VANCOUVER – 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.”

Eleven of the 21 building projects funded throughout the province are being developed by innovative companies on the Lower Mainland. An example of the work funded by the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund is a joint project between the Tseil-Waututh Nation and Darwin Properties in North Vancouver. The CBBI Fund is providing $230,000 toward the construction of two new commercial buildings with mass timber post-and-beam hybrid components, and electric space-heating systems.

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.

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 toward 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.”

Henry Yao, MLA for Richmond South Centre –

“These low-carbon building projects will support people by boosting our local economy and reducing pollution here in the Lower Mainland. We should all be proud of the innovation and expertise in B.C.’s clean technology sector, which will be a key part of our economic recovery.”

Sav Dhaliwal, chair, board of directors, Metro Vancouver –

“Metro Vancouver is one of the largest providers of affordable housing in B.C., and is committed to enhancing the energy efficiency, safety and sustainability of our buildings, in keeping with our Housing 10-Year Plan and regional climate strategy, Climate 2050. We are grateful to receive support from the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund as we embark on a deep carbon retrofit of Crown Manor, a 28-unit residential building offering affordable housing in New Westminster, that aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.”

Chris Hill, president, BCollective –

“The B.C. building industry must make changes in order to meet provincial and municipal climate targets and goals. The funding from the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund will help BCollective advance the SEED Program; a complete building system that will be open source, usable to all and focused on high-efficiency buildings for single-family, multi-family, Indigenous and marginalized communities.”

James Dean, Oxygen8 –

“Oxygen8 is thrilled to receive support from the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund to expand manufacturing of our high-efficiency, energy-recovery ventilation systems into British Columbia. This is a great step for ventilation systems to be made locally, helping building owners improve the indoor air quality of their buildings and meet the energy-efficiency requirements of the BC Step Code.”