Energy Efficiency
Register for the Building Energy-efficient Homes - Learning Brunch Workshops here.
Please note the Energy Management Workshop scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2024, has been postponed to fall 2024 to accommodate higher attendee participation.
To stay informed, please visit the RDOS Regional Connections interactive website and follow the RDOS on Facebook and Twitter (X).
Click the link to take the survey or visit the survey section below. Home Energy Retrofit Survey
The survey will be open until Friday, June 7, 2024.
The BC Energy Step Code has been made mandatory in British Columbia, with a requirement for new buildings to achieve 20% better energy efficiency starting May 1, 2023. Local governments have the option to go beyond this code. The province aims to transition all new construction to be net-zero ready by 2032, capable of producing as much energy as it uses. Buildings contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in the province, primarily through energy use. To address this, new carbon standards will be added to the BC Building Code by 2030, aiming for zero-carbon buildings. However, implementing these policies poses challenges, especially for communities, home builders, contractors, and homeowners who struggle to navigate relevant information and understand the requirements. The limited availability of energy advisors and consultants exacerbates these challenges, particularly in regions like the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS). To overcome these barriers and promote efficient housing construction, there's a need for improvements in policies, regulations, and practices, along with plans for human resources, communication, outreach, capacity building, and collaboration.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) will be implementing a series of initiatives on energy efficiency to:
Enhance the accessibility of information regarding the BC Energy Step Code, zero carbon standards, and other building regulations.
Ensure communities and locals are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement energy efficiency regulations effectively.
Facilitate collaboration and partnership among stakeholders, including government agencies, industry associations, non-profit organizations, and community groups, to collectively address challenges and promote adopting energy-efficient building practices.
Raise awareness about energy efficiency initiatives, provide guidance on compliance requirements, and promote the benefits of constructing efficient housing to stakeholders and the public.
Provide updates on ongoing RDOS initiatives to promote energy efficiency in the region.
Currently, RDOS is planning to implement the following projects for 2024.
1. Building Energy Efficient Homes - Learning Brunch Workshops
RDDOS is organizing Five (5) community workshops in five locations of the RDOS and one (1) webinar for community leaders on building energy to raise awareness in communities on practices and key considerations while building energy-efficient homes and assist home buyers/builders to ask the right questions to make informed decisions. The project is funded through FortisBC’s Built Better Initiatives.
The workshops will focus on:
- Key practices and considerations when buying/building energy-efficient homes.
- Green building best practices for design and construction
- Outlining the provincial building code policies for “Part 9 residential buildings”
- The Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code for new buildings
Workshops will be held on the following dates/times/locations:
- Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024
- Time: 11:15 am – 4:00 pm
- Location: Oliver Parks and Recreation Centre, Meeting Rooms #1 and #2, 6359 Park Drive, Oliver
- Details: Coffee and lunch provided
- Date: Saturday, May 25, 2024
- Time: 9:45 am – 2:30 pm
- Location: Penticton Community Centre Meeting Room #4, 325 Power Street, Penticton
- Details: Coffee and brunch provided
- Date: Sunday, May 26, 2024
- Time: 9:45 am – 2:30 pm
- Location: Okanagan Falls Senior Centre, 1128 Willow Street, Okanagan Falls
- Details: Coffee and brunch provided
- Date: Saturday, June 8, 2024
- Time: 9:45 am – 2:30 pm
- Location: Similkameen Recreation Centre, Bowling Lounge, 311 9th Street, Keremeos
- Details: Coffee and brunch provided
- Date: Sunday, June 9, 2024
- Time: 9:45 am – 2:30 pm
- Location: Princeton & District Arena, Arena Mezzanine, 167 Old Hedley Road, Princeton
- Details: Coffee and brunch provided
Registration is required for participation in the workshop. To register, please click here or visit RDOS Regional Connections.
2. RDOS Energy and Climate Action Hub
The overall objective of creating a web-based hub is to raise awareness in communities on energy and climate change and accelerate climate action in the RDOS through access to information. The proposed hub is envisioned to be an accessible and easy-to-understand web resource centre for communities on overall energy and climate action at local and provincial levels. The project is funded through FortisBC’s Built Better Initiatives.
