SFU's sustainable engineering building in Surrey was constructed to achieve LEED gold standard certification. Our commercial new construction program offers funding to encourage energy-efficiency and decarbonization, focusing on qualifying projects that aren't required to meet the BC Energy Step Code standards.
Relaunched program's whole building design offer fills a gap
Our new commercial construction program is back with a bold new whole building design offer. Aimed to encourage developers and their design teams to raise the bar on energy efficiency, solar, and battery storage in non-code buildings.
All whole building projects must start with a feasibility study, which we can fund up to 100% depending on the energy savings potential. The study includes energy modelling to determine the best energy conservation measures, and also determine eligibility for custom incentives for the project.
The original commercial new construction program was paused until B.C.'s commercial building codes caught up to what it was designed to promote. While the BC Energy Step Code and the Zero Carbon Step Code apply to most new commercial buildings, not all large buildings are subject to the updated codes.
"There are buildings that aren't required to be at the higher code levels, such as hospitals, university buildings and some warehouses," says Tanya Perewernycky, program manager with the BC Hydro Alliance of Energy Professionals. "For several years now, new building design projects were subject only to meeting building codes and there was no funding available to promote further efficiencies.
"The new offer is an opportunity to help get those buildings to a higher standard."
Perewernycky adds that the offer aligns with our new program savings targets for fiscal 2026, which have doubled from last year.
Some renovation projects also qualify
The offer isn't just for new buildings, it also applies to major renovations that meet minimum requirements, such as projects where the renovations adds up to at least 50% of the existing building's value and includes upgrades to the building's envelope.
For buildings further along the design phase or those that are undergoing a major renovation, there's also a new lighting system design upgrade offer. It provides funding for new lighting systems that reduce the light power density allowance from current building code (ANSI/ ASHRAE/ IES Standard 90 1-2019, or National Energy Code for Buildings 2020) through design, energy efficient products and controls.