-house energy strategy.

Integrating Passive Solar into A House

Passive solar is relatively easy to integrate into the construction of homes, particularly in cool and cold climates where heating is a significant concern. There are three key elements needed to harness solar energy: collect the solar heat, store it, and distribute it.

Collecting solar heat, in the form of light, is the first element of in passive solar energy systems where the goal is to offset or even replace space heating needs. In passive solar design, the windows are the solar collectors, as opposed to the bolt-on panels that are used in active solar systems to generate electricity, or charge up solar water heaters.

Windows allow the sun's rays to pass into the building. As the light passes through the glass, it transforms from short wave (light) to long wave (heat) energy and gets trapped inside the space, where it bounces around and gets absorbed by the objects and surfaces in it. This is what's called the greenhouse effect.

One of the key parts of passive solar design is ‘store': making sure the heat that is collected through the windows stays inside the building envelope. An airtight envelope with high insulation levels make the best storage device for solar energy in a house. Keeping the heat in is the first priority of 'store'.

Windows - specifically the glass in them - are always the weakest link in the house when it comes to energy efficiency. Glass is a terrible insulator, but a great conductor. That means that windows can let as much heat out at night as they let in during the day. Passive solar relies on high performance windows with features like triple pane, low-e, argon, and insulating spacers minimize this thermal energy loss.

On the other hand, materials such as concrete floors or masonry walls can store heat during the day and release it slowly during cooler nights. This is called thermal mass, and it exposed to the sun's rays directly so that it can soak up usable heat during the day.

For consistent heating in passive solar homes, collecting and storing the heat isn't quite enough. It also needs to be distributed. Heated air rises, passive solar systems work with physics will take advantage of natural convection loops. But, that's not often enough to even out temperature differences, so fans and ducts used by central heating systems are often used to help move the heat around.

Pros and Cons of Passive Solar Design

What is Active Solar Energy?

Active solar energy systems use mechanical or electrical devices to capture, convert, and distribute solar energy. These systems typically involve solar panels, pumps, or fans to collect and circulate heat or electricity. Unlike passive systems, active systems require external devices for the heat transfer process.

Solar technology has many uses: electrical systems, thermal systems, room air heaters, cooling systems.

A solar thermal hot water system will include a storage tank. Solar water heating systems can be used for domestic hot water or augment thermal mass with radiant slab systems. Solar thermal is often used in pool heating systems as there's a perfect seasonal match between supply and demand.

Two Types of Active Solar Energy Systems

There are two ways to extract energy from sunlight. The first type collects light and creates electricity from ‘semi-conductor' materials (photovoltaic cells) that create electrical charges. The second type - thermal systems like solar water - works on the same principle as passive solar: it collects, stores, and distributes the sun's energy as heat.

Active solar systems rely on panels, typically installed on the roof or in other sunny locations, to capture sunlight. Solar panels use Photovoltaic (also known as PV) cells to convert sunlight into electricity.

Active solar systems that produce thermal energy use panels or tubes as solar collectors that heat fluids or air, which is then stored using a heat exchanger and circulated via piping or ducting.

Pros and Cons of Active Solar Energy Systems

4 Key Differences Between Active and Passive Solar

1. Energy Capture: Active systems use external devices including mechanical or electrical components to capture and distribute solar energy, while passive systems rely on building design and materials to harness sunlight naturally.
2. Cost: Active solar systems require a significant upfront investment for equipment and installation, while passive solar systems can be more affordable, particularly if planned during the home's construction.
3. Maintenance: Active systems need ongoing maintenance for mechanical parts like inverters, pumps, and batteries in solar power systems. Solar thermal systems require maintenance and replacement of pumps, heat exchangers, and storage tanks. Passive systems, on the other hand, have minimal maintenance requirements as they rely on static building features.
4. Control: Active systems offer greater control over energy output and storage, making them more adaptable to changing weather conditions. Passive systems depend entirely on the design and natural environment, making them less versatile.

What is the best type of energy for a house?

Both active and passive solar energy systems offer valuable ways to harness the power of the sun.

Clean energy, like solar power or wind power, gives individuals and society a leg up when it comes to minimizing energy usage. A solar energy system to produce electricity is more common than wind for homes, because a home solar electric system can be installed on the roof, and doesn't have any moving parts.

Passive solar does that at the design stage, so it’s definitely worth it to spend some time figuring out seasonal design features for new builds and renovations. Gather the sun’s heat to keep the interior of the house warm and deflect or reject it to keep the house cool.

Passive solar can improve the cost-effectiveness of active solar by reducing space heating loads. It does this in a couple of ways, both of which are 'by design'.

The first way is by optimizing the 'free' heat from the sun during the winter by careful window sizing and placement.

The second way is by choosing high performance windows and improving the building envelope to reduce the amount of heat loss.

Can you power your entire home with solar?

Absolutely.

That’s what the terms ‘net zero energy’, or ‘zero net energy’ refer to: houses that produce as much energy in a year as they consume. Most often, the cost effective solution is to power home with solar panels.

Solar electric systems are a good match for electrification projects where oil or gas furnaces and boilers get switched out for heat pumps. Electrification programs aim to minimize greenhouse gas emissions by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Active solar gets ‘bolted on’, but there still needs to be planning for orientation as well as roof size and shape to optimize a solar PV system. Management of occupant loads becomes more crucial the closer the house gets to Net Zero Energy targets.

What is the Cost of Solar Panels?

Solar panels cost money. There's no way around that. Installation costs have come down significantly over the past decade, and most experts agree that if panels are installed for $3 per Watt, there is a reasonable payback the system, based on the average costs of electricity provided by the regional utility company.

There are a range of tax credits and financial incentives for green energy that can help reduce the costs of installing solar panels.

Minimize Loads, Maximize the Investment

It's important to minimize occupant loads and create a high performance building envelope for an all-electric building brimming with energy efficiency features. Making sure the system is optimized for energy production falls to the solar company installing such a system. Look at at future energy costs, a house that generates it's own electricity is immune to price swings and, potentially, grid outages, as well.

The more the annual electricity usage goes down, the fewer solar panels needed. Energy production needs to be optimized at the design stage. One thing homeowners can do right now is look at their utility bills and see how much electricity they are using. It's relatively easy to translate energy costs associated with gas and oil use into equivalent kilowatt hours to see how much power they would use in their current situation.

Solar Panel System Components

A solar panel setup includes the collector panels, and then what's commonly called the 'balance of system', often shortened to BOS. Going with high quality solar panels with good efficiency ratings is the best investment, as more power will be generated with the same number of panels. In a grid-tied system, the next biggest expense after the panels themselves is the inverter. Net metering systems need inverters that meet utility company requirements for connection.

After installation, there are minimal maintenance costs and no moving parts.

Number of Panels

How many panels are required to generate enough electricity to bring a house to a net zero energy target is based on a few factors. First, the actual location of the house. Sunlight hours vary significantly across the continent. Second, the roof orientation, because that affects how much sunlight gets converted. Third, the pitch of the roof. Fourth, the amount of shading on the roof.

The location of the house, the roof orientation, the shading and the pitch of the roof determine how much electricity can be generated.

The power usage of the house will determine if a rooftop installation can completely power the house or not. If there is not enough power generated, look to higher efficiency panels for more energy, or ways to reduce the energy usage to fit the rooftop installation. In some areas, excess solar energy can be sold back into the grid to further reduce electricity costs. In other areas, more solar panels are not allowed. Systems can also be set up to charge (and be charged by) an electric vehicle.

Building Codes Are Moving to Net Zero

Building codes are moving us down the path to Net Zero Energy by 2050. Electrification and renewable energy systems are how we get there, once we've improve the building envelope.

Active solar is ideal for homeowners seeking higher efficiency and control over energy generation, while passive solar is a cost-effective, low-maintenance solution for energy savings through thoughtful design. The choice between the two depends on your energy needs, budget, and whether you're building a new home or retrofitting an existing one.

We say there's no need to choose between the two. Passive solar design reduces the amount of energy usage in a home and reduces reliance on fossil fuels. That can lead to an optimized load for an active system to provide enough electricity for the home via a rooftop installation. Both passive and active systems have great environmental benefits and combat greenhouse gas emissions.

Why not use both?

Learn more about passive and active solar (and wind) in our Introduction to Renewables Course.

So let’s talk about exterior insulation retrofits and how they are a relatively easy project to add into a job where it’s time to replace the cladding, but we can’t track how many jobs have insulation added, or how much/how well it’s installed.

Right off the bat, it’s most cost effective to add exterior wall insulation to the outside of the house and to replace windows at the same time as recladding.

Adding exterior insulation does have financial implications and practical considerations. Evaluating the cost versus the benefits of incorporating continuous insulation to improve energy efficiency is easily done. If siding or cladding is storm damaged, or at the end of it's useful lifespan, then the house is already a great candidate.

This is the point at which we can make the biggest difference in the long-term durability, comfort and energy performance for the homeowner. As incentive programs are often based on single measures, these two integral upgrades are often disconnected. And that’s a whole ‘nuther blog post/case study for ya.

I wrote about the value of an exterior insulation retrofit in this blog article.

Here's a wee video from the Pacific Northwest National Lab in the US, agreeing with me.

Missing this opportunity locks in energy use rates and carbon loads for a whole generation or longer, depending on the cladding materials. That’s 30 plus years. At some point in the not too distant future, all existing houses on the market will have to compete with more recently built houses that comply with Step 3 of BC’s Energy Step Code or the 2020 Tiered NBCC.

What is a Deep Energy Retrofit?

Definition and Benefits of a Deep Energy Retrofit

A deep energy retrofit is a transformative approach to enhancing the energy efficiency of existing homes. Unlike standard retrofits that might focus on one or two aspects, a deep energy retrofit involves a comprehensive suite of measures designed to drastically reduce energy consumption—often by 50-90%.

This includes upgrading insulation, implementing air sealing techniques, and modernizing HVAC systems. The benefits are substantial: not only do homeowners enjoy lower utility bills and a more comfortable living environment, but they also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, these retrofits can significantly improve indoor air quality, providing a healthier home environment.

By focusing on the building envelope, homeowners can achieve consistent, even temperatures throughout the house, eliminating the unpredictability of utility costs.

Importance of Energy Efficiency in Renovation Work

Energy efficiency is the cornerstone of any deep energy retrofit. By significantly reducing energy consumption, homeowners can achieve substantial savings on their utility bills while making a positive impact on the environment.

A deep retrofit can transform an older home into a near net zero energy building, or even a net zero home where the energy produced on-site (often through renewable sources like solar panels) equals or exceeds the energy consumed. This not only slashes greenhouse gas emissions but also boosts the home’s overall energy efficiency by 70 to 80%.

Carefully planned projects with added insulation under new cladding as part of an exterior retrofit that includes new windows save money. Not only is there a minimal increase in installation costs, but the energy upgrades shine when it comes to cost-effectiveness: minimal increase in costs, minimal energy use, maximum occupant comfort, and minimal maintenance for decades.

And, depending on the house type, the home’s original character and charm can be maintained. In other cases, a modern facelift.

Integrating rigid foam insulation can significantly reduce heat transfer and improve energy performance, making it a valuable addition during renovations or new constructions. But it's not the only game in town. Rigid foam insulation is a common new insulation option when it comes to an exterior retrofit.

Mineral wool semi-rigid insulation is a great option where wildfires are common, or in high rainfall areas. It can work in these two extremes because it's fire-resistant and it drains water better than many other materials.

Business as Usual: Suppressed Value, Longer Sales Cycle

That means that a house built and/or renovated to older standards - 2x4 with R12 nominal cavity insulation, or 2x6 with R20 nominal exterior wall insulation will have a 20-30% energy penalty compared to new houses with 2x6 and outboard insulation or double stud construction.

There’s a good chance that the discrepancy in energy use will suppress the market value and lengthen the sales cycle for the older house.

Under our current housing market, this is kind of irrelevant, as purchase prices are still blasting past asking prices regardless of house condition and energy use.

Higher Effective Insulation Values are Energy Efficient = More Future Value

However. The market will change. It always does. And there are other factors that could influence how people purchase their house. For example: mandatory energy labelling means we’ve got a different playing field.

While mandatory labelling might be a longtime pie-in-the-sky dream for this gal, it doesn’t really matter if/when it is instigated, because the performance path for both the BC Energy Step Code and the National Tiered Code leans towards an ERS label, with energy performance verified by an Energy Advisor.

If the bulk of homebuyers can be educated to look for that label, or require it as a condition of sale, then whether it’s mandatory under code or not is moot. Yes, I have that dream too.

Point being, the investment people make now, today, this year and going forward in their existing homes is going to be impacted by new performance-based code compliance houses that go up for resale.

Non Energy Benefits From Retrofits Add Up for Energy Efficiency, Too

Let’s take a moment to frame up how we look at whole house energy or deep energy retrofits. It’s not just about saving energy and it’s not just about reducing our CO2 emissions. It’s about people who live in houses, buildings, and neighbourhoods, the infrastructure that surrounds them, and the associated societal benefits that come from energy security.

A successful retrofit provides many non-energy benefits like lower financial burdens, extended lifespan of the investment, improved value, stable tax base, increased resiliency and decreased carbon footprint. You can extrapolate broader societal benefits from each of these, especially what it means to have a healthier indoor environment and how that impacts people’s quality of life in general and reduces health care costs overall.

But I digress.

Back to exterior retrofits. You can reduce air leakage and improve the thermal performance of a house dramatically by adding the equivalent of a windproof, breathable parka to it. This creates an air seal that stops air movement into and out of walls, making the home more energy-efficient and comfortable. We’ve got the technical know how, this is not rocket science, it’s building science. We need to get to whole house energy retrofits.

Deep Energy Retrofit Process

Steps Involved in a Deep Energy Retrofit

Embarking on a deep energy retrofit involves a series of well-planned steps to ensure maximum energy efficiency and comfort. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Assessment: The journey begins with a thorough assessment of the building’s current energy efficiency. This step identifies areas where improvements are needed, such as insulation gaps, air leaks, and outdated HVAC systems.

2. Air Sealing: Sealing air leaks is the next critical step. Preventing unwanted air movement reduces heat loss and gain, and also improves indoor air quality.

3. Insulation: Upgrading insulation in exterior walls, attics, and floors is crucial. This step reduces heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, making the home more energy-efficient and comfortable.
   
   

4. HVAC Upgrades: Modernizing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems ensures that the home’s climate control is as energy-efficient as possible.

5. Renewable Energy: Installing solar panels or other renewable energy systems can further reduce carbon loads and fossil fuel use, pushing the home closer to net-zero energy status.

6. Commissioning: The final step involves testing and commissioning the upgraded systems to ensure they are operating efficiently and effectively.

By following these steps, renovators, contractors, and homeowners can achieve a deep energy retrofit that not only enhances energy efficiency but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides a healthier, more comfortable living environment.

Net Zero Renovation Shines A Light on Exterior Wall Insulation

My favourite pushing the envelope (absolutely, yes, pun intended) case study:

Peter Darlington (Solar Homes) did his first CHBA-labelled Net Zero Renovation on his own house. Fairly standard issue for residential construction for its vintage, R12 walls, R12 in the foundation and R40 in the ceiling. The blower door test was 4.55 air changes per hour.

