Province supports innovative building technologies throughout B.C.

May 31, 2021

INVERMERE – British Columbian homes and workplaces will benefit from more made-in-B.C. solutions aimed at reducing building energy costs and pollution.

The CleanBC Building Innovation (CBBI) Fund is supporting 21 state-of-the-art projects that demonstrate innovative low-carbon, energy-efficient building practices and technologies.

The CBBI Fund provides financial support for building projects and programs that accelerate the availability and affordability of low-carbon building solutions. This includes advanced building designs like Passive Houses, new construction methods like the use of low-embodied-carbon mass timber and ultra-efficient building components like heat and energy recovery ventilators. The second intake of the CBBI Fund received $8 million from the Province’s StrongerBC Economic Recovery Plan, launched in September 2020.

“These projects are great examples of how homegrown innovation and technology are putting us on the path to a cleaner, better future,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “Through the Building Innovation Fund, we are investing in projects that showcase British Columbian expertise, reduce pollution, increase energy efficiency and stimulate local economies. By using clean energy more efficiently in our buildings, we’re helping people reduce energy costs, mitigate climate impacts, and improve air quality.”

Five of the 21 building projects funded are being developed in the province’s south-central and southeast regions.

Adaptive Homes in Revelstoke is receiving $480,000 to help upgrade a manufacturing line in its prefabricated modular home plant. The project will reduce building costs on low-embodied-carbon homes that are Energy Step Code 4 compliant.

Collective Carpentry in Invermere is receiving $580,000 to invest in advanced, automated, computer-controlled equipment for a new facility to manufacture energy-efficient, low-embodied-carbon wall, roof and floor panels.

International Timberframes in Golden is receiving $480,000 to expand itsr existing dowel-laminated timber (DLT) manufacturing process, including redesigned production processes, a custom DLT press and a four-sided planer.

Kalesnikoff Mass Timber in Castlegar is receiving $550,000 to create a robotic finishing line that scans mass timber component surfaces for defects, and then wraps the products for transportation and construction-site handling.

Roots to Roofs Community Development Society in Cranbrook is receiving $220,000 to support a cord-wall masonry building demonstration project with the Ktunaxa First Nation.

Approved CBBI Fund projects fall into one of four streams:

• The material, component and system manufacturing stream supports investment in manufacturing facilities to diversify and expand existing product lines or commercialize new product lines.
• The digital technology solutions stream supports technology development for new or improved digital solutions.
• The demonstration projects stream helps to offset the incremental capital or operational costs of projects that demonstrate novel technologies or applications relative to industry standards.
• The open call for innovations stream supports other types of activities not covered by the other funding streams, such as product development, testing and certification.

Depending on the stream, projects could receive up to a maximum of $1 million.

CleanBC commits the Province to achieving ambitious greenhouse gas targets, while simultaneously supporting a vibrant economy for British Columbia. By supporting innovation in the B.C. building sector, the CBBI Fund helps strengthen B.C.-based industries and innovative ideas, build consumer confidence in high-performance buildings and lower the costs of new technologies and building approaches over time.

Quick Facts:

• The application intake for the second round of CBBI funding began on Nov. 12, 2020, and closed on Jan. 10 of this year.
• The Province received 85 applications for a total funding ask of $36.2 million.
• This second round of funding builds on the success of $1.65 million distributed to 13 projects throughout the province in 2019.

Learn More:

To view the complete list of CBBI Fund recipients, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/CBBI_102694.pdf

CleanBC Building Innovation Fund: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/electricity-alternative-energy/energy-efficiency-conservation/programs/cleanbc-building-innovation-fund

Learn how CleanBC puts B.C. on the path to a cleaner, better future: https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/

To learn about other StrongerBC projects, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca

A backgrounder follows.
Contact:

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
Media Relations
250 952-0628

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BACKGROUNDER

What people are saying about the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund

George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy –

“Innovation in B.C.’s clean building sector represents a multi-billion-dollar opportunity to support good-paying, clean jobs for people and local communities. Through our CleanBC Building Innovation Fund, we are forging a modern building sector in British Columbia with new skills that will transition our homes and offices from fossil fuels towards new low-carbon, energy-efficient technologies.”

Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation –

“In addition to strengthening economic recovery and job creation in B.C., our StrongerBC plan is promoting the development of new, clean technology for the building sector. We’ve added $8 million to CleanBC’s Building Innovation Fund, helping more people and businesses conserve energy and reduce power bills. Innovation, inclusiveness and sustainability are the pillars of our economic recovery.’

Katrine Conroy, MLA for West Kootenays –

‘Even amidst the pandemic, climate change is still something we are all concerned about. It’s important that we support and foster innovation, like finding new ways to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. Companies across the Kootenays are doing this incredible work already, and these grants will allow them to take the next step.’

Jan Pratschke, chief executive officer, Collective Carpentry –

“CleanBC funding will support Collective Carpentry’s investment in advanced manufacturing equipment, which will coincide with our move to a new, larger facility in 2022. This investment will increase our prefab insulated panel production quality, efficiency and capacity, while contributing to greenhouse gas reductions and providing employment opportunities in highly skilled trades in our small Columbia Valley community of Invermere.”

Sigi Liebmann, founder, International Timberframes –

“At a pivotal time for the growth of mass timber in B.C., we are delighted and excited by the opportunities presented to us through the receipt of this CleanBC funding. It will allow us to expand our 100% wood-dowel laminated-timber production line. This will accelerate the availability and affordability of our low-carbon-emitting building solution and, at the same time, create jobs for the future in our rural area.”

Ken Kalesnikoff, president and chief executive officer, Kalesnikoff –

“As a fourth-generation family company founded on environmental values, Kalesnikoff is proud to be a leader in green building options and is pleased to receive provincial support for our continued expansion into mass timber. Mass timber is poised to revolutionize construction across the continent because it keeps carbon sequestered, comes from a renewable resource and results in stunning, sustainable buildings.”

Joe Pierre, ʔaq’am Nasuʔkin Chief –

“Exploring innovative building techniques that utilize local resources and are inclusive of training and capacity opportunities for members are all important goals in the ʔaq̓am community strategic plan ka kniⱡwi·tiyaⱡa. The community is grateful for the support of CleanBC Building Innovation Fund.”

Larissa Stendie, engagement and communications director, Roots to Roofs Community Development Society –

“Roots to Roofs Community Development Society appreciates the support of the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund for the Stackwall Masonry Capacity Building Project, in partnership with the ʔaq’am community of Ktunaxa Nation. We hope to refine the use of Stackwall (cordwood) design for locally sourced, innovative, affordable housing that also builds community-wide capacity.”

Logan Ashley, Adaptive Homes –

“It is with great pleasure to announce our gratitude to the British Columbia provincial government for their support. The Province’s support is helping us reach our environmental sustainability and home affordability goals in order to provide high-performance homes for British Columbians.”

Contact:

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
Media Relations
250 952-0628

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect

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