BC Retrofit Accelerator aims to help climate and energy upgrades in buildings

The Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) has launched the BC Retrofit Accelerator (BCRA), a three-year $20 million program which aims to kick-start climate and energy upgrades across hundreds of the province’s commercial and residential buildings.

The BCRA will provide hands-on guidance to the owners and managers of larger commercial and residential properties, including strata-owned, rental, non-market, and off-reserve Indigenous housing, with funding from Natural Resources Canada, the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, Metro Vancouver, ZEIC, and others contributors.

The BCRA aims to deliver decarbonization plans for 500 large existing buildings over the next three years, each showing a path to zero emissions by 2050 aligned with major capital renewals.

The program will provide expert coaching for all stages of a retrofit project including identifying technology and financing options and support through procurement and implementation.

The BCRA aims to spark deep energy retrofits including the installation of heat pumps or distributed renewable energy systems in 125 larger properties across the province by navigating building owners and managers through the upgrade process.

“The climate is changing, and the buildings that we live, work, and play in need to change too. By timing cost-effective energy and climate upgrades with regular building renewals, property owners and managers can deliver healthier, more comfortable homes and workplaces while advancing climate action. It just makes sense,” said ZEIC executive director Melina Scholefield.

“We’re thrilled to launch the BC Retrofit Accelerator to provide hands-on guidance to those who own, manage, and oversee BC’s larger buildings.”

Several property owners and managers, including strata councils, want to upgrade and decarbonize their buildings by transitioning to all-electric heating, cooling, ventilation, or water heating. However, they struggle with a variety of barriers, including low awareness, complexity, and challenges in sourcing financing. This comes at a time where the need for cooling has become a priority due to heat waves and degraded air quality.

ZEIC’s BC Retrofit Accelerator is teaming up with 15 public, private, and non-profit partners to target and lower those barriers. By supporting deep energy retrofits in buildings, the BCRA will support progress on local, regional, and provincial climate targets.