He added R16 to the exterior main walls, under a stucco finish, the ceiling was increased to R60, and the foundation walls were bumped to R20. The final blower door test showed the house, at 1.27 air changes, to be more airtight than the R2000 standard.

I chatted with Peter in Episode 9 of my podcast, This Must Be The Place, back in 2021 about his project and what it was like building his own energy efficient home-the first home in Canada to be labeled under the Canadian Home Builders Association Net zero Renovation Pilot Program.

Foam Insulation: Increase Thermal Resistance and Decrease Air Leakage

The house started out at 167 gigajoules per year for space conditioning and water heating, and ended up at zero, with a cold climate air source heat pump and 15.6 kW of PV that offsets all of the energy use of the house on an annual basis. Peter is now providing this exact same package at a price point that is keeping him booked solid in a market with very inexpensive gas.

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to go that hard with a big budget project to get great energy improvements with exterior wall insulation when you’re dealing with a straightforward cladding job. Using rigid foam insulation - creating that continuous thermal blanket - can significantly reduce heat transfer and improve indoor temperature consistency.

You can add a couple of inches of rigid or semi-rigid board, create an exterior air barrier and walk away with a 20-30% annual energy savings, starting right now and running for the duration, for a 15-20% premium, depending on the amount and type of insulation used. The math isn’t hard, it’s absolutely a winner for the homeowner.

When it comes to Retrofits, What's Being Left on the Table?

So why isn’t this happening? Well, it might be, but unless someone includes it in their incentive/rebate package under the ERS program, we’ll never know about it. Why? Because recladding (and/or replacing windows) doesn’t require a building permit.

Data from Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide for Houses database includes more than 1 million Canadian homes. Only 4% of recorded energy efficiency renovations includes exterior wall insulation when tens or maybe hundreds of thousands of homes get new vinyl siding over existing walls every year. 

This speaks volumes about the need to develop comprehensive packages for homeowners that take the guesswork out of their renovation projects, coupled with the need to enlist siding installers in energy conservation programs. These packages should include the right insulation products to ensure durability, energy efficiency, and moisture management.

I can't point it out enough times: Adding continuous insulation during these renovations is essential for improving a home's energy efficiency and thermal performance.

Value-Add Services: Rigid Foam Insulation Reduces Thermal Bridging

What’s that you say? Cooperation, collaboration, value add? Across heavily buttressed siloes of the building industry?!?!

Hear me out.

NRCan’s database includes about 40,000 documented exterior insulation retrofits over 23 years. That’s about 1800 houses a year.

Not only is there an energy efficient improvement due to more insulation reducing thermal bridging, NRCan’s database shows that there’s about a 15% improvement in air tightness associated with an existing wall retrofit. Energy cost savings makes the value-add a near no-brainer.

There are 14 million houses in Canada. How many don’t get an energy assessment or consider energy conservation measures because they’re just replacing the siding?

More than 1800, is my guess.

You can't manage what you can't, or don't, measure.

There are 3500 siding and cladding firms that make up an industry worth about 14 billion dollars annually. If only 0.1% (that’s point one percent) annual spend comes from recladding existing houses (just a wild-ass guess from me, no readily available market intelligence), and an average recladding job costs $40,000, that accounts for 350,000 houses a year.

I have NO idea if that’s close to reality.

Even if only 100,000 houses a year that get resided in Canada, if we insulate exterior walls, it’s a significant dent in upgrading a large portion of the housing stock, quickly. Heck, if we can get 18,000/year with a few inches of exterior wall insulation acting as exterior air barriers, that’s 10x the number in the NRCan database over a quarter of a century’s worth of energy modelling.

You can't influence what you can't, or don't, measure.

We’ve got the know-how to change this quickly - the technical part of it is well in hand and we’ve got a network of strong resources to help us out across the country. That network includes insulation manufacturers and distributors who employ technical directors and their teams, all of whom are well-versed in building science and high performance new house construction.

Some even have code-ready registration for their exterior wall insulation systems. We have the expertise to ensure a good regional solution when we add insulation to wall systems, whether it's insulation panels of foam board (closed cell foam, open cell foam insulation) or semi-rigid mineral wool, spray foam, or even loose fill insulation.

Building Science Meets Building Codes Meets Best Practices In Exterior Home Retrofits

Building science is key here: the whole wall assembly must work to reduce heat loss, air leaks and thermal bridges with a continuous layer that is installed properly under new siding that ties into windows and doors. Board insulation often requires strapping to create a rainscreen or drainage plane behind the new siding. Each insulation product and installation method is a little different, and regional requirements like fire resistance will impact what additional insulation is the best choice.

Does it make sense to improve the R-value in the wall cavities at the same time?

We also need to ensure that this work comes under some form of regulation. Remember that in most parts of Canada, replacing siding or cladding is a non-permit project. That means there’s no requirement to meet building codes, or to have an energy assessment done. It’s considered a straight replacement, which doesn't account for the impact of the current air and vapour barrier configuration.

This important upgrade, installed properly, gives homeowners a huge reduction in heating bills and cooling costs. Minimizing the thermal bridging and air sealing at window frames and door frames will improve the performance significantly. Done improperly, it's going to cause moisture issues in the wall cavities as a result of conflicts between the air and vapour barrier and the outside insulation layer.

You can't understand what you can't, or don't, measure.

When you add insulation to the outside, there are 3 key building science related issues:

1. The wall insulation for the whole wall system must meet the minimum inboard/outboard insulation ratios for the climate zone to ensure there’s minimal potential for condensation inside the wall cavities.
2. Each wall assembly must be evaluated for permeability - does the wall system dry to the exterior or to the interior? Where is the air barrier?
3. Airtightness testing to show thermal bypasses (different than thermal bridges) in outside walls and into attic spaces and confirm mechanical ventilation requirements.

Additionally, it is crucial to know the interactions between your new air and vapour barrier when adding insulation to the existing walls of a house. This ensures proper moisture management and prevents condensation issues within the wall assembly.

Find out more about exterior insulation and retrofits in the Whole House Energy Retrofit course.

The Scaffolding is in Place for Exterior Siding Retrofits, Now Use It!

There are billions of dollars to be saved, millions of tons of carbon to be kept out of the atmosphere, and hundreds of thousands of households to be lifted out of energy poverty. And this can happen right now.

Siding firms are the logical partner here, they’re putting up scaffolding for their primary purpose, after all. Energy advisors can advise homeowners and siding companies on how much foam insulation, the appropriate materials and assemblies, and what the savings are for this value add.

Exterior Walls are a Solid, Permanent Investment

There are a lot of ways we could approach this. There’s already a mechanism in place, it’s called an incentive program that requires an EnerGuide for Houses Rating Label (which means a pre- and post blower door test and documentation of the recommended and carried out energy improvements, therefore sidestepping the gap for permits and code compliance).

Here’s a few:

• Municipalities using FCM Green Municipal funding to drive retrofits
• PACE or LIC programs outside FCM funding
• Most regional incentive programs
• Any new nationally-driven retrofit funding program for building envelope improvements
  

Building Code Changes Are Coming

In 2025, Part 10 of the building code (Alterations to Existing Buildings) will change the retrofit world. A crucial point to make now is this: how will Part 10 be applied to exterior retrofits?

The thing is, we don’t have to wait for a stick to be applied to improve thousands of houses a year, immediately.

We’ve got the number crunching skills and the building science to back it up.

We need the marketing and promotional chops to make a big change, now.

Also, very high on my personal wish list: a national energy strategy for lower income households that’s tied to provincial low-income programs for deferred maintenance so they can benefit from lower energy costs. Couple that with free heat pumps that are right sized and installed to provide comfort throughout the house.

Making a home energy efficient is the solution to dozens of challenges your clients face. Using less energy is just the start of it.

Whether it’s moisture control, improving air tightness and ensuring a fresh air supply to an existing house, or a push right to Net Zero homes, it's time for you to get on this bandwagon.

Here’s a brain dump on the top ways to improve your new home and renovation work by incorporating best practices to make your mark as a provider of energy efficient homes.

Must Haves for Energy Efficient Homes in Canada and the Northern U.S

Long, cold winters in North America require energy-efficient homes that reduce costs while still keeping families warm and comfortable. Thermal bridging is a significant source of heat loss - adding insulation can help minimize it but that's not all you need to do. For example, air sealing and cost effective outboard insulation go together as one package to create Energy Star and Net Zero homes. A good thermal envelope works both ways - keeping heat out in the summer.

Your building code may already require a higher performance building envelope, with reduced thermal bridging and an air tightness target. Heating and cooling (as well as water heating) equipment and all major appliances should be Energy Star certified products to keep home energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use as low as possible.

That's just the beginning.

Building Codes and Energy Efficient Homes

In Canada, the National Building Code (NBC) aims to boost the energy efficiency of the construction sector to Net Zero Energy by 2032. Working to energy efficient targets in the tiered National Building Code, or the BC Energy Step Code, builders can select material and methods that are cost-effective and make an efficient home. An ENERGY STAR certified home offers several benefits, including:

• Being about 20% more efficient, practical, and cost-effective
• Increasing comfort and health
• Cutting down on operating, maintenance, and cooling expenses
• Significantly enhancing energy performance and saving money in the long run by choosing high-efficiency appliances and electronics.

The ultimate efficient home under the NBC and the BC Energy Step Code is a Net Zero home, or a Passive House.

In the US, the most widely used model building codes are the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Builders aiming to build the most energy efficient homes should be working towards the Department of Energy's (DoE) Zero Energy Ready Homes program.

Under any of these codes and programs, the goal is always to minimize home energy use and maximize the indoor air quality. The aim is to create and maintain occupant comfort, health, and safety.

Key Takeaways

• Incorporating principles such as the Envelope First approach, renewable energy sources, and energy-efficient equipment, right from the beginning of the design process significantly enhances a home’s energy efficiency and reduces utility bills.
• Effective air sealing, particularly in areas like attics and basements, is crucial for preventing air leaks and enhancing overall energy efficiency. This is the first principle for a home built to an energy efficient standard. After air tightness comes insulation.
• High-performance assemblies, as well as windows, doors, play essential roles in minimizing heat loss, maintaining indoor comfort, and achieving long-term energy cost savings. Optimize the efficient home envelope first and then add right-sized efficient HVAC systems.

1. Energy Efficient Home Design Principles

Maximizing a home’s energy efficiency and ensuring cost-effective implementation of energy efficiency steps starts with incorporating smart design principles from the outset. Some key design principles to consider include:

• Optimizing for solar gain in the winter and minimizing for it in the summer
• Designing the home to be air-tight and well-insulated
• Implementing smart home technology to monitor and control energy usage
• Using energy-efficient appliances and lighting
• Incorporating renewable energy sources on-site, such as solar panels

By incorporating these design principles, you can provide homeowners with significant improvements to their home’s energy efficiency, save energy, reduce their utility bills while maintaining a better level level of comfort. Homes with energy-efficient designs (with or without solar panels) can reduce the strain on power grids, leading to fewer power outages.

Harnessing Solar Energy

A home’s energy efficiency can be considerably enhanced by harnessing solar energy through passive solar design strategies. One key element is strategic home positioning, which involves orienting the house to capture maximum sunlight during winter and avoiding solar gain during summer. This method, known as solar tempering, optimizes the passive use of the sun’s heat for heating in winter. Shading keeps the house cooler in summer.

A passive solar home collects heat through south-facing windows, keeps the heat inside, and has a way to distribute it naturally or with fans. Some passive solar homes store heat in materials like concrete or brick, known as thermal mass.

Windows in a passive solar home should face within 30 degrees of true south and remain unshaded from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the heating season. For effective shading, roof overhangs should be sized to block summer sun yet allow winter sun to penetrate south-facing windows. These strategies help reduce energy consumption and enhance the home’s energy efficiency.

Energy Modelling

During the design phase of an energy-efficient home, energy modeling software is an invaluable tool. It allows you to:

• Estimate a home’s energy use
• Ensure that the goal of net zero energy, or other energy performance target can be achieved while keeping costs down
• Take into account variables like construction materials, site characteristics, and climate conditions to estimate a home's energy performance.

Energy models can reduce energy use by up to 45% when used early in the design phase. Additionally, energy modeling helps ensure that designs comply with building codes and green building certification requirements.

2. The Envelope First Approach

When building a house you want to optimize energy efficiency through whole-house systems.

By focussing on the Envelope First approach, designers, builders, and renovators can cost effectively improve overall energy performance, such as enhancing insulation or optimizing building orientation. This approach also determines the cost-effectiveness of various energy-saving measures, projecting long-term savings.

There are three main points to the Envelope First Approach:

Improving energy efficiency and indoor comfort requires the sealing of the building envelope. Preventing unwanted air exchange contributes significantly to a home’s energy efficiency. Air sealing enhances the home's resistance to:

• water
• heat
• light
• noise transfer

Once you’ve determined what your airtightness goals are, then it’s time to consider the thermal envelope and insulation levels. 

Mechanical ventilation is crucial to maintain good indoor air quality while ensuring the building remains airtight. By focusing on creating an airtight building envelope, homeowners can effectively reduce energy consumption and enhance their home’s overall performance.

Air Sealing Strategies

A home's energy efficiency is significantly enhanced by effective air sealing.

The goal is to have a continuous air barrier, which can be located on the interior or the exterior of the envelope. A range of materials and assemblies are available for new builds, making air tightness targets easier to meet.

In existing homes, there are more challenges to creating a continuous air barrier, but air sealing is still one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption and increase occupant comfort.

Attics, in particular, are prime areas for air to escape, making them essential targets for air sealing. Using caulking and other sealants to minimize air flow significantly improves insulation performance. Sealing light fixtures and fans in unheated attics with airtight boxes helps prevent air leakage.

Likewise, sealing the home’s rim joist and foundation cracks with caulk or expanding foam helps prevent cold air from entering the basement.

In terms of building science, this ‘top and tail’ approach to air sealing helps to minimize the stack effect, controlling the primary driver of air pressure differences.

Control Moisture in Building Assemblies

In energy efficient construction, the goal is to control moisture and air from penetrating the building assembly. Keeping the wall, roof and other assemblies dry is a crucial part of building efficiency.

Keep water out, off, and away from the building envelope to prevent molds from growing. Mold can severely affect indoor air-quality (IAQ) and structural integrity in homes. Air sealing helps improve heating performance and provides better controls over the IAQ of the structure.

Advanced Framing Techniques

Reducing lumber use and waste while improving energy efficiency can be achieved by employing advanced framing techniques, also known as Optimum Value Engineering (OVE). These techniques involve using specific methods, such as spacing wall studs up to 24 inches on center and using two-stud corner framing with drywall clips or scrap lumber for drywall backing instead of studs. 

Modular Design and Building Envelope

Designing on two-foot modules can make the best use of common sheet sizes and reduce waste and labor. Other methods include eliminating headers in non-load-bearing walls and using in-line framing to ensure that floor, wall, and roof framing members are vertically aligned, allowing loads to be transferred directly downward.

This helps to reduce thermal bridging to improve the performance of the envelope.

