Residential & Community
Demonstration Program
There has never been as many options for improving energy-efficiency in residential homes and community developments.
Designers, homeowners and builders can choose from sustainable building materials, energy-efficient windows and appliances, and passive design strategies. City planners are benefiting from advancements in integrated district energy systems and an increased public demand for more sustainable community developments.
This section highlights how B.C. is enabling new technologies and leading the way in sustainable community design. You'll also find resources to help answer questions about integrating new technologies and proven design strategies into your energy-efficient home.
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Success storiesBC Hydro is partnering with developers to enable sustainable communities in British Columbia and to demonstrate the impact of integrating advanced energy-efficiency strategies, including:
See why Dockside Green, the world’s greenest mixed-use development, is a hit in Victoria. Programs and opportunitiesSuccessful demonstration of emerging technologies is paving the way for you to start integrating energy-efficient products into your home. Below you’ll find some of the technologies that made it off the drawing table, into a reality, and are now available in British Columbia as part of the Power Smart Product Incentive Program. The Wilo Stratos water circulation pump storySome commercially available technologies have significant energy savings potential but for some reason never make it into the North American market. This was the case for the Wilo Stratos water circulation pump, which had been available in Europe for several years before BC Housing accessed the Power Smart Demonstration Project Fund and opened the market for this powerful device. The Wilo Stratos is the world's first high-efficiency wet runner pump that can be used in all heating, air-conditioning and cooling systems within a temperature range of -10C to 110C. Demonstration projects have shown that power savings of up to 80% can be achieved when compared to improperly sized less efficient systems. The product will soon be available for incentives through the Power Smart Product Incentive Program. ResourcesWhether you are building your first home, planning an upgrade, in the construction business, or just generally interested in energy-efficient homes and concepts around Net Zero Housing and Passive Design you will find these resources a great first step. Use the Home Lighting Design Guide [PDF, 7.9 MB] to assist with your home lighting design plan. The Heat Pump Reference Guide [PDF, 3.6 MB] explains how heat pumps work, important considerations in buying and installing heat pumps, operating cycles, efficiency definitions, performance standards, and the characteristics of various pumps on the market. Passive Design Toolkit for Homes [PDF, 5.0 MB] provides best practices for energy-efficiency and sustainable construction in new homes. |
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Last Modified: Feb 8, 2012
