Passive House education coming to Northern B.C.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Passive House Canada and other groups are bringing the passive house standard and high-performance building message to remote communities in B.C.

Passive House Canada has partnered with the Real Estate Foundation of B.C., the City of Fort St. John, the West Moberly First Nations and the Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George to provide courses and events for the construction industry and the public about the building standard.

Passive house courses and events will take place during the coming months and will focus on the benefits of these buildings to residents and communities. They will be offered to northeastern B.C. residents for $50, a discount of nearly $300.

The passive house standard requires up to 90 per cent less energy for heating or cooling, making it one of the most efficient building standards in the world.

According to Passive House Canada, because the buildings are built to last, their maintenance and operating costs remain low over the long-term.

"Projects around the world show these buildings use so little energy and require so little maintenance, they end up costing significantly less than other buildings, while also maintaining occupants’ comfort," said Passive House Canada CEO Rob Bernhardt in a press release. "Passive House Canada is excited to be working with our partners to bring courses and events to northeastern B.C. to show residents and communities how they too can benefit from passive house buildings."

Energy efficiency in buildings is being pushed to the forefront, especially in B.C. where the province’s new Energy Step Code and Canada’s new national buildings strategy aim to make high-performance, energy-efficient buildings the norm by 2030, the release reads.

Dozens of passive house buildings are currently in design or construction in British Columbia.

Passive house projects in northeastern B.C. include the Fort St. John Passive House, the Doig River Community Church and the West Moberly First Nations Health Station. In addition, high-performance buildings are being planned to provide rental and subsidized housing units in the Fraser–Fort George Region.