High-Performance Windows and Doors

Comfortable indoor temperatures are maintained and heat loss minimized with high-performance windows and doors. Windows, doors, and skylights can account for up to 35 percent of total house heat loss. They are always going to be the weakest link when it comes to heat loss,

Improving Comfort

Advanced insulation materials and energy-efficient windows help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the year. Some features that contribute to energy efficiency include:

• Inert gases like argon or krypton used between glazing layers to reduce heat transfer through the glass
• Insulated spacers between glazings to reduce edge heat loss and condensation problems
• Low-E coatings on windows that can reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer by up to 50%

These features help to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs.

Properly installed high-performance windows can make homes more comfortable by reducing drafts and increasing the interior temperature of the window.

3. Efficient Ventilation Systems

In airtight homes, a healthy and comfortable indoor environment is maintained through efficient ventilation systems. High-performance homes require a continuous source of fresh filtered air for ventilation. In addition, effective moisture control is also critical due to their airtightness.

There are four basic mechanical whole-house ventilation systems:

1. Exhaust
2. Supply
3. Balanced
4. Energy recovery

Whole House Ventilation is Best

There are several types of ventilation systems available for homes:

1. Exhaust ventilation systems: These are simple and inexpensive to install but can draw pollutants into the living space.
2. Supply ventilation systems: These allow better control of the air that enters the house compared to exhaust systems.
3. Balanced ventilation systems: These introduce and exhaust approximately equal quantities of fresh outside air and polluted inside air.
4. Energy recovery ventilation systems: These are effective in climates with extreme winters or summers and high fuel costs. They recover about 70% to 80% of the energy in the exiting air and deliver it to the incoming air. However, these systems require more maintenance, including regular cleaning to prevent mold and bacteria buildup.

4. Choosing Efficient Heating and Cooling Systems

Meeting energy performance targets and reducing energy costs require the selection of efficient heating and cooling systems.

Options

Heat pumps, for instance, have a high Coefficient of Performance (COP), converting a unit of electricity into multiple units of heat, making them highly energy-efficient. Ductless mini-split heat pump systems allow temperature control for individual rooms, saving energy by heating or cooling only the spaces in use.

Boiler systems heat water, which circulates through radiators or baseboards, providing consistent and reliable warmth. Radiant floor heating provides even heat distribution from the ground up, offering high comfort and energy efficiency.

Forced air furnaces distribute heated air quickly via ducts, offering rapid warmth, though efficiency can vary. ENERGY STAR certified furnaces have a rating of 90% AFUE or greater, making them about 15% more efficient than the minimum federal efficiency standard.

Smart Controls

Optimizing energy use is made possible through the pivotal role of smart thermostats. These devices learn user preferences and create personalized schedules, initiating heating during off-peak hours to take advantage of lower-cost, clean energy.

This results in long-term savings on energy bills and enhanced overall cost-effectiveness.

Maximize the home’s energy performance through planning for energy efficiency, renewable energy systems to harness as much energy as possible before you start designing or remodeling.

5. Water Heating Solutions

Minimizing hot water use and saving on energy bills are achievable with efficient water heating technologies. Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) use significantly less energy compared to conventional electric resistance or gas water heaters. HPWHs gather heat from the atmosphere and concentrate it in a water storage tank, leading to significant energy savings.

Although the initial cost of HPWHs is higher than conventional water heaters, this can be offset by long-term savings and available incentives.

Benefits of HPWHs:

• Lower energy consumption
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Longer lifespan compared to traditional water heaters
• Ability to operate in a wide range of climates

6. Energy Efficient Lighting

Reducing energy consumption and lowering maintenance costs can be effectively achieved through energy-efficient lighting. LED lighting uses up to 90% less energy than incandescent lighting, significantly reducing energy costs. ENERGY STAR certified light bulbs use two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.

Advantages of LED Lights:

• They last 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs and about 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lighting, minimizing maintenance costs.
• They are more durable and do not break easily.
• Properly designed LED lights maintain consistent brightness and quality throughout their lifespan.
• The lifespan of LED lights can be at least 35,000 hours or up to 12 years based on 8 hours daily usage.

Selecting Energy Efficient Appliances

Minimizing home energy use and reducing environmental impact require the selection of energy-efficient appliances. By choosing energy star certified products, you can save money on electricity bills and help protect the environment by reducing harmful emissions. These products must meet strict energy efficiency criteria.

7. Renewable Energy Integration

Grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are a cost-effective solution for powering zero energy homes. They are considered the most efficient form of renewable energy.

The panels are capable of meeting all the energy requirements of a home, including:

• Powering lighting
• Heating and cooling
• Operating appliances
• Providing hot water

While grid-tied solar panels are the most expensive component of a net zero home, strategies to reduce or mitigate the energy load of the house can save money. By reducing occupant loads as well as the heating and cooling loads, you can help your clients move closer to their goal.

The 'Envelope First' Approach Improves Energy Efficient Homes

Reducing reliance on mechanical systems is the primary drive of the 'Envelope First' approach to energy conservation. My personal preference is a 'stupid' house, not a smart one.

A stupid house has a great thermal envelope that means it is far more resilient and requires fewer controls and less monitoring to maintain it's integrity if there is power outage or a problem with the internet.

One-Time Investment

There is literally a one-time investment in creating an energy efficient home. The design phase is the least expensive phase of any efficient home.

Where possible, choose low-carbon materials for the building envelope. Carbon mitigation is going to be a big deal - in fact, BC has already released a Carbon Step Code to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with both the construction and operation of buildings.

Summary

Learning to build energy-efficient homes is not just about adopting a few green technologies; it’s about a holistic approach that integrates smart design principles, harnesses solar energy, employs energy modeling, pays attention to the details for air sealing, and uses efficient systems and appliances.

By following the strategies outlined, from sealing the building envelope to integrating renewable energy sources, you can help homeowners achieve significant savings, enhance comfort, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Learn more about high performance and net zero energy in new construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of a net-zero home?

The benefits of a net-zero, or near-net-zero home include significantly reducing utility bills and environmental impact by generating renewable energy on-site to offset energy they use over a year. Minimizing or eliminating energy costs for a home or building reduces the risks associated with fluctuating fuel and utility costs.

How does passive solar design enhance energy efficiency?

Passive solar design enhances energy efficiency by optimizing natural energy sources and reducing heating and cooling loads through strategies like site selection and window sizing and placement. Selective glazing moderates heating and cooling loads throughout the year, based on the orientation of the window.

What role does energy modeling software play in energy efficient home design?

Energy modeling software plays a crucial role in home design by estimating energy use, allowing designers to optimize variables for better energy performance and ensure compliance with building codes.

Why is sealing the building envelope important?

Sealing the building envelope is important because it controls air flow through the building envelope, reducing heat loss and increasing indoor comfort while providing resistance to water, pollutant, and noise transfer. This helps create a more sustainable and comfortable indoor environment.

What are the advantages of using heat pump water heaters?

Using a heat pump water heater can result in substantial energy savings and lower electricity bills related to water heating when compared to conventional water heaters, as they transfer heat instead of generating it, consuming less energy. 

OK, so, we use a lot of energy. It takes energy to make energy. It takes energy to transport fuel, it takes energy to make the vehicles and devices that transport fuel, it takes energy to turn fuel into energy and it takes energy to distribute energy and fuel. Thermal energy is produced as a waste product when electricity is generated with fossil fuels.

Energy is wasted all along the path.

At every junction, we have the opportunity to conserve energy, to find ways to reduce or eliminate energy usage with new technology. At the same time we need to ensure that our energy conservation tactics are also carbon emission reduction tactics.

It's all connected. So what on earth should we focus on? Technology? Programmable thermostats replacing old units, heat pumps replacing air conditioning systems, household energy use reductions, energy efficient appliances, all good.

But energy efficiency is not restricted to technology related to heating and cooling systems, or energy efficient products. Conserving energy is so much more important than saving energy.

What is meant by energy conservation?

What's the difference between conserving and saving energy?

When you're trying to save energy, you're trying to eliminate energy waste from a process or task. Energy efficiency means to use less energy to perform the same task.

On the other hand, when you conserve energy, you're touching the root cause of the problem: you're not worried about the energy performance of water heaters, or an air conditioner. Energy conservation is to not use energy. For example, turning a light off in an unused room is energy conservation while switching to a more energy efficient light such as LEDs to save money, is energy efficiency.

Likewise, not using hot water for laundry and only running the washing machine with full loads, or during off peak hours are energy saving practices. You could save electricity and/or natural gas by doing the wash by hand and setting it out to dry on a line. But no one is going to suggest you scrub clothes on a washboard. That's a waste of human energy. And it really doesn't do much to offset energy usage or greenhouse gas emissions.

Don't get me wrong, creating energy efficiency standards, and promoting energy efficiency for household energy use is all good. It's just that energy saving bulbs and energy efficient appliances make up a small portion of a household energy bill.

Turning from appliance usage to the bigger picture, we can definitely see substantial energy savings when we move to the electrification of heating and cooling systems using heat pumps with high energy performance ratings. Still, it's energy savings, not energy conservation. There are some hot financial incentives right now too. Without energy conservation measures (ECMs) in houses, we're just moving from one energy source to another.

That being said: efficiency is still cheaper than fuel. The most valuable kilowatt is the one you don't use!

Why Is Wasting Electricity Bad?

The environmental impact of electricity generated from coal fired plants and other fossil fuel power plants that create greenhouse gas emissions is significant, contributing to carbon and methane emissions, making it crucial to reduce waste. Hydro projects have their own issues. When generating electricity, there is also energy waste in transmission and distribution through the grid, so not only is there waste energy at the power plant, there is energy wasted throughout the whole electricity system.

Regardless of the generation source, there are distribution and transmission losses throughout the electrical grid from plant to the end user. When you draw power at the plug, you get every electron that's there, it's true, but that's a bit of a false comfort when you consider that fossil fuel fired power plants are at best 50% efficient when it comes to turning thermal energy into electricity, and distribution losses can knock that back by half again.

One thing is certain: it’s not OK to waste energy.

Here, in no particular order, are nine reasons why. Together, they are what drives me to be so passionate about reducing the amount of energy used in houses.

Here we go:

A RANT AND A LOVE LETTER, ALL IN ONE

REASON #1: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE IT’S GONNA COST YOU MORE MONEY

 Each time energy is expended, it costs money. Heck, even energy efficiency costs money - replacing old appliances with ones that meet today's energy efficiency standards means you're paying top dollar.

All of the infrastructure around us requires energy - our dependence on fossil fuels requires fossil fuels to continue the supply of fossil fuels. We need fossil fuels to explore for fossil fuel resources, to extract them, refine, store, distribute them. And the machinery that allows us to do all that work is built using fossil fuels. Hydro and solar are renewable energy sources, but they are no different - guess what drives the dam-building machinery and mining, refinement and manufacture of solar panels and wind turbines?

Everything requires electricity.

To produce electricity, we require coal and natural gas, nuclear power, and hydro. All of which chew up natural habitats and cause environmental damage and generate air pollutants, all of which creates a whole different layer of costs.

It's pretty much a guarantee that the cost of doing business is not going to go down, which means that energy prices are going to increase, which means somebody (the end user - that's you and me) has to pay for it via energy bills even if we do our best to not waste electricity. We can use public transportation, smart thermostats, all the things. We still need to use electricity.

Renewables are the cheapest source of electricity. I said what I said. Fight me.

Or better yet, fight Dr. Amory Lovins, director of the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Here's what he said in a Guardian article from 2022:

“In 2020 the world added 0.4 gigawatts more nuclear capacity than it retired, whilst the world added 278 gigawatts of renewables – that’s a 782-fold greater capacity. Renewables swelled supply and displaced carbon as much every 38 hours as nuclear did all year. Where nuclear is cheap, renewables are cheaper still and efficiency is cheaper than that. There is no new type or size or fuel cycle of reactor that will change this. Do the maths. It is game over.”

REASON #2: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE IT’S GONNA CAUSE MORE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

All of the mining, drilling, dam-building, transportation, extraction, refinement, storage and distribution and associated energy waste has an impact on the environment. Not only does energy production eat up natural resources, but most power plants, especially coal fired power plants, that generate electricity also produce greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other greenhouse gasses exacerbate climate change and air pollution.

In 2021, about 28% of Canada's total GHG emissions came from the oil and gas sector, 22% from transport, 13% from buildings and 11% from the heavy industry sector.

While hydroelectric generation produces very little in the way of greenhouse gas emissions when it's operating, they cause environmental issues, starting with loss of habitat to the reservoir behind the dam. To manage the reservoir levels, and to maintain the water levels in the river below the dam, water has to be released. Reservoir water is typically low in dissolved oxygen and colder than normal river water. Changes in river temperatures, chemistry, flow characteristics and silt loads affect the ecology. If not released appropriately, water levels downstream will drop and animal and plant life can be harmed.

On top of that, damming rivers has repercussions for spawning salmon and other fish that use upstream areas as nurseries. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that only 312 significant streams in the lower 48 States are still free flowing. All 15 of the large rivers in the continental United States are dammed (or diverted for irrigation), and the watersheds that feed them are all under stress.

That onsite oil tank is an environmental hazard

Not many of us have a hydro dam in our yard, but there's a significant number of North Americans who do have an oil tank on their property that feeds their space heating and hot water equipment. In 2019, when I was working on a paper study for a net zero renovation package for a small 3 storey multi-family unit, we were tasked with doing a Total Cost of Building Ownership (TCBO) analysis. TCBO looks at all the factors that you need to consider over a longish period of time, say 30 or 60 years. You consider everything: maintenance, repair, replacement, taxes, mortgage principal and interest, and insurance.

Our goal was to look a a business as usual scenario compared to an net zero energy scenario. Which meant calling insurance providers to ask about premiums and what they might look like in the future. In their response they noted that properties with an oil-fired boiler or furnace on site already face higher insurance premiums because of the environmental hazard of the tank. They indicated that it would become increasingly more expensive and then difficult, and then impossible to get insurance for a property with an oil-fired boiler on it. Specifically because of the risks associated with the tank, regardless of age, material, and position.

Zooming out again to look at the big picture:

The more the energy sector expands to accommodate demand, the bigger the environmental impact. Coal fired power plants pose environmental hazards, including ash disposal and air pollution. The impact of natural gas on the environment, including methane emissions, is also significant. The bigger the environmental impact, the more tenuous our hold on ‘business as usual’. Power plants contribute to emissions, waste production, and landscape alteration, making the environmental impact substantial. At some point, the damage will be irreparable and the resources will be depleted, and human health will be affected. We’re not very far away from that point, if we haven’t already passed it.

REASON #3: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE IT’S GONNA LEAD TO ENERGY INSECURITY

Many livelihoods are associated with energy production, directly or indirectly. If these industries fail because they have depleted the very resources they rely on, there is an economic crisis of massive proportions.

Canadians have very little choice but to rely on energy to keep them warm in the winter. So where's the energy going to come from? Energy conservation and energy efficiency are needed, yes, but homeowners and renters are at the absolute mercy of utilities and government policies. It will take time to shift from coal and natural gas, for extraction and for generating electricity. It will take time to shift from oil-based products in general.

If we have to purchase more and more energy offshore, then we are at the mercy of other governments and their policies. The same is true of massive offshore investment in Canadian resource extraction.

