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.”

Three of the 21 building projects funded are being developed in the province’s more rural, north-central region.

Zirnhelt Timber Frames in 150 Mile House is receiving $350,000 to help expand a pre-fabrication facility with two new production lines to enable energy-efficient floor and roof panel manufacturing, as well as construction of low-embodied-carbon modular timber buildings.

The City of Fort St. John is receiving $100,000 to help build a new RCMP detachment building to net-zero energy ready performance levels, including a ground-source heat pump and locally sourced mass timber structural components.

FPInnovations, in partnership with a local First Nation, is receiving $450,000 to purchase a 3D printer to test and certify 3D printed houses made from low-embodied-carbon residual fibre.

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.