THE ROLE OF THE CERTIFIED ENERGY ADVISOR IS SET TO BECOME AN IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY PART OF THE HOUSE BUILDING PROCESS.

Ray Smith, Certified Energy Advisor, can help builders, homeowners,  home sellers and real estate agents , and commercial property owners in the Kootenay Region of British Columbia.  Phone today to find out how: 250-428-2704.

Energy efficiency of our homes is something we all should be concerned with, and where possible taking the initiative to make the changes necessary to reduce our consumption of energy and emissions. With this in mind the BC government  published, in 2008, the Climate Action Plan that contained commitments to energy efficiency and conservation.

Some of these commitments that relate to the design and construction of new homes include:

• A target Energuide 80 for all new homes by 2010.
• To pursue polices for the energy labelling of houses at the time of transfer or sale.
• To have 100,000 solar roofs on residential and commercial buildings by 2020
• A target to meet 50% of all new municipal water demand through conservation and to mandate purple pipes in new construction for water collection and re-use.
• A challenge “to be building housing that is net zero for GHG emissions with superior performance air tightness and insulation that will enable net zero energy performance through the addition of renewable energy generation such as solar panels” by 2020.

It is expected that  the requirements for the new BC Building Code will include

• Minimum requirements for insulation and some mechanical equipment that would reliably result in an Energuide of 80 or higher.
• A minimum air tightness standard, verified by an air tightness blower door test provided by a certified energy advisor.
• Provisions to allow for the use of non potable water systems.

Construction in BC is due for dramatic changes resulting in much greater energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions and builders will require new knowledge and skills to achieve the balance of performance and economy.

With new homes being built to Energuide 80 and on to net zero ready by 2020 there will be a trend towards much more advanced  building envelopes, windows, heating technologies, heat recovery ventilation and site generated power solutions such as solar and wind.