We're stymied when it comes to harnessing renewable sources, using less energy, and seeing further into the future than the next few years (that is part of human nature - we're not in survival mode until we're in the midst of crisis, and global changes are not obvious in our day-to-day lives).

Energy poverty

Energy poverty is a real thing for way too many people. Read about it here.

REASON #4: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE: CARBON

Every energy exchange that includes fossil fuels has a carbon cost, contributing to carbon emissions and impacting the environment through the greenhouse effect, global warming, and climate change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to address these environmental challenges.

We can reduce carbon costs associated with operating existing housing through energy conservation measures and electrification (assuming that the electricity is coming from a clean generation source).

In some cases, we can reduce the embedded carbon in a renovation, or even create a minor carbon sink. We can reduce carbon costs associated with new housing in two ways: using low-carbon materials, and creating a building envelope that minimizes the amount of energy needed from the least carbon-intensive energy source.

REASON #5: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE TO RENOVATE FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION

More than 70% of Canada's housing stock is over 30 years old, most of it built well before energy efficiency was a thing. We have the opportunity, the technology and the know-how to greatly improve what's already in place in urban, suburban and rural neighbourhoods, but often, individuals can't afford the upgrades, or aren't interested in paying for upgrades that they won't see the long-term benefit from.

What if we took the burden of energy conservation measures off the shoulders of homeowners and turn energy management into an infrastructure cost borne by the municipality, like water and sewer?

I'd argue that it's too expensive to NOT renovate to reduce energy, improve the indoor environment and reduce environmental effects.

REASON #6: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO BUILD NEW HOUSING

The cost of building new, energy efficient, high performance housing is high. There’s financial costs associated with land development, water and sewer expansion, new roads, expansion of utility grids, and then there’s the cost of construction materials and labour. There are energy costs associated with new development, energy costs associated with every single building material and piece of equipment that gets installed in new construction.

The impact of energy consumption on the environment is significant, contributing to excessive usage of fossil fuels and resulting in carbon and methane emissions. Utilizing renewable resources like solar, wind, and hydro in new housing developments can reduce these emissions and promote sustainability. These costs are only going to get higher as prices for materials go up and options for expansion around big city areas go down. Vancouver and Toronto are already in the top 10 most expensive cities to live in.

More than just dollars at play - people are unhoused

Of course, we know that we need to build twice as much new housing for Canadians at twice the rate we're doing so now - which means more materials than ever. This, dear reader, is the most painful conundrum. Strap in for more shortages and garbled supply chains. COVID gave us a just a taste of what's to come, I'm afraid.

REASON #7: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE OF OCCUPANT HEALTH COSTS

While energy efficiency is good on its own merits, there is a whole range of non-energy benefits associated with energy efficiency done right. In existing housing, it improves comfort and creates a healthier indoor environment, reducing wasted energy and its negative impact on occupant health, including issues with indoor pollutants such as mold, dust, or radon. Healthier people means less burden on the social safety net.

Watch out for the pm2.5 - the stuff you can't see!

When a power plant, a furnace, or a water heater burns coal, oil, or natural gas, small particulate matter is released. This gets embedded in our lungs when we breathe it in. Sulfur dioxide can irritate our respiratory systems, carbon dioxide is a health hazard, and nitrogen oxides and other gases interact with sunlight to form smog. All of these carbon emissions and other pollutants are linked to serious health issues like asthma, heart attacks, and lung cancer.

There are estimates using data from the US Environmental Protection Agency that reducing electricity consumption 15% nationwide for just one year would save enough money on health care costs to pay the annual health insurance premiums for nearly 3.6 million families.

That is a significant health benefit.

REASON #8: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE IT’S EXPENSIVE TO MOVE

Sometimes you hear ‘oh, it would be cheaper to move or build new than do renovations'.

Sometimes the word people are actually looking for is ‘easier', not ‘cheaper'.

But really, the costs associated with moving are high, and creating more value in an existing home can outweigh the costs associated with selling and moving. There are real estate commissions, closing costs, decorating costs and moving expenses. These add nothing to the value of a property. You're never going to get those costs back.

There are at least 12 categories of moving expenses that you might need to consider:

1. Truck Rental
2. Moving Supplies
3. Professional Movers
4. Packing/Unpacking
5. Cleaning Services
6. Tips for Professional Services
7. Fragile Item Moving
8. Moving Insurance
9. Storage Unit Rental
10. Personal Vehicle Transport
11. Move-In Expenses
12. Long Distance Moving Costs

This article from Forbes breaks out the details and average costs (US) for these categories. This is just for moving.

What about the costs associated with buying and selling a house?

Real estate commission, legal fees, sales tax, capital gains, in some regions land transfer tax: they all need to be factored into the equation.

What if that money was used to improve and reduce the cost of operating the house?

Don't fall for false economies

For someone who purchased their house even two decades ago, it will be difficult to sell and buy or build something similar, simply because of the increase in land and development costs, let alone construction costs. Consider that, in 1990, the average GTA home would have cost a buyer $255,020 ($514,911 equivalent today with inflation) according to data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. By 2010, it was $431,262 ($586,473 with inflation), and in 2023, as reported by The Toronto Star, that average home price is $1,134,781.

It's not cheaper to move. Not any more.

REASON #9: IT’S NOT OK TO WASTE ENERGY BECAUSE WE’RE ALL GETTING OLDER

As we get older, more and more of us join the ranks of fixed income households. When that happens, we need to minimize our monthly expenses.

Investing in renewable energy sources like solar and wind can significantly reduce utility costs in the long term. But that's not helpful to a homeowner who's looking for ways to manage a budget and a house.

That being said, a low-energy load house can offset that load with a smaller solar system. This is a big driver for investing in energy conservation measures, because people also want to stay in their houses for as long as they can.

You can pay now or pay later

Moving out of an established home is a big thing. A condo or apartment is an expensive purchase. Assisted living and long term care is expensive. And really, ultimately, it's undesirable for older folks to move.

Why?

Because it’s their home, and they are surrounded by their social network, and their health remains better, longer. Aging in place is a cost-effective alternative to long term care. Renovations that reduce utility costs and reduce maintenance costs make sense to people who are looking to their future in their community.

If we look at ways to make housing more flexible - design and build or renovate with a secondary suite in mind, for example, we can leverage larger single family homes into two smaller units and back again as household sizes and ownership patterns change.

I have several articles worth of reasons why all new housing should follow universal design principles, but I’ll leave it at this: each of us is only able-bodied for now. Barrier-free housing with user-friendly details should be the norm, not the exception. Because housing is for people, and people do not fit into the one-size-fits-all standard that has been developed by the able-bodied ones who build housing. 

Also, low operating costs are right handy regardless of how fixed your income is.

What are YOUR reasons it’s not OK to waste energy?

Drop a comment below!

As a builder, renovator or contractor, success in the home construction industry is not solely determined by the quality of your work. Managing a business is a whole job in itself! If you're on the tools, you're wearing two hats. In fact, as an entrepreneur in this industry, you're likely wearing several hats. That's the reality of small business.

Success.

It is a culmination of several factors, we like to refer to them as the 5 Cs: Code, Costs, Clients, Callbacks, and Crews. Let’s have a look at each of these Cs and how they contribute to your overall success as a builder, renovator, contractor or tradesperson.

1. Energy Performance Targets and Building Codes

The first C in success is Code.

This is the big one. You can't get away from it.

Energy efficiency and energy conservation measures have been in the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) since the 2010 edition. The BC Energy Step Code made Step 3 mandatory in May 2023. The NBC 2020 edition introduced 4 Tiers for energy performance targets. New home construction is moving towards Net Zero Energy ready.

To comply, builders must provide a better thermal envelope - reduce heat loss and heat gain - without compromising the indoor environment or causing unintended consequences like condensation in building assemblies that leads to damage. That requires some understanding of building science and how to apply it to your region.

Energy efficient construction is no longer voluntary.

Change is inevitable.

Higher performance houses built to energy targets are here to stay. New buildings that hit higher levels of energy efficiency offer significant benefits such as cost savings, improved comfort, and lower operating costs. Builders who jump on this now will be ahead of the game.

We're moving away from ‘prescriptive path’ compliance (as in ‘thou shalt’ tables and charts), and moving towards ‘performance path’ compliance. This requires energy modelling and performance testing as well as commissioning of efficient space conditioning equipment a heat pump.

Net Zero Energy Ready Is The Goal

We are headed to a Net Zero Energy or Passive House standard as a final target within the next decade. The higher the performance requirements, the more important your understanding of building science becomes, both to comply with code AND to avoid the catastrophes of unintended consequences that result from good ideas that don’t obey the laws of physics.

In addition, a renovation and retrofit code is on the horizon. In Canada, Part 10: Alterations to Existing Buildings will be added in the next iteration of the National Building Code. Energy efficiency requirements for additions and renovations changes the game.

You need to be ahead of the curve. Figure this stuff out before you have to do it.

Performance-based code compliance is here. It’s actually more cost-effective to work to energy targets than it is to work to a pre-determined list of requirements on a prescriptive path. You can move one or more steps up the performance ladder as you get comfortable.

By implementing energy efficiency, you can meet code requirements, go beyond them, and exceed client expectations.

2. Control Your Costs By Controlling Your Learning Curve

The second C in success is Costs.

Figure out how to implement a better thermal envelope package before you are forced to provide it under the next round of building code changes. If you're working under the BC Energy Step Code, you're already in the thick of it. By controlling the learning curves associated with new assemblies and techniques, you can maximize efficiency and minimize expenses.

Do you know what the 4 control layers are? If you have to increase the insulation value of a wall system do you know which insulation is best for your climate and application? Do you know how it will be impacted by an existing air barrier or vapour barrier? What's the best way to ensure you've got an assembly that can dry to the outside? How about the inboard-outboard ratio of insulation on the wall?

Don't Take Risks on High Performance

Are you sure about your answers? With performance targets, we're moving away from following the 'recipe' in the building code tables. Net Zero Energy Ready buildings require a little more knowledge than that.

It comes as no surprise that streamlining and reducing costs in your projects can significantly impact your profitability. Our motto here at Blue House Energy is: It’s not OK to waste energy. That includes yours. Avoid the energy-sucking frustration that comes with mistakes and bad sequencing of energy efficient assemblies that leads to messed up project management.

One way to reduce risk and ease learning curves is the Integrated Design Process. Whether you're running the project, leading a specialty crew, or working as subcontractor, discussion and planning are the least expensive and most effective ways of controlling both costs and learning curves.

3. Comfortable & Quiet Homes = Happy Clients

The third C in success is Clients.

Happy clients = happy business.

They are a testament to your expertise and craft.

Lower energy costs are a significant benefit of energy efficient practices. Homes that save money on energy bills play a crucial role in reducing energy use and promoting clean energy, but less energy is not what really makes your clients happy. When clients experience improved comfort and health (and reduced energy costs) in their homes, they become your biggest advocates. Your same excellent work, but underpin it with building science.

Here's an example:

The additional cost - the ‘premium’ - for adding an exterior air sealing and insulation package is typically less than 20% when bundled into a deferred maintenance packages like siding replacement. Offer an energy efficient value add: with a little number crunching, you can show how you can save them 20-30% on energy costs, which means the insulation will have paid for itself after just a few heating seasons.

Happy clients are more likely to refer your services to friends, family, and colleagues, which can lead to a steady stream of new business. Delivering on comfort and health, creating phased plans for improving their homes is how you create a repeat and referral-worthy experience for your clients.

4. Callbacks

The fourth C in success is Callbacks.

Callbacks cost you money and time.

They take your crew off projects in progress.

And now you’ve got two cranky clients: the one who’s called you back, and the one who’s waiting for your crew to continue.

Callbacks your bottom line and your reputation. Fit and finish callbacks are inevitable, but don't get blindsided by poorly installed insulation or a failed air barrier. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of comfort issues, moisture problems and how to solve for them.

By focusing on reducing callbacks related to comfort and energy performance, you can ensure client satisfaction and save valuable time and resources.

5. Keep Your Crews and Use Less Energy

The fifth C in success is Crew.

The backbone of your business.

Did you know that our industry can have up to 70% crew turnover in a year?

That’s costly and makes it really hard to run a business, right?! Under the new NBC or the BC Energy Step Code, your team is going to need some background in the why behind energy efficiency to be able to carry out energy efficiency measures in your buildings.

A well-trained and stable crew, in conjunction with a focus on best practices for air sealing and insulation can go a long way to minimize callbacks and avoid costly mistakes.

When you are doing energy efficiency work, the folks who are doing the grubbiest jobs - air sealing and insulation - need to be your rock stars. The success of every single project that needs to meet an energy target hinges on the quality of the air sealing details and insulation placement.

You want to keep your rockstars right?

It’s far less costly to train and retain a labourer who’s adept and efficient at air sealing than it is to bark orders at a newbie who doesn’t understand why they need to do a good job (or what that good job should look like, or the consequences of a not-good job).

Providing opportunities for growth not only improves their performance but also contributes to a stable and motivated workforce. Be the rock-star boss who offers performance-based bonuses to your skilled workers or subcontractors. 

Upskilling your crew, training them in new technology, rewarding them for great work, helps you create a positive work environment while retaining talent and reducing turnover.

And anticipate the 6th C: Carbon...

The BC Energy Step Code was released in 2016. BC adopted a Zero Carbon Step Code in 2023. We’re talking low carbon builds and low carbon operation that moves away from fossil fuels.

It's coming nationally, too. We'll have your back on that one too.

For 2024, we’re staying focussed on 5: Prioritize energy efficient buildings, streamline your costs, satisfy your clients, reduce callbacks, and upskill your crew to position your business for success, long-term growth, and profitability.

	Want to get ahead of the curve? Check out The Home Performance Accelerator

And why is this STILL a question?

I've been in the home construction and renovation industry for over 30 years.

For many years I was the only woman on site, except for the cleaning crew and one woman who ran an insulation company (and she was fierce and very good at her job). Over the years, I have met other women working in construction and I can assure you, each of us has put up with a lot of bullshit to follow our passion into this industry.

Here's some low lights from my own career:

Let's see, at the beginning, there was the engineering prof at BCIT who told the 8 women (out of 88 in our Building Technology class) that it was a 'given' that women were bad at math, and therefore his advice to us was to 'seduce one of the brighter guys and not let go of him for the next two years'. I marched right into the Dean's office to protest this nasty little piece of advice.

The guy who cornered me in a mechanical room, tried to grope me, grabbed a broom handle, waved it around and threatened to beat the shit out of me if I told anyone.

The client who's smarmy advances on a secluded building site and subsequent threatening phone calls led me to give him back his retainer, block him on all channels, and forfeit getting paid for the many hours I had already put in on his project. Apparently I wasn't clear about what services he was buying.

Let me repeat that: I. Lost. Significant. Income. Just. To. Stay. Safe.

Not to mention all sorts of tiresome verbal abuse over a +30 year career, having to prove my value 120% while the men around me succeeded on 70% effort. All sorts of tedious reckoning with language and ducking the slagging of those who felt I was an intruder on the site because I don't have a penis.

I can take a joke. I can also tell you what's not a joke, and never has been a joke.

