November 2020

Hi <<First Name>>,

Welcome to the November edition of HPSC Monthly. This month, we bring you these top stories and more:

Limited time offer: heat pump and forced air furnace training discount of $1,500
Insulation and heat pump installers, find out how to be recognized as a quality contractor in BC Hydro and Fortis BC's public directories
And what big climate plans from City of Vancouver mean for local industry

Plus, check out Featured News below to sign up for this month's free contractor webinar.

Advancing Home Performance Opportunities in BC.

Fall Webinar for Contractors

Join industry experts for the final FREE webinar this fall to expand your knowledge and stay ahead of your home performance competition. The HPSC appreciates the ongoing collaboration and support for these sessions provided by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, BC Hydro and FortisBC. Spots are limited, register today.

Quality Management – Leadership & The Way to Success

What’s the difference between management and leadership? Join award-winning home performance professional John Tooley as he explores this question and shares why anyone can be a leader. Gain skills to maximize team productivity, drive breakthrough innovation, and secure a competitive edge for your company.

Date & Time: Tuesday, November 17th from 8:00AM to 9:00AM

PROGRAM UPDATES

New HVAC Training Online - Free for a Limited Time

Interested in enhancing your skills in HVAC installations and staying ahead of the competition?

The HPSC is pleased to announce the release of a new training course for HVAC contractors: Quality Installation of Forced Air Furnace and Air Source Heat Pump Retrofits in BC Homes.

FREE for BC contractors for a limited time – a cost savings of $1,500!

Complete the training on your own time with a self-paced online format. Plus, earn up to 21.0 CPD credits through BC Housing.

Learn more at homeperformancetraining.ca

Quality Work Recognized for Insulation and Heat Pump Installers

Show customers that you stand behind the quality of your work - become a Program Registered Contractor (PRC) with the Home Renovation Rebate Program.

Coordinated by BC Hydro and Fortis BC, the Program offers established insulation and heat pump installers the opportunity to become a PRC and take advantage of multiple benefits such as:

Having your company listed in a public directory where homeowners look to find contractors
Use of the program logo to denote your company as a quality contractor
Access to market-leading training, and more

Learn more about the steps to becoming a PRC and submit an application in less than 10 minutes at registeredbccontractor.ca

HPSC spoke with BC Hydro and Fortis to ask your burning questions about the program. Check out our FAQ summary below.

Program Registered Contractor FAQs

Q: Is the PRC program mandatory?

A: Currently, it is optional for contractors to become a PRC. However, as of April 2021, PRC will be a mandatory requirement for the Home Renovation Rebate program’s insulation rebate. From that point forward, homeowners that wish to receive a rebate for home insulation will be required to use the services of a PRC.

Q: Is there a cost?

A: There is no program cost to applicants; but third-party agencies may charge a fee to obtain the documentation required to apply to the program (e.g. WorkSafeBC certificate).

Q: What is the time commitment?

A: Program applicants are required to complete best practice training; this training is self-paced and completed online and takes approximately 3 hours (for heat pump installers) and 8 hours (for insulation installers) to complete. The Program will conduct site-visits on a few of your recent installations to confirm best practices have been followed. Contractors do not need to be on site and time commitments are minimal. PRC’s are required to complete a quality installation checklist for each customer that applies for a rebate; the time commitment is similarly minimal.

Q: Who needs to take the best practice training?

A: The Program requires the lead installer, supervisor, or owner to complete the required training to become a PRC; this person will be responsible for signing off on the quality checklist for each project. The training is also available at no extra cost to additional employees.

Q: Does the membership need to be renewed?

A: The membership is valid for 2 years from the date of final confirmation as a PRC. Members will be notified and provided instructions for renewal.

Stay up-to-date on the Home Renovation Rebate Program and CleanBC Better Homes rebates

Always be sure to frequently check the following webpages to stay current on the latest program requirements. Your customers will appreciate your knowledge.

BC Hydro rebates: www.bchydro.com/homerebates

FortisBC rebates: www.fortisbc.com/homerebates

CleanBC Better Homes rebates: www.betterhomesbc.ca

INDUSTRY NEWS

City of Vancouver Climate Emergency Plan

City of Vancouver Mayor and Council are hearing the details of a proposed Climate Emergency Plan this month. As a hub for the building industry and trend-setter in the province, City of Vancouver's actions are sure to affect home performance contractors across BC.

One of the plan's proposed objectives is to Reduce Carbon Pollution in Existing Buildings by 50% by 2030 and is accompanied by a Zero Emissions Building Retrofit Strategy. Regarding this objective, the Report to Council states:

This regulatory approach provides a clear signal for trades to invest in training,
suppliers to begin sourcing needed systems, and for building owners to start long-term
planning toward zero emissions. It also signals the need for supportive policies
and programs to the provincial government, BC Hydro, FortisBC, district energy utilities,
and the B.C. Utilities Commission.

