The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has initiated the recruitment of an “energy advisor team” on a two-year term to facilitate the implementation of the zero carbon step code for buildings, which came into effect in January 2024.
Aligned with Whistler’s commitment to reducing emissions by 50 percent below 2007 levels by 2030, the team and its accompanying grant funding reflect the municipality’s proactive stance toward environmental sustainability.
“This code will be pivotal in Whistler’s transition towards energy-efficient and zero-carbon new construction,” stated an RMOW communications official in correspondence with Pique, elucidating the rationale behind hiring a dedicated team.
“However, effectuating this transition and expediting this endeavor necessitates concerted efforts from stakeholders, including the RMOW, builders, and property owners.”
The funding for the team, totaling $200,000 over two years, is entirely grant-funded. As per the official, the RMOW submitted a grant application to the federal department, Natural Resources Canada, in January 2023, securing the funds in conjunction with the municipality’s adoption of the zero carbon step code.
“From now until March 31, 2026 (the end of the grant period), the grant funds will be allocated towards hiring an external energy advisor team,” affirmed the official.
“Engaging a consulting team provides us with access to a diverse spectrum of knowledge and expertise.”
The consortium comprises three companies: Focal Engineering based in Victoria, specializing in energy efficiency for retrofitting existing buildings and designing new ones; Bernhardt Contracting, also Victoria-based, with a focus on energy efficiency; and Pinna Sustainability, a Vancouver-based consulting firm boasting experience in the municipal sector.
According to the municipality, the team’s objectives include expediting the adoption of the BC Energy Step Code, enhancing knowledge and skill development within the local building sector pertaining to the code, leveraging their expertise to facilitate its implementation, and identifying new financial incentives and tools.
The team’s integration coincides with the RMOW’s commitment to expediting its building department operations, aiming to reduce application wait times by bolstering staffing and streamlining processes.
Furthermore, this initiative dovetails with the municipality’s intensified focus on climate change, as it acknowledges its failure to meet climate targets and underscores the imperative to intensify efforts in reducing both corporate and community-wide emissions.