Given my experience on site, echoed by nearly every single woman I know professionally, and the continued gender split that is taught from preschool on, it's no wonder women still make up a small proportion of the construction workforce. And that’s a problem for the industry. A serious one that is partially feeding into the looming jobs vacuum.

Statistics Canada studies show that 88 percent of the construction industry workforce in Canada is men. Of the 12 percent who are female, less than half of those are actually in the skilled trades category.

There's a very well-documented skilled trades shortage -- with retirement/attrition only making that worse in the next decade. There's something beyond an opportunity to engage the other 50% of the population and improve the chances of the industry being able to deflect the skills vacuum.

We need to engage women - now, and from an early age. After all, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

It’s a cultural thing

At the same time, we need to alter the culture of the industry. Sexism and misogynistic attitudes are rampant in construction industry, and to call it out can mean taking your career in your hands. I know many women who are loath to talk about anything to do with the blatant sexism they have experienced because they have also worked ferociously hard to achieve success in the industry. They don’t want to distract from their success by having attention brought back to them being the ‘girl’ on site. And rightly so.

We’re losing skilled tradesmen every day to retirement, and there's simply not enough men coming in to make up the difference. We need to be nurturing skilled tradeswomen to take some of those places.

To do that, we need effective ways of identifying, labelling, and shedding the descriptive and prescriptive biases that are layered over women, our behavior, abilities, and what's expected of us.

That's a big challenge to get over when trying to entice women into the industry. Where there are statistics available, they show that women leave construction within 3 to 5 years. To have babies? No.

To get away from the toxic environment.

We need to develop ways of talking about how to change industry biases, why they need to change and what we can do to effect that change individually.

We need to hear more from folks like HvAChicks Jennifer, Jodi Huettner, Jamie McMillan.

Both women and men who are coming into the industry need a whole toolkit to deal with systemic sexism to call out and make a course-correction in the way the industry is skewed to a male-centric model. And I don’t mean pink hardhats.

I mean allies. Folks who will 'lend us their hammers to break glass ceilings'.

There's a difference, however, between 'trades' and 'construction', where there's corporate structure and HR, and most of the home construction and renovation industry. Somewhere near 70% of all businesses in our industry have 0-4 people on payroll ('0' being the owner-operator who doesn't have a salary). No HR oversight there. How do we change the culture of this atomized industry?

I want you to do a thought experiment today. I want you to count the number of people you interact with regularly in your professional life. Then I want you to count the number of women (cis/trans/bi/other) you work with. Then I want you to note what their role is. How many are on the tools? How many are project managers/site supers? How many are owners/bosses? How many are in admin/support roles?

The simple answer is yes.

The reality is: it's hard, but not in the way you think it might be.

You're not a dummy.

You're smart and clever. You've already proven that.

You have already mastered a whole vocabulary of technical terms and you are heavily invested in your work. You're good at it, you can solve problems and figure out technical puzzles. You want to be your own boss, work with clients, provide great service, have more control over your career path.

The truth is, business management is not much different than managing a project or working on to a project's budget. But you still have to a bunch of stuff that's not taught to you in trade school, in the field, or on the site.

You're No Unicorn, My Friend

The challenge for folks in home construction and renovation, home improvement, HVAC and home performance is this: there's no fit between what you do and what most business or entrepreneurship courses offer.

Lots of coaching and training programs are out there, and they are, for the most part, focussed on a 'get in, get out' model - the techbro 'unicorn' model where you build an app or a platform or a product then sell it, ideally for a LOT of money in the shortest amount of time possible, and then do it again. That's a 'serial entrepreneur.'

In this industry, we're not typically serial entreprenuers. We're creating long-term businesses off the back of our own labour. I've done that for years as an Energy Advisor, consultant and renovator, and I've worked alongside thousands of others doing exactly the same thing. 

Thing is, your revenue is only flowing when you're on the tools, or supervising/running crews on the tools, or working with clients. You need ways to keep the revenue flowing via marketing of some sort or another, and be accountable for all aspects of the legal entity you've built.

Sometimes this is called a 'lifestyle' business by those who are out there chasing unicorns and looking for ways to leverage ideas. The difference is, your company is completely performance based: if you're not out there doing the work, you're not bringing in any revenue.

Of course there's nothing wrong with unicorn chasing (and if you've got a great idea to monetize GO FOR IT!). However, if you've built up your skills and mastered your trade, it's simply not the business model you need or want.

You'll kill yourself trying to scale up.

You also don't need the large corporation model like the one used by your suppliers and distributors. Nor do you need online retail or service, or even bricks and mortar retail (although you might build those!).

So what IS your business model?

Your primary business model is Fee-for-Service: you've got specialized knowledge, and people pay for it. This is different than the gig economy, where you hustle as an independent worker for someone else for short-term commitments. While you need to hustle for projects, you're not working for someone else. You're working for yourself and you create the strategies and plans that will get projects to flow to you.

'Solopreneurs' Are A Large Portion of The Home Construction Industry

Did you know that most of the people who carry out the work run Very Small Businesses? I'm talking about all the people you know and work alongside: HVAC contractors, plumbers, electricians, renovators, home improvement, home performance, energy auditors, designers, estimators, custom builders.

In Canada and the US, somewhere between 70 and 80% of homebuilders and specialty trade/contractor firms are self-employed independent contractors, and nearly 2/3 of firms the industry generate less than 1 million dollars in total revenue annually.

More than half of all firms in our industry have less than 4 people on payroll - and nearly half of those have no-one on payroll. That is: they are a one person shop.

Wherever you fall on the spectrum of 'microbusiness', you will have to:

• Wear most, if not all the hats
• Juggle most, if not all the plates
• Fill most, if not all the roles
• D, all of the above

If you have made the decision to become your own boss, you need some guidance and support as you develop a plan that allows you to come up for breathe every once in a while.

Maybe even one that allows you to thrive.

That's the point, right? You get to control your own path.

I've been a solopreneur in the home performance world, working the fee-for-service model, for most of my adult life. I've learned along the way as best I could, and made some not-great decisions that set me back as well. If I'd had a mentor, coach, or clear path to follow, I would have made different decisions.

I'm rather ancient now, and I'd kinda hoped for a unicorn with the online training business, but what I've ended up with is a hard working donkey. But I love it. I'm still in it for the long haul, still full of passion and curiousity and pride in my skillsets.

What Are You Talking About?

Becoming an owner means you need to master a few more vocabularies. The good news is you're likely used to numbers (sizing systems, doing take offs for estimating and so on). Working your way through balance sheets, P&L statements and other financial elements will not be that hard, once you know the meaning and rational behind them. They're just formulas. They've got a logic behind them.

Same for marketing and advertising.

Same for planning, budgeting and forecasting your growth.

But you need to understand the language to see how the pieces all fit together.

Your fee-for-service business runs a little differently than a business selling products though. A product seller can always order more product if they sell out of it. You've got finite resources. You can't order more time. You can hire more people, but that's going to also cost you time to find, hire, and get them onboard, right?

When you start, you'll come across this standard formula for determining your hourly rate:

This is the minimum you must charge to pay your expenses, pay yourself a salary, and earn a profit.

Straightforward, eh?

What are your overhead costs? How do you figure out what your profit margin could be, or what it should be? How do you find people who will be willing to pay your rate? What are other people quoting for a going rate? How do you show then why you should get a higher rate? What if you're not using hourly rate or fees plus materials for contracts but your contracts are fixed cost, or cost-plus?

Where do you find the knowledge base let alone the time to learn?

There are a few books, some trade journals. Probably your local community college has an online program. Large learning platforms like Udemy have huge catalogues of courses - good luck sifting through to find the ones that suit your needs.

Here at Blue House Energy, we think a success path for busy people in the home construction industry (whether your role is in HVAC, home performance, envelope-focussed retrofits, new builds, or home improvement) looks a lot like this:

On-demand learning + curated resources + live expert sessions + 1:1 coaching.

These 4 pieces represent a wrap-around program that you can dip into when you need access to specific information or learning.

One that provides the resources to help you develop and plan your own path to success. One that takes the obstacles out of your way.

One that you can trust to curate and vet the content so that it suits your needs.

One that keeps you up to date with industry best practices and innovations.

One that shows you how to move forward as a business owner.

One that helps you optimize your business so you can have a life off the tools and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

We're working on that! It's called The Home Performance Accelerator Add your voice to developing this program: take our 3-minute survey

You don't have to know how to install heat pumps. You need to know what you want, and you need to know how to compare apples to apples when you get bids.

Proper sizing of any heating/cooling system is crucial to good performance and energy efficiency. Whether you're building new or working on upgrades for home improvement or electrification projects, here's some of advice for comparing heat pumps, primarily in heating climates.

Before you can compare anything, you need to know what you need, and where to find the information.

The Right Size Heat Pump Matters

FIRST: Get a heat loss/heat gain calculation done for the house on a room-by-room basis. In Canada, this is based on 'CSA F-280 (2012)', and in the US, this based on Manual J.

Do not rely on a rule-of-thumb, Btu/square foot estimate, or the capacity of existing equipment. Chances are, it wasn't sized properly, either.

The F-280/Manual J calculation gives you the important information about how much capacity the equipment needs to keep you comfortable, and how much heat needs to be delivered to each room.

Decide on what type of heat pump you're looking for:

• Air Source or Ground Source
• Ductless, Ducted, or Hybrid

THEN: Check out manufacturers' websites. You're looking for three key pieces of information:

• Heating Season Performance Factors (HSPF): this is the 'average' performance of the unit over the heating season.
• Coefficient of Performance (COP): this is the tested performance of the unit, and tells you how many units of energy it produces for each unit it consumes.
• Steady-State Rating: how well the unit performs at a low temperature.

If you are going for an air-source heat pump (ASHP), you want to choose from reasonably similar, high HSPFs. Use the COP rating for ground source heat pumps. Each heat pump has a steady state rating, which let's you know how much capacity it has to heat your house when it's cold out.

The 4 Essential Steps For Comparing Heat Pumps

1. Make a short list of same-capacity units. Pro Tip: Choose ENERGY STAR rated units, they are in the top 30% of their class.
2. Compare the steady-state ratings at –8.3°C/17°F (or -18°C/0°F for 'cold climate' units) for the units on your list. If you are in the northern US or Canada, and looking for an air source heat pump, you would be best served by a 'cold climate' heat pump that can perform well at very low temperatures. Pro Tip: The units with the higher ratings are the most efficient.
3. Eliminate units that don’t have demand-defrost control.
4. Select a unit with an outdoor sound rating in the vicinity of 7.6 bels or lower if possible.

Now you're making the most of your investment.

Attic rain happens in cold climates, in the depths of winter.

Attic rain happens when the exterior temperature warms up suddenly - like when there’s a Chinook in Calgary. Or when there’s a break in a Maritime winter. You know, when it’s -26°C without wind chill one day and the next it’s +8°C. Both days can be gloriously sunny. Both days can have very different effects on attics. 

Understanding Attic Rain: Construction Causes

We know the climatic conditions that can lead to attic rain.

But what about the construction conditions that allow it to occur and why is it primarily newer construction that’s affected?

Newer houses have less uncontrolled air leakage than older houses. Often referred to as being airtight. They’re not airtight. They have a reduced amount of air leakage. In building science terms, we’re aiming to minimize the impact of the wind and the stack effect, so we can control the air movement inside the house and into the building envelope. That’s a good thing.

The attic rain problem is driven by WHERE the air leakage happens in a better-controlled building envelope. 

Let’s break it down. 

Air movement in a building is driven by two mechanisms: 

The Wind Effect 

Dynamic pressure differences on the outside of the house drive infiltration and exfiltration. Air is pulled in on the windward side at the same rate that it’s pulled out on the leeward side. The speed and direction of wind changes constantly. The faster the wind, the stronger the infiltration/exfiltration rate. 

The Stack Effect

The vertical movement of air in a house, caused by air buoyancy and pressure differences, drives exfiltration separately from the wind effect. This means warmer air is typically at the top of the building because it’s less dense/more buoyant than cooler air. Without air sealing and insulation, the stack effect  is encouraged, bullied, and bossed around by higher wind speeds and/or colder exterior temperatures. 

There’s a third air movement mechanism that has to do with the effect of exhaust appliances. Mechanical systems can depressurize the house, creating negative pressure in the lower levels and creating more pressure in the upper levels. Still, it’s not the driving factor as it’s the ability of warm air from the living space to move into the attic that causes attic rain.

What else do we know?

The Science of Moisture Movement in Buildings

Moisture movement in a building tags along with air pressure differences as water vapour. Warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air.

Let’s look at new construction, with its lower air leakage rates and higher insulation values. What happens inside the building? For starters, more warm air stays inside the conditioned space for a longer time. 

That’s a good thing. 

At the same time, that warm air holds more moisture which stays inside the conditioned space for a longer time. That’s not a good thing. That’s why new construction requires Controlled Mechanical Ventilation.

We know we need mechanical ventilation in new construction in cold climates. We’ve known it since the 1970s. Whole-house balanced systems that use HRVs and ERVs provide tempered, controllable, filterable fresh air while exhausting moisture and odours. Handily, they scavenge energy from the air in the exhaust stream (that’s how the supply air gets tempered)

But that’s not what drives attic rain. Mechanical ventilation is used to improve the air quality of the living space.

Misconceptions and Conflations

So what’s my gripe with the articles that get paraded out at this time of year? They conflate two things and don’t address the real issue.

Here’s an example  from a 2023 article from the CBC: “Attic Rain” is on its way… increase[d] insulation levels and an overall non-breathable building envelope, and you get a higher risk of attic rain.”

NOPE. 

IF THIS WERE A NON-BREATHABLE BUILDING ENVELOPE,
WE WOULD NOT HAVE ATTIC RAIN.

The stack effect is the culprit. Warm, moist air at the top of the house is pulled  into the attic by pressure differences. It rises to the underside of the roof deck, which is, in most of Canada in the winter, a Very Cold Surface. As the warm air moves into the attic, it loses heat energy, then it bumps into the Very Cold Surface of the roof deck where it condenses and freezes. It melts when the roof deck warms up as the outside temperature bumps up past zero. 

Attic rain can be thwarted by a continuous air barrier. One that stops the air flow into the attic. One that stops the stack effect.

Attic rain can be further thwarted by adequate attic ventilation. Or a completely non-vented roof with the attic inside the conditioned space. Either one. Don’t care. Your choice. 

Please don’t blame the building envelope if exhaust devices like bath fans, range hoods, or clothes dryers are ported into the attic. That’s all about the mechanical system design/install. And whoever was in charge of that should be tarred and feathered.

So why is it that newer houses are showing attic rain?

The ceiling/roof/attic plane doesn’t have a continuous air barrier and the neutral pressure plane lays in the upper part of the house, close to the top-most ceiling. This results in a stronger ‘push’ of warm, moist air against the ceiling. There are few exfiltration points in the wall area, and some of them, like holes through the top plate and unsealed junctions in the framed cavity, likely feed directly into the attic anyway. 

The warm moist air that collects at the top-most ceiling in a house with lower air leakage rates has nowhere else to go but up and into the attic. 

