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CHBA Net Zero Builder Boot Camp

Our inaugural NZE Builder Boot Camp was a great success with over 100 people in attendance!

Thank you again to the keynote speaker, Suzanne Shelton, the panel moderators, Andy Oding and Suzanne Shelton, as well as all the panelists. (For a complete list see the agenda below.)

The slide decks can be found here(Please note that most of the slides were incorporated into one "master" deck, with Suzanne Shelton's and six others available as separate files.)

AGENDA

7:30 – 8:30 BREAKFAST
8:30 – 8:45 Welcome by Sonja Winkelmann, Director, Net Zero Energy Housing, CHBA & Event Moderator, Andy Oding, Chair, CHBA Net Zero Energy Housing Council
8:45 – 9:45 Keynote Speaker: Suzanne Shelton, President & CEO, Shelton Group
   

Drawing on her extensive experience in energy and the environment –
plus her 25 years in the marketing and advertising industry – Suzanne
provides high-level strategic insights to audiences around the country
about pressing issues related to marketing energy efficiency and
sustainability. Suzanne is a dynamic speaker and her knowledge about the
consumer mindset on sustainability, the future of utilities and the
changing energy landscape, especially around NZE Homes, will be sure to
energize you!

9:45 – 10:30 Panel 1: Design
 

How do you design a home that has enough roof space to get a 10 kw PV
array on the roof? How do you ensure the home doesn’t overheat from
the east/west oriented windows? What have we learned about designing
mechanical rooms? A key component of design is early modelling – and
making sure that preliminary design accommodates enough roof space for
renewables. In this session, design tips and tricks will be shared so
you can plan your project optimally - right from the start. Tract
builders will highlight challenges with lot orientation as well.

MODERATOR:

Andy Oding, Senior Building Science Associate, Building Knowledge Canada

PANELISTS:

  • Bijan Mannani, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group of Companies
  • Bob Deeks, President, RDC Fine Homes
  • Chris Williams, Vice President, Avalon Master Builder
  • Joe Geluch, President, Naikoon Contracting Ltd.
  • Rebecca Hagen, Project Manager - Sustainability, The Minto Group
10:30 – 10:45 BREAK
10:45 – 12:15 Panel 2: Envelope
 

What’s the “sweet spot” for how much insulation to use – and what’s
the best wall assembly? How do I detail the headers? How important are
high performance windows and doors for NZE? Energy modelling is the
ONLY way to evaluate these options. The evaluation of wall assembly
options needs to consider how readily the choices contribute to easy
air tightness strategies and the ability to achieve thermal bridge free
construction. In this session, builders will describe the lessons
learned from various approaches, and disclose what they’re doing now to
optimize for performance, cost and time.

MODERATOR:

Andy Oding, Senior Building Science Associate, Building Knowledge Canada

PANELISTS:

  • Arthur Lo, Owner/President, Insightful Healthy Homes Inc.
  • Curtis Mercer, President & CEO, K&P Contracting Ltd.
  • David Silburn, General Manager/Research Associate, Green Building
    Technologies, Corporate Development and Applied Research, Southern
    Alberta Institute of Technology
  • Jonathan Zerkee, President, Sonbuilt Custom Homes Ltd.
  • Peter Amerongen, President, Habitat Studio
12:15 – 1:15 LUNCH
1:15 – 3:30
Panel 3: Mechanicals & Renewables
 

What options are available for “right-sized” mechanicals? Can you
really build a NZE home without a furnace? Why would you choose to
install an ERV instead of an HRV? How is the cooling load impacted
when you build to a NZE standard? In this session, you’ll learn why
“simple” is the best approach, and what key components you need to pay
special attention to. Cold climate air source heat pump heating and
DHW will be included in the discussion.

What are the load profiles of NZE homes and what does that mean for
how to select the right renewable energy option? Why has solar thermal
disappeared? How much does it cost, where do I buy it, and who installs
it? Why is a consumer friendly energy monitoring system required? In
this session builders will share their challenges with incorporating
renewable energy (especially in smaller homes) and what they’re doing
differently next time. We’ll also highlight examples of homes with
battery storage systems.

MODERATOR:

Andy Oding, Senior Building Science Associate, Building Knowledge Canada

PANELISTS:

  • Bob Deeks, President, RDC Fine Homes
  • Caleb Howden, Owner/President, Denim Homes
  • Doug Tarry, Director of Marketing, Doug Tarry Homes
  • Peter Amerongen, President, Habitat Studio
  • Steven Wright, President, Wrighthaven Homes
3:30 – 3:45 BREAK
3:45 – 4:45 Panel 4: How to sell and market your NZE homes
 

How do you leverage what consumers really value and what motivates
them to buy a NZE home? What benefits should you highlight to the
various types of buyers and how do you identify what type of buyer they
are? What would make a CHBA NZE Labelled home “the most marketable”
home? In this session we’ll seek to answer these questions while hearing
from builders who’re building and marketing NZE homes. We’ll also
solicit input and questions from the audience on what messaging
resonates with your buyers, what tools you use the most and what tools
you wish you had to effectively sell a CHBA NZE Labelled home.

MODERATOR:

Suzanne Shelton, President & CEO, Shelton Group

PANELISTS:

  • Bijan Mannani, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group of Companies
  • Caleb Howden, Owner/President, Denim Homes
  • Joe Geluch, President, Naikoon Contracting Ltd.
  • Terra Davidson, Sales & Marketing Manager, Avalon Master Builder
4:45 – 5:00 Closing Remarks by Sonja Winkelmann, Director, NZE Housing, CHBA
5:00 – 6:30 NZE “BUSINESS-BUILDING” NETWORKING RECEPTION
 

This is your opportunity to develop relationships with the builders,
Energy Advisors, as well as product and service experts who have
experience completing NZE homes. Mingle and network with this
specialized group of industry experts while enjoying some drinks and
hors d'oeuvres. Members of the Net Zero Energy Housing Council will be
on hand to provide more information on their NZE business so that you
can build yours!

OVERVIEW

In this 1-day intensive Net Zero Energy (NZE) Builder Boot Camp, we heard from experienced builders and Energy Advisors from across Canada (in a discussion panel format) a variety of techniques for how to take a home to NZE performance.


Lessons learned
 in past projects, and the next steps along the “road” to NZE were highlighted.

This unique event helped to dramatically reduce the learning curve of participants, and offered access to experts in four main technical areas: Design, Envelope, Mechanicals, and Renewable Energy - PLUS MARKETING!

DATE AND TIME

Monday, May 2nd, 2016 from 8:30-5:00

The NZE “Business-Building” Networking Reception from 5:00-6:30 was included in the registration fee.

LOCATION

Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna, B.C.

This event took place just prior to 2016 CHBA National Conference and Association meetings.

WHAT WAS INCLUDED

  • Continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments at both breaks
  • 1 drink ticket and appetizers at the networking reception

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) POINTS

The NZE Builder Boot Camp accounts for 5.5 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for builders licensed in the province of British Columbia.

Please see the Homeowner Protection Office website at https://hpo.bc.ca/ for further information on CPD points.

TICKET PRICES

NZC Member CHBA Member Non-Member
Early Bird (By Feb 19) $99 $199 $299
Regular (Feb 20-Apr 29) $149 $249 $349
Last Minute (Apr 30-May 2) $199 $299 $399