3. Home Energy Retrofit Survey
The RDOS is looking for input from homeowners on home energy retrofits. Online survey feedback will provide insight that will help guide the design of a home retrofit service; one that will support residents as they improve their home’s energy efficiency while ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The survey includes questions about homeowner needs, wants and barriers related to home energy efficiency upgrades. While some rebates are already in place, by identifying more financial options or other support homeowners may need, the RDOS can help make these upgrades even more accessible.
The survey will be launched during the Penticton Home and Reno Show, on March 9 and 10, 2024, and will be open until Friday, June 7, 2024.
Click the link to take the survey or visit the survey section below. Home Energy Retrofit Survey
4. Energy Conservation Workshop for Municipal Partners, Hotels and Businesses
Please note the Energy Management Workshop scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2024, has been postponed to fall 2024 to accommodate higher attendee participation.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is hosting an energy conservation workshop at the Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre on Friday, April 26, 2024. The workshop event will be specific for municipal partners, hotels and small businesses to help accelerate energy and climate action within the Regional District.
The workshop will focus on:
- Engaging small businesses, associated government, and non-government organizations to improve energy conservation and management efforts
- Providing information on energy conservation and management programs, rebates, and incentives offered by FortisBC and the City of Penticton
- Sharing experiences and knowledge from ongoing and completed sustainability projects in the region.
Workshop details:
- Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
- Time: Starting at 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Location: Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre (SALON B)
- Breakfast and lunch will be provided
- Detailed workshop itinerary will be shared
Registration is required for participation in the workshop. To register, please click here Registration is open until Monday, April 22, 2024.
For further information, please contact Suraj Baral, RDOS Community Energy Specialist.
5. Community Energy Efficiency Forum
RDOS is always looking for feedback and suggestions from communities on how we can better serve and empower them. This forum is for those who:
Would like to share an experience about an efficient home upgrade that has been completed, is in the process of being completed, or is being planned.
Are upgrading to more efficient equipment or considering upgrades.
Have experienced failures or successes with accessing rebates.
Are learning more about deep energy retrofits.
Have concerns about high utility bills.
Have questions on what to do next with their homes.
Have any other questions, complaints, or confusion about making energy-efficient upgrades.
Home Energy Efficiency Journey - Video Series
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Penticton local Neil Campbell shares his experience improving the energy efficiency of his family’s home.
Neil Campbell and his family moved to Penticton in 1988. They own one of the first homes built in Penticton. Neil’s journey to energy efficiency has been full of confusion and challenges, from identifying the right resources and contractors to navigating available government incentives and Canada Greener Homes. Neil did the online Properate home energy assessment and got a customized report with upgrade and incentive recommendations.
To learn more about the partnership between the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and Properate, visit http://www.rdos.properate.io.
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Margaret and Richard share their story about improving the energy efficiency of their home in Penticton, BC.
Margaret Holm and Richard Cannings have been residents of the RDOS for 27 years. Margaret is an active member of the community and an advocate for sustainability. Richard was born and raised in Penticton in his house, built in 1954. The house is old, leaky, and inefficient. They decided to get a home energy assessment, and were surprised at the recommendation to improve insulation rather than install a heat pump. The couple are keeping their energy costs down by prioritizing the changes that will make the biggest impact.
To learn more about the partnership between the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and Properate, visit http://www.rdos.properate.io.
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Kandis shares her journey towards home energy efficiency, and the values driving her to live sustainably.
Kandis, a mother of two and triathlon enthusiast, has always lived in the Okanagan. Passionate about protecting the environment, she believes that building a resilient home is vital given the extreme climate-related events regularly taking place in the valley. Kandis wants to pass those values on to her children and prepare her home for the future.
Having done extensive research, Kandis found the RDOS and Properate to be helpful in guiding her journey to energy efficiency.
To learn more about the partnership between the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and Properate, visit http://www.rdos.properate.io.
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Summerland local Ruth shares her experience with improving her home’s energy efficiency.
Ruth, a retired professional who has lived in Summerland for 30 years, cares deeply about protecting the planet and reducing her carbon footprint. She has experience with making energy efficient home upgrades, though the task has not been simple.
Ruth reached out to the RDOS and Properate for expert advice on how to maximize her investments, and received a customized report with the recommended upgrades within her budget.
To learn more about the partnership between the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and Properate, visit http://www.rdos.properate.io.