In a house with a higher air leakage rate, on the other hand, the neutral pressure plane lays somewhere lower in the house. This means there are many exfiltration points below the top-most ceiling, mainly in the wall area: 

• Rough openings at windows and doors
• Floor header/rim joist areas
• Exposed floors
• Penetrations for mechanicals and services
• Connections between living space and attached garages  

Yet, when articles are written about ‘unbreathable’ envelopes and correlate them to attic rain, the logical (!) conclusion is not to do a better job of air sealing the attic and providing good air flow via attic ventilation, it’s “…something something houses need to breathe.”

NOPE.

Lemme tell you, in no uncertain terms that a house does not need to breathe. You need to breathe. Construction assemblies need to be protected from moisture flows and they need to be able to dry. 

The Building Science and Solutions for the Attic

Above the insulation and below the roof deck, the attic is a buffered space with it’s own little climate going on. We install a continuous air barrier to stop exfiltration of warm moist air from the conditioned space, and we install passive venting to even out the temperature differences between its buffered self and the great outdoors. 

Attic rain only happens when ice and frost, formed due to condensation driven by exfiltration from the conditioned space, melts. Why does the ice and frost melt? Because the outside temperature goes up. What happens to air when the temperature goes up? It’s buoyancy increases and it rises. You get convective currents in the attic. That’s where attic ventilation comes in handy. Soffit to ridge. Pull the warmed air out the top. 

Soffit to ridge ventilation helps keep the attic dry by setting up a way to exfiltrate warm air via natural convection and the stack effect within the attic. The warmest air in the attic always has a way to leave at the ridge, and is being offered it’s hat and coat by the soffit vent. 

Gable end ventilation doesn’t do as good a job, as the vents are often situated lower than the peak, where the warmest air in the attic will end up. In addition, soffit to ridge ventilation has the advantage of being exposed to wind coming from many more directions than the gable ends.

Here’s why gable end attic venting doesn’t perform as well as soffit-ridge:  If the wind is blowing end-to-end, then there’s a good chance of good air flow due to windward/leeward pressure differences. If the wind blows crossways to the gable end, while the air pressure may be strongest at the corners of the house, it’s highly unlikely that one corner will decide to set up a negative pressure zone in front of one gable vent and the other corner will set up a positive pressure zone in front of the other. Turbulence abounds. And then the wind stops or changes direction all together. Fickle.

There are plenty more factors to consider in terms of attic ventilation and the behaviour of wind, but I can hear your eyes glazing over from my desk. 

This is why we study building science and get familiar with fluid dynamics. Air is a fluid. Water is a fluid. Air and water vapour are a fluid couple. They do a mean tango.

Living Space and Attic Space: It’s Definitely Not Supposed To Be Connected

<RANT>

I would like to see zonal blower door testing done on houses that experience attic rain compared to similar age/construction specs that don’t experience attic rain. Zonal testing indicates the level of ‘connection’ between conditioned and unconditioned space. It’s an inexpensive, foolproof way to hone in on thermal bypasses as well as general air leakage locations. It allows you to put your air sealing efforts to best use by showing you where the biggest problems are. Zonal testing is the next step after a walk-around air leakage location inspection. 

BUILDERS AND RENOVATORS: It’s a really easy pro-active fix to have an extra zonal test done when the blower door is running. 

What’s that? 

You don’t ‘need’ a blower door test? You good? 

Please let me know how you know where you might be growing unintended consequences. 

You can’t manage or solve a problem if you don’t measure it. As we get into higher performance code requirements, the tolerances for moisture loads in houses go down.

You need an energy advisor with a blower door. 

You need this testing so you can avoid callbacks. Save yourself the annual headache of cranky clients with attic rain problems with this one step: a pre-drywall blower door test. 

<END RANT>

Since the launch of the Greener Homes Program, the number of certified energy advisors has nearly doubled and home retrofit projects have increased four-fold. 

According to the federal announcement, over 165,000 homeowners have received their $5000, and the grant program has supported over 75,000 jobs in construction, made-in-Canada manufacturing, home energy auditing, sales, clean technology and financial services. 

In keeping with Canada’s climate change goals, the resulting emissions reduction under the program is similar to taking about 60,000 cars off the road.

Well, dang. 

Not so great news: On Monday 5 February, the end of the Greener Homes Grant application process was officially announced, and yesterday, 12 February, it was shuttered. It was too successful! 

The federally funded $40,000 interest-free Greener Home Loan program through CMHC is still running. Since June 2022, 53,000 of 62,000 loan applications have been approved.

So to be clear, it’s the GRANT that is no longer available. The headlines and articles make that distinction a bit blurry. The Loan program still requires a pre/post retrofit energy assessment that must be paid for. A service fee and a loan are just a tad more challenging to sell than free grant money, though, right? 🤨

Read the whole announcement here. It’s important. Read the whole thing. There is good news in it. 

However.

The closing of the federal grant program – with a promised next phase that has no details – is going to put a dent in a lot of people’s plans on both sides of the equation. This disruption has costs that will go well beyond the dollars saved or spent.

Homeowners across Canada lose a juicy incentive 

One that affects other provincial incentive programs tied into it. Enbridge’s HER+ program is the biggest example of this: HER+ rebate was up to $10,600, roughly half from the federal grant and half from the utility as part of its provincially regulated demand side management (DSM) plan. 

NOTE: Homeowners who have already completed their initial energy assessment are still eligible for the grant.Homeowners in most regions have until 12 Feb to get an initial assessment done to be eligible for the grant. In Ontario, Enbridge closed the HER+ program to new applicants on 5 Feb. 

The Canadian home performance industry loses momentum, again

Having geared up, hired on, and trained up over the last 3 years, Energy Advisors, Service Organizations, insulation and air sealing companies, renovators, HVAC installers, financiers and the whole supply chain now stand to lose some, most, or all of that investment. 

Will it be two, three, six months, or more before we get details about the mysterious Phase 2 of the program?

How long can Service Organizations coast on follow-up assessments and stop-gap solutions? Will the fumes of the cancelled program carry them until the next round of funding shows up?

How many people will be gone, soured, and not coming back? 

75,000 jobs.

When you cancel a national program and eliminate the market for workers, companies, and supply chains, those resources shift to new markets. Those resources are people and they need to shift.

Will these jobs all disappear because a $5000 grant is not available? Probably not. There’s the Heat Pump Grant program, and BC and Nova Scotia that have regional incentive programs that are still chugging along. It’s likely that Ontario will regroup and launch another program to meet DSM requirements.

Some of those jobs, and/or the businesses supplying those jobs, will disappear quickly, however, because small businesses can’t withstand huge blows to their revenue streams. Small businesses account for somewhere north of 70% of the residential construction industry. It’s going to leave a mark.

There’s good news, sort of…

The government recognizes that there needs to be continued support for retrofits. 

From the announcement:

Building on the enormous success of the Canada Greener Homes Grant program and in response to the evolving needs of Canadians, the Government of Canada is currently adjusting the Greener Homes program. Under the next, new phase of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, which will be a key part of the forthcoming Canada Green Buildings Strategy, the Government of Canada intends to offer support targeted to Canadian households with low-to-median incomes, so that cost-savings are available to those who need them most.

This is not the end of the road for EAs or for retrofits!!! 

Got whiplash yet?

This touches every part of the industry and has the potential to sow distrust from homeowners. Hopefully the next phase of the program rolls out quickly. The federal budget is usually tabled in late March with funding announcements following shortly after that. 

But right now, this disruption in the grant program is causing confusion for homeowners and hurting the industry. There will be hiring freezes and layoffs. There is a LOT of industry concern about the boom-bust cycle we’re going through (again).

We did this a decade ago. 

Investment in Home Performance is a Always a Winner

The ecoEnergy program started in 2007 with a budget $160 million. It was wildly popular. When it ended in 2010, with a final budget of $745 million, 640,000 Canadians got an average grant of $1,500. 

The program was re-upped for nine months in July 2011, but was abruptly cancelled two months early (with some portion of the $400 million yet to be allocated), with over 250,000 homeowners registered. It’s unclear as to how many people actually got the grant, but  those who did, received an average $1,300. 

Economically, nearly every grant program for retrofits generates billions of dollars in economic activity every year it’s in effect. NRCan has estimated that each dollar invested generates $5-6 in direct and indirect jobs. 

Uncertainty is Never a Winner

The cancellation of the program in 2012 led to the loss of a good portion of the well-trained and fully qualified Energy Advisors and shuttered many of the companies they worked for. They never came back. Why would they, with no certainty that there was a career? A valuable skill set with a long-term career – certainty –  is why the overarching plan in the Greener Homes Initiative included training and recruiting Energy Advisors over a 7 year period so that we could double the workforce. This disruption doesn’t help anyone.

The need for an army Energy Advisors hasn’t gone away. Energy audits are cooked into retrofit funding programs across the country: rebates, incentives, PACE loans, FCM funding, you name it, they rely on an EnerGuide for Houses Rating to benchmark and verify the reductions in energy and emissions to meet their targets. 

Energy audits are a critical part of the ‘performance path’ to code compliance in new construction that will lead us to higher performance housing. They are an integral requirement of programs like Energy Star for New Houses™, and the Net Zero Label program. 

The need for a national strategy on energy efficiency is also not going away. A long-term commitment to something - anything - consistent was obvious back in 2013. In a 2013 CBC article on the demise of the program, Tim Weis, with the Pembina Institute asked: "How do you take a program like this and transition it into a long-term housing strategy? That was never put out there…. When the program ended, it just ended."

While the ecoEnergy program was successful, it reached roughly 10% of Canadian homeowners. The Greener Home Grant (v.1) was awarded to 165,000 homeowners. There are over 10 million homeowners in Canada. 

That’s not a national strategy. 

Structuring grant programs to meet the needs of a bigger swath of Canadian homeowners is also crucial, which is why the next iteration of the grant is likely to be focussed on low- and medium-income households. This is also good news.

 What it boils down to is this: we need a national strategy for consistent funding so that we can meet the needs of Canadians for comfortable houses with lower operating costs AND have a sustainable growth industry in retrofits. 

We Were Once Rock Stars…

Canada created some foundational concepts in the world of building science, including the house-as-a-system concept, the prototype house that led to the R-2000 program and later, the basis for the passive house movement, the heat recovery ventilator (HRV), and the cold climate heat pump. We were/could still be rock stars in this area. But there’s an obvious reason why Canada generates great research, has a solid reputation for building science, and still doesn’t have a ‘home performance’ industry like the US. There’s no overarching strategy or long-term policy frameworks.

The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®  is a national collaborative program between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that includes a network of 32 utility and nonprofit sponsors, and 1,300 home performance contractors. It was established in 2001. That’s 23 years of consistency. 

That’s how you build an industry.

More from Efficiency Canada: https://www.efficiencycanada.org/wind-down-of-greener-home-grants/

Exterior retrofits are one of the best ways to improve the envelope of Canadian houses, particularly by enhancing the insulation of exterior walls, but they require certain conditions to be successful. Some buildings will be better suited to an exterior retrofit than others. Essentially, it boils down to this: the simpler the style, regardless of the house type, the better.

Obviously, this means there are some ideal candidate houses out there, and all other houses have a lower ranking. That’s OK, because there’s more than one way to improve a house. But let’s talk about what an exterior energy retrofit is, what makes a house a good candidate for one, and what makes an ideal candidate.

Good candidates are found in the ‘sweet spot’ era, 1940 to 1980. You know these houses - they’re the bungalows, ranchers, two storey, and split entry houses that fill many Canadian neighbourhoods. They are blessed with very simple geometry.

What makes a house a good candidate for an exterior insulation retrofit?

Here are seven key characteristics of a house that is a good candidate for an exterior retrofit, particularly when the exterior siding is in bad shape. First of all, we’re going to assume that the cladding is in bad shape.

1. Simple footprint (rectangular or square)

2. Simple above grade geometries (minimal bump outs, cantilevers, dormers, turrets)

3. Removable siding on all elevations

4. 12-18 inch overhangs at the gable end as well as eave, or at all hip eaves

5. Minimal or no permanent obstructions like concrete stoops or attached carports

6. Room for a crew to move around the whole perimeter

7. Ideally the windows are also due to be replaced

An ideal candidate house for an exterior insulated retrofit would have the complete list of characteristics. The proportion of ideal candidates in any region’s housing stock will be small, but there are likely to be many good candidates that meet some or most of these characteristics.

When is a house a good candidate for an exterior retrofit?

A good time to do an exterior insulation retrofit is when it’s time to replace the siding or cladding. The best time is to do it when it’s time to replace the siding AND the windows. The best time to replace windows is when the siding needs to be replaced.

When replacing the siding and windows, it is crucial to add a continuous insulation layer to enhance the home's energy efficiency and thermal performance.

Cladding, windows, roof. Replacement time means improvement time.

Timing Is Everything!

Timing is everything. Not just for deferred maintenance, but also for the owner’s monthly budget. What time of year the work happens can also be important for your client. Let’s say the retrofit takes place early in the spring. There will be a six-month lag before the owner sees the savings on their winter utility bills. Their repayment period starts as soon as they sign the loan or mortgage to start the work - that could put a lot of financial strain on a household.

The cost-effectiveness of energy conservation measures is inevitably higher when tied into capital improvements or deferred maintenance. Adding outboard insulation under new siding is a premium added to deferred maintenance. But it’s a premium that pays for itself over and over again through the years.

There are 3 (actually 4) Parts to an Exterior Rigid Foam Insulation Retrofit

An exterior energy retrofit is a comprehensive process aimed at improving the energy efficiency, comfort, and overall performance of a home. The retrofit typically consists of three main components:

• upgrading insulation

• enhancing air sealing

• installing energy-efficient windows and doors

There’s a fourth component to check as the envelope is improved: ensuring that there’s adequate mechanical ventilation.

Increasing insulation - SURPRISE! - reduces heat transfer and leads to a more consistent indoor temperature. Various insulation materials, such as mineral wool, batt insulation, foam board, rigid foam insulation, and spray foam insulation, can be used to reduce the home’s carbon footprint while improving occupant comfort.

Walls Are Attached to Foundations and Roofs...

Obviously, upgrading insulation is a crucial aspect of an exterior energy retrofit. But you can’t just slap some insulation over the wall sheathing and walk away saying ‘job done’ - you need to consider how to tie the roof, and foundation assemblies into the new wall system.

You could easily argue that air sealing is the most important reason to carry out an exterior retrofit when it comes to energy conservation and occupant comfort, health, and safety.

Installing a continuous air and vapour barrier is essential to prevent air leakage and create an effective air seal, which improves energy efficiency and comfort.

Proof of Concept? We're Way Beyond That!

Let’s toss in some numbers to support that statement.

A study of exterior insulation retrofits carried out in 2018 showed there were nearly ten thousand exterior wall retrofits in Natural Resources Canada’s database for the EnerGuide for Houses Rating Service. Why do we care? Well, those exterior wall retrofits as a single measure accounted for a 15% reduction in air change rate.

Now, a package of measures that addresses the whole house will always have a better outcome than a single measure. That’s true from an energy conservation standpoint and from a building science standpoint. For example, Peter Darlington, of Solar Homes Inc. in Calgary, did a Net Zero Renovation on his own house. Whole-house air sealing - not just at the walls - dropped the house from 4.55 to 1.27 ACH50 (air changes per hour at 50 Pascals). That’s a 3.5x reduction.

