An Invermere business and a Cranbrook-based society working with the Ktunaxa Nation are among 21 state-of-the-art projects that demonstrate innovative low-carbon, energy-efficient building practices and technologies in B.C. to receive funding from the CleanBC Building Innovation (CBBI) Fund.

Invermere-based Collective Carpentry has received $580,000 in B.C. government funding to invest in advanced, automated, computer-controlled equipment for a new facility to manufacture energy-efficient, low-embodied-carbon wall, roof and floor panels.

And Roots to Roofs Community Development Society in Cranbrook is receiving $220,000 to support a cord-wall masonry building demonstration project with the Ktunaxa Nation.

The CBBI Fund provides financial support for building projects and programs that accelerate the availability and affordability of low-carbon building solutions. This includes advanced building designs like Passive Houses, new construction methods like the use of low-embodied-carbon mass timber and ultra-efficient building components like heat and energy recovery ventilators. The second intake of the CBBI Fund received $8 million from the province’s StrongerBC Economic Recovery Plan, launched in September 2020.

“These projects are great examples of how homegrown innovation and technology are putting us on the path to a cleaner, better future,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “Through the Building Innovation Fund, we are investing in projects that showcase British Columbian expertise, reduce pollution, increase energy efficiency and stimulate local economies. By using clean energy more efficiently in our buildings, we’re helping people reduce energy costs, mitigate climate impacts, and improve air quality.”

“CleanBC funding will support Collective Carpentry’s investment in advanced manufacturing equipment, which will coincide with our move to a new, larger facility in 2022. This investment will increase our prefab insulated panel production quality, efficiency and capacity, while contributing to greenhouse gas reductions and providing employment opportunities in highly skilled trades in our small Columbia Valley community of Invermere,” said Jan Pratschke, chief executive officer of Collective Carpentry.

“One of the most significant inequities of the pandemic has been the impact on small business owners and their employees, so to see the B.C. government investing in this great local business is very encouraging. This investment in Collective Carpentry is an important one for communities in our region because it will have positive economic, social and environmental impacts,” said District of Invermere Mayor Al Miller.  “I congratulate the Collective Carpentry team and wish them every success as they move on to the next phase of their development.”

Collective Carpentry has been involved in projects throughout the region and beyond, including: Invermere, Windermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Golden, Revelstoke, Nelson, Rossland, Kelowna, West Moberly First Nation, Doig River First Nation, Valemount, Vancouver, Langley, Squamish and Whistler – along with those in Alberta, Saskatchewan and several in the United States.

“Exploring innovative building techniques that utilize local resources and are inclusive of training and capacity opportunities for members are all important goals in the ʔaq̓am community strategic plan ka kniⱡwi·tiyaⱡa. The community is grateful for the support of CleanBC Building Innovation Fund,” said Joe Pierre, ʔaq’am Nasuʔkin.

Larissa Stendie, engagement and communications director, Roots to Roofs Community Development Society stated: “Roots to Roofs Community Development Society appreciates the support of the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund for the Stackwall Masonry Capacity Building Project, in partnership with the ʔaq’am community of Ktunaxa Nation. We hope to refine the use of Stackwall (cordwood) design for locally sourced, innovative, affordable housing that also builds community-wide capacity.”

Including Collective Carpentry and Roots to Roofs, five of the 21 building projects funded are being developed in the south-central and southeast regions.

Adaptive Homes in Revelstoke is receiving $480,000 to help upgrade a manufacturing line in its prefabricated modular home plant. The project will reduce building costs on low-embodied-carbon homes that are Energy Step Code 4 compliant.

International Timberframes in Golden is receiving $480,000 to expand itsr existing dowel-laminated timber (DLT) manufacturing process, including redesigned production processes, a custom DLT press and a four-sided planer.

Kalesnikoff Mass Timber in Castlegar is receiving $550,000 to create a robotic finishing line that scans mass timber component surfaces for defects, and then wraps the products for transportation and construction-site handling.

CleanBC commits the province to achieving ambitious greenhouse gas targets, while simultaneously supporting a vibrant economy for British Columbia. By supporting innovation in the B.C. building sector, the CBBI Fund helps strengthen B.C.-based industries and innovative ideas, build consumer confidence in high-performance buildings and lower the costs of new technologies and building approaches over time.

The application intake for the second round of CBBI funding began on Nov. 12, 2020, and closed on Jan. 10 of this year.

The province received 85 applications for a total funding ask of $36.2 million.

This second round of funding builds on the success of $1.65 million distributed to 13 projects throughout the province in 2019.

Lead image courtesy Collective Carpentry

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