- Climate Emergency Action Plan Report to Council, page 42

The plan elaborates on how City of Vancouver would implement the regulations and provide support for industry through training and other resources.

Want to share your support or concerns? Learn more about the Plan and submit comments to Vancouver City Council by November 16.

TRAINING & EVENTS

As a reminder, please be sure to check with the training provider to confirm
upcoming in-person sessions and potential scheduling changes.

Builder Forum Series: Airtightness Techniques and Heat Pump Best Practices
Online | November 19 | FREE

The Township of Langley is hosting a builder forum to share information related to airtightness techniques for Steps 3, 4, and 5, and heat pump best practices. This webinar will be presented by Einar Halbig of E3 EcoGroup Ltd. and Mikhael Horvath of Enforma Engineering Inc. The Township of Langley will also provide brief updates on their building programs and Step Code implementation. Sponsored by BC Hydro and FortisBC.

Fenestration BC Fall Webinar Series

Canadian National Energy Code Changes, Where Are They Going?
Online | Nov 26 | FREE

The 2020 national energy code update has been a long and complicated code cycle. There have been changes to both the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) and Section 9.36 of the National Building Code (NBC). The biggest change is the introduction of Tiered Energy code requirements in both the NECB and Section 9.36. This webinar will look at the changes that have been made and talk about how these changes will impact the fenestration industry.

High Performance Benefits of Laminated Glass
Online | Dec 1 | FREE

This presentation discusses the architectural applications for laminated glass and its many inherent and sometimes overlooked, benefits. It also reviews how high-performance PVB interlayer solutions used in laminated glass can provide enhanced strength, hurricane/storm protection, and advanced acoustic performance and impart bold, dynamic expressions of color and opacity as well. Laminated glass is a high-performance material which allows designers to create secure, comfortable, and vivid glazing assemblies for their most innovative projects.

Insulating Properties of Aerogel
Online | Dec 3 | FREE

More information to come.

Plus others!

HRAI and FortisBC’s BUILTbetter program
Online | Fall 2020

FortisBC has been working with HRAI to offer some of their online courses at a highly subsidized rate. Open to residents of BC, the residential and small commercial courses below are eligible for an 80% reduced price.

Basic Principles of Residential Ventilation (an Online Module and prerequisite for the Ventilation course at regular rate of $79 or subsidized rate of $15.80 + GST)
Indoor Air Quality for Residential and Small Commercial (2-day course at regular rate of $845 or subsidized rate of $169.00 + GST)
Residential Ventilation using Section 9.32 of the Building Code - BCBC Version (2-day course at regular rate of $845 or subsidized rate of $169.00 + GST)
HRV/ERV Installation & Balancing Fundamentals (1-day course at regular rate $600 or subsidized rate of $120 + GST)
Small Commercial Heat Loss/Heat Gain Calculations (3-day course at regular rate of $1,065 or subsidized rate of $213.00 + GST)
Small Commercial Air System Design (3-day course at regular rate of $1,065 or subsidized rate of $213.00 + GST)

These courses are scheduled virtual classroom sessions.

Passive House Canada Summit
Online | December 8-10 | Starting at $249

The 2020 Passive House Canada Summit is going virtual. The event will be streamed via an event app which will be easy and convenient to navigate. Your registration to the summit includes:

Access to over 16 hours of Passive House content, with playback options
A participant profile that will allow for easy networking
Opportunity to connect with PH professionals right across Canada

Save 10% on HRAI On-Line Courses

Think you're an HVAC expert? Test your knowledge with one of HRAI's quick and easy multiple choice quizzes to find out. You could receive a 10% discount code for one of their online courses at the end.

COVID-19 Training Series for HRAI Members

HRAI is offering an on-line, three-module series to assist HVACR companies in adapting their business to the new health and safety challenges that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The course will provide best practice protocol advice for HVAC In-field and Office Staff, as well as policy considerations for Owners and Management, to support providing customers with advice to improve the health and safety of their home.

The course has one self-guided and two live instructor lead learning modules and will result in a Certificate of Completion from the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) for each attendee upon satisfactorily passing tests.

CHBABC: Renovation Fundamentals
Online | Access Anytime | $349 (25% for CHABC members)

The goal of this course is to provide renovators like you with an introduction to the basic knowledge needed to perform your job as a business owner or manager. By completing this course you'll gain a foundational understanding of the best practices for running a professional and successful renovation business in Canada. Note: there is a final exam at the end of the online course.

Heatspring: Deep Energy Retrofits
Online | Self-study | $395 USD

Learn how to incorporate transformative energy upgrades in existing residential and commercial buildings up to 45,000 square feet.

Forget the theory. This course will fundamentally change the way you approach retrofit projects, while build your network of like minded professionals. Your practice will never be the same.

This list of training and events is compiled for your information. The HPSC is not affiliated with any of the organizations providing training or hosting events.

Know of other professional development opportunities? Let us know.