Your Understanding of Building Science Ensures Project Success

When insulating walls, it is important to consider the placement of a vapour barrier and ensure that wall cavities are properly filled and sealed to prevent air leakage and moisture issues.

The fact is that when you’re working from the exterior, it’s way easier to get closer to a continuous air barrier install than it is on the interior. You have access to all the surfaces, there are fewer junctions to seal, and your client can actually be living in their house without a lot of inconvenience while you work.

Any time you strip the siding off a house, you’ve got the opportunity to fix a lot of problems and improve the durability, energy conservation, and comfort of the house. Using insulation panels, such as rigid insulation panels and foam insulation panels, can improve thermal performance and avoid condensation risks. Installing energy-efficient windows and doors with low-emissivity coatings and insulated frames helps to reduce heat loss, but more importantly, improve comfort for the occupants.

Investing in air seal and insulation for the win!

A study carried out for NRCan in 2019 by Gary Proskiw (Proskiw Engineering Ltd, Winnipeg) showed that adding wall insulation to the exterior of a house is a 15 to 20 percent premium on a recladding job.

What does that mean for the typical Canadian living in a typical house that would be a good candidate for insulation and air sealing?

Exterior Wall Insulation Energy Model Example

Well, let’s do a back of the napkin calculation. We start with a reasonably typical house shape and size: a 1500 square foot 2 storey house, built in 1960 in Climate Zone 6. There are roughly 1600 square feet of wall surface after the door and window area has been accounted for. For simplicity, let’s assume it’s all-electric. Baseboards for heating, a storage tank for hot water. Average 2x4 construction and assemblies, average airtightness.

Next we create an energy model for our generic house in a generic location in Climate Zone 6 (cities in this zone: Halifax, Charlottetown, Ottawa, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Revelstoke, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Prince George) in HOT2000.

If all we do is add R12 to the outside of the main walls and drop the whole house airtightness by 50% we go from 23,260 kWh a year to 18,600 kWh a year.

That’s a 20% saving annually.

So, we save roughly 4660 kWh a year.

The average electricity rate in Canada comes in at just over 17 cents per kiloWatt hour, making the energy savings on our hypothetical house $800 a year. At that rate, it takes 6.4 years to recoup the cost of the insulation using simple payback.

If the siding lasts 25 years, the energy savings over the lifespan of the siding total $20,000. That’s worth more than 4 times the initial investment, and we haven’t accounted for increases in energy costs over that period.

That’s a pretty convincing sales pitch.

(It’s also why renovators should be working with a registered Energy Advisor who can help you crunch these numbers - you can’t manage what you don’t measure!)

**************

The federal government announced and has implemented a program where low income households can actually get the full cost of the heat pump and removing the oil furnace/tank covered. It’s been launched in Atlantic Canada.

I’m a building science nerd living and working in Atlantic Canada for +30 years, so I know a lot about the region when it comes to the housing stock and energy issues. I’m not involved in promoting or delivering this program, and you can be assured that I'll be looking for (and reporting) all of its warts. My #1 concern right off the bat is two-fold: right sized equipment and quality of installation.

Some people are concerned about the regionality of this program.

Why Atlantic Canada? For a program getting household off oil heat? Where better?

Let me sing you my song about Atlantic Canada's perfect storm of housing issues:

• We have some of the oldest housing stock in the country
• We have some of the highest energy prices in the country
• We have the lowest median income
• We have the highest median income tax
• We have a large population of households on fixed income
• We have no access to cheap natural gas
• We have a higher than average rate of energy poverty

In Canada as a whole, oil accounts for 3% of home heating systems. In Atlantic Canada, the 2021 ratios are:

• NS - 32% to 50% depending on the data source
• PEI - 40%
• NL - 18%
• NB is more in line with the national average, at 7%.

By contrast, in each of MB, SK, AB, less than 1% of houses are serviced by oil.

In Atlantic Canada, like much of Northern Canada, there is no cheap natural gas option. There is oil or electricity. (Wood and propane are not scalable)

So. Regional distribution of energy sources plays a big part in this, dontcha think?

Why only fund low-income households that use oil heat? What about low-income households heated by natural gas or electricity?

Oil heat is expensive. I'm not sure that folks who live and work in gas- or electricity-dominated markets really get exactly how expensive.

A gigajoule (GJ) of natural gas has the same amount of energy as 27 litres of fuel oil.

In BC, 1 GJ of gas (not including the base fee) about $9.

In NS, 1 GJ of fuel oil currently costs $36.72.

The cost of oil delivered to the site is high, and there are 3 additional key issues that make it more prohibitive to operate and/or change out an oil furnace or boiler.

1. Site based oil tank and insurance premiums
2. Cost of removing the tank (or replacing it)
3. Upgrade of electrical panel

Risk Management 101: What Are the Drivers?

Let’s start out with insurance premiums, because that’s a hidden driver that nobody is discussing in the articles and posts that I've been reading. They're focussed on  carbon reduction, energy poverty, and a national energy reduction strategy (and they're right).

On-site storage of any liquid petroleum product is a major risk. According to a recent NL government news release, nearly 20% of spills that are of environmental concern annually in Newfoundland and Labrador are associated with domestic oil tanks.

Home oil tank leaks can cause environmental hazards like groundwater contamination and spoiled soil quality. As 70% of Nova Scotia relies on wells for domestic water and healthy soils to keep septic systems running, this is a Very Big Deal. The rest of Atlantic Canada has a similarly high ratio of unserviced lots. You cannot live in, or sell at market value, a house that doesn't have a functioning water supply and septic system.

There are significant financial risks to an on-site oil tank that a base home insurance policy does not include:

1. If you have an oil tank leak on your property, it’s going to require an environmental assessment and clean up - the cost is covered by you if you don’t have insurance that specifically covers oil tank leakage.
2. If you have an oil tank leak on your property and it damages your neighbour’s property, without third-party liability coverage, you’re hooped, financially.
3. If you have an oil leak and you can’t scratch up the $30,000 to $900,000 to clean it up, your property value is decimated. Your investment in the house is essentially void.

Have a look at the fact sheet from the NS government that outlines the responsibilities of homeowners and occupants when it comes to dealing with domestic oil spills.

Let me say it again: 

A basic household insurance policy does not cover oil leak damage. That requires two other layers of coverage: oil leak damage and third party liability.

How many low-income homeowners and tenants who use oil heat do you think can afford adequate coverage for this set of risks on top of a basic policy?

How many low-income homeowners do you think have to defer replacing their old oil tank for as long as they possibly can? How many close-to-leaking tanks do you think are out there?

High Insurance Costs for Oil Heated Homes

Recall that at least 32% of all houses in Nova Scotia, 40% in PEI, use oil as a primary heating source. There’s a good reason this program is happening here in Atlantic Canada. To my mind, this is a good way to mitigate the risk to low-income households: get people off oil so they're not on the hook for a potential clean up.

A costing exercise I did for a research project in 2019 for Part 9 MURBs in Nova Scotia brought to light this tidbit of information: Nearly 50% of low-rise MURBs in NS were built prior to 1970, most run on oil boilers. What’s that got to do with homeowner insurance? Well, we were doing a Total Cost of Building Ownership (TCBO) analysis that compared ‘business as usual’ repair and maintenance versus a net zero energy retrofit.

• Did a gut rehab of any building from pre-1940
• Had proof of updates to plumbing, wiring, and roof carried out within the last 25 years
• SWITCHED OUT FROM OIL TO ELECTRIC

The carriers mentioned that they would consider not covering buildings with oil heat in coming years because of the risk associated with on-site tanks.

What happens when you can’t get insurance?

You can’t get a mortgage.

2 Scenarios for Low Income Oil Heat Home Owners

I can’t find any definitive information on how much of a premium oil heat puts on the insurance coverage without actually getting a quote. For this exercise, I’m assuming the premium for oil leakage protection and third party liability is going to be double the 10% premium I pay for my woodstove. So that would be roughly an additional $200/annually to a basic household policy. It could be much higher. Happy to edit and revise if someone has those numbers at hand.

Cost of removing oil tank, anywhere from $450 to $1500. For this exercise, I’m assuming $1000.

Replacing an oil tank: On average an outdoor tank is required to be replaced after 13 to 15 years. Indoor tanks, not exposed to the elements, get replaced after 18 to 20 years. The cost to replace an oil tank depends on if it’s above ground outdoor or above ground indoor, or if it’s underground. Cheapest to replace is above ground indoor, most costly is underground. Costs range dramatically as you can see from this table. For this exercise, I’m going to go with $2000, which is encompassed in the cost range of all three types.

Cost to Replace an Oil Tank by Type

Upgrade of electrical panel: so much depends on what’s already there, and in some cases it may not be required, but I’m going to go with $5000, which is what NS Power uses as an average.

I’ve got a house archetype set up in HOT2000 for comparison work. It’s an 1100 square foot 1 storey house on a full basement, built in 1960 in Climate Zone 6. It's a stand in for nearly 50% of the housing stock in Atlantic Canada that was built between 1940 and 1980.

There are 2 typical configurations of oil heating systems to look at in Atlantic Canada

1. Oil boiler with an indirect tank for DHW
2. Oil furnace, electric DHW tank

To compare that to other fuel types, I modelled the same house with the following:

1. Electric baseboard and electric DHW tank
2. Gas furnace, gas DHW tank
3. Gas furnace, electric DHW tank

Assume the same high-efficiency cold climate air source heat pump is right sized and installed effectively (a girl can dream). Assume that cost the same for each scenario (free!), so we can ignore it.

Energy costs from Efficiency NS (effective 11 April 2023): Electricity: $0.1622/kWh, Oil: $1.36/L.

Calculating regional gas and non-Atlantic electricity prices are too complex for this blog post. BCHydro says the average is $730/yr to operate a gas furnace, another site indicates that Ontario’s average is $650/yr. For many households in Atlantic Canada, a $650 - $730 oil bill in a 1 month period is on the low side in the depths of winter.

The table below shows the space heating and water heating energy loads only. You can see that if you applied cheap gas prices to my example house in Climate Zone 6, it makes little sense to carry out this specific initiative for low-income households in areas with cheap gas. What would be the point?

Here’s a chart showing the costs that are associated with each system and scenario:

Scenario 1 BAU: We don’t have an incentive and our oil-heated houses continue on as is, and there’s likely a new tank required. If there’s a new oil-fired furnace or boiler installed in the next few years (because homeowners are going with what they know in an emergency situation), then there’s definitely another tank in the future.

Scenario 2 HP Upgrade: Oil-heat is replaced with heat pump. Need a panel upgrade and tank removed. No new tanks required and a drop in insurance premiums. In the boiler scenario, there’s a switch to the DHW as well.

Let’s look at how this pans out after 5 years. Keep in mind that this does not include any increase in oil or electricity prices, nor does it include any increase to premiums for house insurance to include oil leak protection and third party liability. It does, however, assume that there will be ongoing access to that insurance coverage.

Scenario 1: Business As Usual (Includes extra $200/yr for insurance on oil heat)

Scenario 2: Heat Pump + Electric DHW

So, the low-income program offers the heat pump, tank removal and panel upgrade. That means, with zero other weatherization work, the operating costs (heat and insurance) over 5 year for this example house would drop by: $8860 for the boiler to heat pump (more if there’s already an electric DHW tank in place) $5700 for the furnace to heat pump. That’s significant coin if you’re trying to feed, clothe, and shelter some human beings on ±$50,000.

It also means that the households that benefit from this program are now at less risk because there’s no oil tank on site and less need for equipment repair and maintenance. Yes, it does put households at risk in power outages, but guess what? So does an oil- or gas-fired system.

Before we got really going on the content, the curriculum was reviewed by Built Green Canada’s Technical Standards Committee. 

Then, we reached out to our network of renovators and specialists to make sure we could have experts drilling down into details specific to typical assemblies and mechanicals throughout Canada. 

Pan-Canadian Course Content for Retrofits

Here are the key areas we had our advisors hone in on in our discussions:

• Climate Response/Resiliency
• Regional Issues (excluding Northern)
• Heritage Buildings
• Northern Climates
• Upgrading and Replacing Mechanical Systems
• Affordability
• Planning & Phasing

The Whole House Energy Retrofit Advisory Group

We ended up with a 12-person advisory group. We met as a whole once, and then we had the group self-select their domains of expertise, and we met another 5 times to really focus on each of the key areas. 

So who was in those sessions? 

Some really fantastic and knowledgeable folks, we’ve gathered a little bio on each of them, presented to you here in alphabetical order:

Dara Bowser

Dara Bowser has been involved in residential HVAC systems and Energy Use in Buildings as a consultant, manufacturer, researcher and trainer for more than 40 years. Dara is the president of Bowser Technical Inc, a nationally recognized consultancy specializing in HVAC System Performance. Projects including Design, Research, Quality Assurance, Technical Writing, Fault Investigation and Dispute Resolution. Bowser Technical Inc also provides Advanced HVAC Design and Energy Evaluation services for residential projects in Ontario. Dara is a Certified Building Technologist and member of the Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario.

Tommy Byun

Educated with a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (CEE) from the University of Illinois. Tommy has spent the past six years working as an Energy Advisor and has earned the title of Senior Energy Advisor and is now the General Manager with Capital Home Energy. Tommy has always been keen on giving back to Mother nature that has given the human race unconditional nurture. Having found the existence of energy advisors in the building science industry, he immediately fell in love with the thought of impacting home owners on their potential for energy savings from well-built homes. It is truly fulfilling to see the progress of energy efficiency for the betterment of both the environment and the human race.

Andy Cockburn

Andy Cockburn is a Red Seal General Carpenter with practical experience in custom home building, panelized construction, timber framing, stair construction, architectural drafting, and historic restoration. After years of working in Eastern Ontario as a carpenter, Andy was brought into teaching with Algonquin College’s Perth Campus in their Construction Carpentry Advanced Housing program, where he stayed for 15+ years. During his tenure, he was the recipient of several awards including the NISOD Excellence Award and the Algonquin Student’s Association Award for Excellence in Teaching. Since 2012, Andy has been a member of the Lanark and Leeds Home Builders’ Association, serving on their Board of Directors, as well as taking on roles as vice president (2016 – 2017) and president (2017 through 2023). Andy became a Certified Passive House Consultant in 2017. That same year, Andy completed training in the CHBA’s Net Zero Building Science. As part of his work at NAIMA Canada, Andy serves on the Board of Directors with B.C.’s Home Performance Stakeholder Council, as well as on the Program Advisory Council for Techsploration in Ontario. His committee and board work includes participation in technical standards development with the ULC S700 (S702.1, S702.2 & S714) Committee(s) on Thermal Performance and Energy Use in the Built Environment and the CSA Technical Committee for Standard Z301 on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Apprenticeship Programs.

Andy was Shawna’s guest for Episode 42 of “This Must Be The Place”. Listen to the conversation here.

