Content courtesy of BC Housing The building envelope includes all the building components that separate the indoors from the outdoors. Building envelopes include the exterior walls, foundations, roof, windows and doors. The performance of the building envelope is impacted by a number of sub‐systems, such as heating, cooling and ventilating equipment, plumbing and electrical systems.  The interaction of the sub‐systems with the components of the building envelope, as well as certain activities of the occupants, can affect the performance of the building envelope. WHAT IS IT SUPPOSED TO ..read more

Faulty, leaking, windows can be frustrating, both financially and lack energy efficiency. Windows that let drafts in, cause cold spots, collect condensation, dampness, and mould, usually don’t offer enough defence against noise pollution either.  Due to these problematic results, windows now go through a testing process to make sure they have been designed correctly and offer sufficient protection and energy efficiency against the elements. Window testing is extremely important and efficient ways to make sure that the windows and doors installed in your home function as intended and req ..read more

“Thermally broken” is a term used to describe a window’s construction in the windows and door manufacturing industry. The term refers to the fact that an aluminum frame is manufactured with an interior and an exterior side joined by a barrier. The barrier serves to reduce conductive thermal loss.   Thermal breaks are a component of the window frame, but they also influence how temperature is transferred to other components of the window, such as the glass. Most energy efficiency improvements are focused on the glass, as it is the largest part of the window’s surface and is not energy ef ..read more

Content courtesy of Washington Energy Services Conduction is the process by which heat is transferred through a solid material, such as glass. In single glazed windows and doors, heat can easily pass through the glass and escape to the outside. But with double and triple glazing, the gap between the panes of glass acts as a barrier, slowing down the transfer of heat.   The Science Behind Energy Efficient Windows Technological advances in insulated glass units, or IGU’s, have made a compelling case to upgrade your home’s first generation windows. If you care about your home’s indoor ..read more

Content courtesy of FENESTRATION CANADA FENESTRATION CANADA”S Upcoming Pacific Chapter Event in April, presented by Sherwin-Williams!   Join Fenestration Canada for the Pacific Chapter Event in April presented by Sherwin-Williams! Join Fenestration Canada and our hosts Westeck Windows and Doors with their Technical Manager Kyle Cartwright, Pacific Chapter Chair, at Westeck’s Chilliwack facilities for a day of education, lunch, networking, and a structural test demonstration on Westeck’s in-house test wall. Please click here to RSVP on Fenestration Canada’s website.   Fenestrat ..read more

Content courtesy of BC Gov website. BC Building Codes 2024 take effect March 8, 2024, except for adaptable dwellings and earthquake changes which take effect March 10, 2025.   BC Codes 2024  are largely based on the National Codes 2020 with some BC-specific variations to reflect the province’s geography, climate, local government needs, industry practices, and provincial priorities.   National Code changes incorporated into BC Building Code 2024: Enabling mass timber construction Requiring rough-ins for radon safety province-wide BC-specific changes effective March 2024 ..read more

Content courtesy of  BC Gov News Government of Canada adds $2 billion in additional financing. BC Builds, the Province’s new initiative to build more housing for people with middle incomes, will benefit from $2 billion in additional financing from the Government of Canada to help deliver thousands more homes that people with middle incomes who live and work in B.C. can afford. “All levels of government need to work together to solve the housing crisis,” said Premier David Eby. “With the federal government’s contribution and partnership toward BC Builds, we can help build more homes p ..read more

Content courtesy of PEMBINA institute New Pembina report outlines added benefits to health, GHG emissions reductions, climate resiliency, smart grid integration In Pembina’s new report, “Beyond Energy Efficiency: Deep retrofits save more than just money,” explores the benefits of deep retrofits to Canada’s buildings. We estimate that Canada needs to retrofit 600,000 existing homes and 32 million square metres of existing commercial space each year to reach 2050 net-zero targets. Deep retrofits are holistic energy efficiency home upgrades that improve occupant health and make housing more ..read more

Content courtesy of Canadian Home Builders Association, BC Congratulations to all the 2024 Georgie Awards Finalists! The Georgie Awards® is an exciting event, presented by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of British Columbia, is Canada’s premier housing awards program attended by over 800 industry professionals, government officials, and industry partners. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of British Columbia (CHBA BC) called upon their members last summer to submit their projects for the 2024 Georgie Awards® where the nominees were chosen. As a professional Home Builders’ Ass ..read more

Content courtesy of PEMBINA institute Deep Retrofit Supply Chain Waiting For More Support Need to overcome low demand, lack of skilled labour, and lagging regulation.   Canadians urgently need to adapt our homes to increasingly severe and frequent climate events. In 2023, Canada’s top ten weather events racked up an estimated $3.1 billion in insured losses and smothered Canadians from coast to coast to coast in record-setting wildfire smoke. Canada also has a lot of work ahead to decarbonize its buildings to meet its 2050 net zero emission goals: we will need to retrofit 4% to 6% o ..read more