Stephen Collette

Stephen Collette is a Certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant based out of Lakefield, ON, Canada. Stephen is a retired straw bale builder, having worked on two dozen straw bale structures across Ontario and Quebec, from small cottages to 13,000 ft2 structures and everything in between. Stephen has an engineering background and became passionate about healthy housing when his family became ill due to exposure to mold. Stephen carries out indoor environmental inspections on houses and other buildings to determine health impactors based on building science and environmental health concerns. Stephen is a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) from Canada Green Building Council. Stephen has a Building Science Certificate from the University of Toronto and is a certified Building Science Specialist of Ontario. As a consultant Stephen helps people make healthier, more environmentally friendlier building choices. Stephen is a published author who writes and lectures across North America on healthy, natural and green buildings. He was also principal of Your Healthy House until retiring in 2023.

Peter Darlington

The founder of Solar Homes Inc., Peter Darlington, started out in the construction industry in 1996 working with stucco and on the building envelope. Four years later, he started his own company called Peter’s Exterior Contracting. Over the last twenty years, he has successfully installed exterior cladding on hundreds of homes and commercial buildings. In 2014, Peter took interest in an online course by Marc Rosenbaum titled Zero Net Energy Homes and later also became accredited as a Certified Passive House Consultant. This launched what would be the next phase in Peter’s career. He soon founded Solar Homes Inc. in order to offer contracting and consulting services to those looking to reduce their environmental footprint. In order to prove his abilities, on September 1, 2015, Peter transformed his ordinary house into a Net Zero energy solar home.

Peter was Shawna’s guest for Episode 9 of “This Must Be The Place”. Listen to the conversation here.

Don Fugler

Don Fugler is an award-winning building science researcher who spent 25 years leading research projects for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in the areas of residential energy use, ventilation, and indoor air quality. His findings are some of the most important in building science research in the world. 

Don was Shawna’s guest for Episode 38 of “This Must Be The Place”. Listen to the conversation here.

Casey Grey

Growing up, Casey was always building - everything from Lego to tree forts. From his father he learned the importance of teamwork through competitive team sports. From his mother he learned the value of hardwork and dedication as he watched her grow and eventually sell her business. When Casey started his construction career at the age of 17, he put his childhood lessons to work and never looked back. When Casey first started his construction company, it was just like every other company. He just wanted to do good work and make a good living. It was not until he and his wife, Natasha, attended their first Tony Robbins event in 2012 that his mindset shifted and he started to ask himself "Why?" Then, when he and Natasha found out they were having a child, everything clicked. If he was going to tell this child that he could do anything he wanted and become whoever he wanted, he would have to lead by example. He wanted his son to be proud of him and look up to him. He wanted to be the hero in his son's eyes. That's when The Conscious Builder was born.

Casey was Shawna’s guest for Episode 21 of “This Must Be The Place”. Listen to the conversation here.

Gail Lawlor

Gail Lawlor has been involved in residential energy efficiency, water management, and waste conservation for 40 years in various capacities, including an air-sealing contractor, indoor air quality auditor, retailer of energy and environmental products, program manager, and trainer. Gail was the project manager for the development of Community Energy Plans for Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat First Nations, focusing on housing policy development, local skills capacity, creating a culture of conservation, and renewable energy opportunities. Gail's background includes a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, an Adult Education Diploma, and practical experience as an air sealing contractor, energy auditor and environmental products retailer. She also has extensive experience with volunteer committees including the Recycling Council of Ontario, the Ontario Water Works Association and is a founding member of Durham Environmental Network (DEN) and Durham Conservation Centre (now Durham Sustain Ability). Through the Durham Conservation Centre, Gail administered the first depot and curbside recycling program in Pickering and the energy retrofit of the Commercial House in Brougham. 

Gail was Shawna’s guest for Episode 39 of “This Must Be The Place”. Listen to the conversation here.

Cooper Le

Cooper is the Production Manager at 4 Elements, based in Calgary, where the focus is sustainable building, from pre-construction through to final testing. Cooper and the 4 Elements team support project teams of builders, designers, developers and their clients find a pathway down the road to better built, better performing homes and buildings. He is one of a handful of Master Energy Advisors in Canada, and a LEED professional with many accolades to his name. 

Richard Kadulski-Lion

Vancouver-based architect, Richard Kadulski was inducted into the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders’ Association “Hall of Fame”, and in 2020, he was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Canadian Home Builder’s Association. He is the author of ‘Solplan Review’, a monthly publication that focused on building science and cold climate housing from 1985 to 2015. 

Richard was Shawna’s guest for Episode 40 of “This Must Be The Place”. Listen to the conversation here.

Bill Semple

Bill Semple retired as Senior Researcher with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), where he worked on promoting the development of innovative building technologies, green building practices, and sustainable development with a focus on projects in the Canadian far north. Bill’s training is in architecture, construction, and planning, and has worked in the building industry for more than 25 years. Throughout his career, Bill has been a strong promoter of environmental and cultural sustainability, bringing these values to his work in design, construction, building science, and environmental planning projects. As a builder and consultant, Bill operated a business specializing in timber frame construction, passive solar and energy efficient buildings, and building research. As an architect, in addition to his work in Canada he has worked extensively on international development projects in Tibet, China, India, and Thailand. Bill has a bachelor degree in Environment and Resource Studies from the University of Waterloo, a masters degree in Architecture from the University of Calgary, and is a licensed carpenter. Bill is a research associate with the Arctic Institute of North America, and is a past member of the board of directors of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and the LEED for Homes Committee of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Gary Sharp

Gary Sharp is the President of Airtight Home Technologies Inc. Gary has been involved in the construction and renovation industry for over 30 years, working towards improving the energy efficiency of Canadian housing. Gary is a member of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) and has contributed to the industry by managing and writing the updates to the national CHBA Builders’ Manual for the last 5 editions. Every edition of the Builders’ Manual has achieved the status of a National Bestseller. Last year added the CHBA Renovators’ Manual to the CHBA offerings. Both the Renovators’ Manual and the Builders’ Manual provide students with a technical understanding of building science and the details of how to build or renovate homes to meet the Net Zero and Net Zero Ready technical requirements.

We want to thank them all for their time and contribution to this joint project between Blue House Energy and Built Green Canada. 

Our goal, as always, is to improve the capacity of the industry through seriously enjoyable learning!

Whole house energy retrofits are becoming increasingly important as we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and combat climate change. By upgrading older homes, we can maximize their energy efficiency, decrease their environmental impact, and improve their resilience to extreme weather events.

With the Whole House Energy Retrofit course, you'll learn how to assess energy use, identify air leaks, tackle heating and cooling problems, and implement sustainable solutions. From insulation upgrades to efficient HVAC systems and smart home technologies, you'll explore a range of strategies to optimize energy efficiency in any home, and learn how to create a phased roadmap for your clients.

But our course goes beyond just technical knowledge. We believe that education drives positive change in the construction industry. That's why we've partnered with industry experts to create an engaging and interactive learning experience on a new learning platform. Through quizzes, simulations, real-life scenarios, and downloadable materials, you'll not only gain the knowledge but also the practical skills to make a difference.

Worried about staying in compliance with evolving building codes? Don't fret! The Whole House Energy Retrofit course is designed to keep you up to date with the latest regulations. We understand the challenges that builders and homeowners face, and we're here to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of energy efficiency standards.

Find out more about the Whole House Energy Retrofit course, including how to get your FREE 3 day trial!

Upon completion of the course, you'll receive a certificate of completion and digital badges that you can proudly display on your professional profiles like LinkedIn. Showcase your commitment to ongoing learning and professional development and let the world know about your expertise in energy-efficient construction.

So why wait? Join us on a learning journey like no other and become a leader in the green building movement. Together, we can create homes that are not only energy-efficient but also comfortable, healthy, and environmentally responsible. Let's unlock your energy efficiency superpowers and build a brighter future for generations to come!

As the demand for housing continues to grow, it is more important than ever to prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability in residential construction and renovation. Whole house energy retrofits play a crucial role in meeting these goals, while also addressing the need for resiliency in the face of climate change and upcoming regulatory changes, such as the Alterations to Existing Buildings Code in Canada.

Building Resilience

By implementing whole house energy retrofits, we can create homes that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change. These retrofits help improve the energy performance of the building envelope, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, they enhance the durability and comfort of the home, making it better equipped to withstand extreme weather events and temperature fluctuations. This resilience is crucial not only for the well-being of homeowners but also for the long-term sustainability of our communities.

Meeting the Demand for Housing

With the increasing population and limited housing supply, it is crucial to maximize the energy efficiency and sustainability of our existing housing stock. Whole house energy retrofits offer a cost-effective solution to upgrade older homes, improving their energy performance and reducing their environmental impact. By retrofitting existing homes, we can minimize the need for new construction and ensure that our housing supply is not only abundant but also energy-efficient and environmentally responsible.

Aligning with Regulatory Changes

The upcoming Alterations to Existing Buildings Code in Canada will require significant improvements in the energy performance of existing buildings. Whole house energy retrofits provide an effective pathway to meet these new regulations. By participating in the Whole House Energy Retrofit course offered by Built Green Canada and Blue House Energy, construction and energy efficiency professionals can gain the knowledge and skills needed to navigate these changes and ensure compliance with the evolving building codes.

Find out more about the Whole House Energy Retrofit course, including how to get your FREE 3 day trial!

By prioritizing whole house energy retrofits, we can create a more sustainable future for our communities, reduce our carbon footprint, and enhance the resilience of our homes. Together, let's embrace the opportunity to transform the way we build and renovate, making energy efficiency and sustainability the cornerstone of our industry.

Join us in our mission to empower professionals with the knowledge and skills to lead in sustainable construction. Enroll in the Whole House Energy Retrofit course today and be at the forefront of building a resilient, energy-efficient future.

In the meantime, here's our official media release:

 (K'jipuktuk/Halifax, NS) - Blue House Energy, a leading provider of online training in construction and energy efficiency, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Whole House Energy Retrofit course. This course aims to equip residential construction and renovation professionals with the skills and knowledge to transform homes into energy-efficient, comfortable, and healthy living spaces.

In partnership with Built Green Canada, the Whole House Energy Retrofit course offers an exciting opportunity for individuals to upgrade their skills and stay ahead of the game in the construction and energy efficiency industry. Participants will learn the 'Envelope First' approach to energy retrofitting, gaining expertise in assessing energy use, investigating and addressing building science challenges, and tackling heating/cooling upgrades. They will also explore the importance of developing a whole house retrofit plan.

This is the second professional development course Blue House Energy and Built Green Canada have partnered on, the first being a course on Net Zero Energy for New Construction. Our on-demand, self-study programs are industry driven and designed for success. Since 2012, Blue House Energy has had over 10,000 industry professionals go through our courses.

Unlike many industries, there is a huge challenge for the residential construction industry and personal professional development: companies are often small and very busy, but you don’t make any money unless you’re putting in the hours on site. This means most renovators and builders can afford very little time off for themselves or their crews to sit in a classroom. Self-directed, or on-demand, training bridges that gap. 

Find out more about the Whole House Energy Retrofit course, including how to get your FREE 3 day trial!

Why Whole House Energy Retrofits?

As the demand for housing continues to grow, it is more important than ever to prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability in residential construction and renovation. Whole house energy retrofits play a crucial role in meeting these goals, while also addressing the need for resiliency in the face of climate change and upcoming regulatory changes, such as the Alterations to Existing Buildings Code in Canada.

To become a registered Energy Advisor, you need to pass two timed exams. The Natural Resources Canada Foundation Level Exam and Energy Advisor Exam are tough if you haven't been in school for a while. Even if you're not too far away from your school days, exam anxiety is a real thing. And advisor exam prep is key to your success.

We get it!

At Blue House Energy, we've created a whole module with study tips and strategies in both the Foundation Level Exam prep and the Energy Advisor Exam Prep. It's also in in our Exam Prep Mastery Program. Each Blue House energy course - and the whole reason for our training - is to support the success of energy advisors. We're here to help you on your way to becoming a registered energy advisor.

You've got some knowledge, you can prepare, and you can pass. But it can take a little bit more support to boost your confidence complete and pass a test if you're not comfortable with a timed exam in a public place.

Everything you know about building science principles can go out the window if you're dealing with anxiety about passing an exam.

We're here to give you some resources so you can boost your exam passing skills.

Keep your cool on the Energy Advisor Exam!

When you get anxious or flustered when taking an exam, you need to take a breath and settle your mind. Easier said than done for many of us. Remember, the exam is 90 minutes, not your whole life. You can try again after a 30 day window. Lots of people have to retake the exams a couple of times because they are challenging.

Natural Resources Canada works with Yardstick Assessment Strategies to provide some resources for exam preparation, including practice questions and tutorials on Yardstick's exam registration site to help candidates get ready for the exams.

But you've got two challenges in one for these exams: get good training for the role of energy advisors, starting with the Foundation Level which include building science principles for new and existing homes, safety considerations on site, renovation of low rise housing.

And: get ready for that exam

You'll need to be well-familiar with the house as a system approach by the time you're ready to prepare for the exam!

For the Energy Advisor Exam, you need to get familiar with the Energuide Rating System, which the system that Natural Resources Canada administers. This system is used nationally to benchmark both new construction and renovation of low rise housing.

There are two areas from the Foundation Level Exam Competency Guidelines that won't be on your test, and that's computer skills and communication.

Energy advisor exam questions are focussed on the role of the Energy Advisor, including administrative tasks and the technical skills required to deliver the EnerGuide Rating System.

Sometimes, it’s can be a challenge to see the correct answers to exam questions. Here’s a good example.

How You Read The Exam Question is Key

One of our Blue House Energy Energy Advisor Exam Prep Mastery students challenged the answers to this question on one of our timed practice exams:

Which three statements are true with respect to steel studs?

The answer choices are:
a. Lighter and less bulky than wood
b. Not damaged by insects or fire
c. Good for meeting load requirements in seismic areas
d. Less costly than wood

The correct choices are a, b, and c:
a. Lighter and less bulky than wood
b. Not damaged by insects or fire
c. Good for meeting load requirements in seismic areas

The learner’s challenge choices were:
a. Lighter and less bulky than wood
c. Good for meeting load requirements in seismic areas
d. Less costly than wood

There are three choices that are based on the fundamental qualities of steel studs: (a), (b), and (c) are always true. The choice (d) is about cost, which is always a variable.

The price of steel - or any material/piece of equipment - fluctuates with the market, and even by regional market, and so it’s quite possible that wood might be less costly than steel. So, ‘d. less costly than wood’ is not always a true statement about steel studs.


Sometimes this type of question means you need to choose the answers that are ‘most true’ - that is they are simply a fact that describes or is associated with the topic. If you find yourself stumped because all of the choices seem reasonable to you, go back and read the question.

If it's asking you to choose one or more ‘true’ or ‘most true’ answers from a list, the correct answers will describe an unchangeable fact, nature or quality of the subject or topic.


Choose the 'Most True' Answers on the Energy Advisor Exams

When you are taking an exam or practicing for one, always ask yourself: which one of these qualities could be considered a variable? 


Don’t get into a conversation with yourself about mitigating factors that are not being asked in the question!

Multiple choice questions are snapshots. Think about them as short, snappy, and with limited choices.

The question maker has determined that there is one answer, or multiple answers that fit the bill. Roll with it and go onto the next question.

Rapid fire!

If you'd like to know more about the Energy Advisor Exam Prep Mastery Program, book a call with Carla, our program coordinator. She's got answers for ya!