A city that raised the money

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NEXT WEDNESDAY
A CITY RAISED MONEY TO CLIMATE-PROOF ITS BUILDINGS
ENERGY ADVISOR TRAINING
PRAIRIE ARCHITECTS IS HIRING
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING TOURS IN OCTOBER
LUNCH AND LEARNS - SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH AT NOON
EFFICIENCY MANITOBA'S HEAT PUMP PROGRAM
PODCAST RECOMMENDATION
SBM MEMBERSHIP
MORE EVENTS

The release of the updated IPCC report was the latest alarm bell urging us all to take real action to prevent climate disaster.

The Winnipeg Free Press published SBM's op-ed about the lack of action we've seen from our leaders, "'Code red for humanity' met with deafening silence".

"Climate change is not going away. Who will look at the transition to a cleaner future as an opportunity, rather than a problem? Who will take on the mantle of leadership and reject short-term thinking to embrace a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future for Manitoba and the world? Who will challenge business leaders to ensure that Manitoba isn’t left behind in the transformation to net-zero?"

Read the Full Op-Ed Here

NEXT WEDNESDAY

The case for Green Schools graphic with pictures of the speakers

12 Noon via Zoom
Wednesday September 15th
The Case for Green Schools

Right now in Manitoba, we hear a lot about how our schools will be managed, but little about the buildings our kids will be learning in.

At this Lunch and Learn you’ll hear from Matthew Froese regarding school ventilation, Donna Vakalis about the significant health and learning benefits of green school design, and Lindsay Oster will speak about the design features and performance metrics to focus on to make a school “green”. Principal Lorelei Bunkowsky will also share her experience managing the award-winning green school Amber Trails.

AMBER TRAILS AS A CASE STUDY
In 2017, Amber Trails Community School in Winnipeg won the Greenest School in Canada competition hosted by CaGBC. Under the Green Building Policy enacted by the province in 2007, 11 high-performance sustainable schools were constructed in Manitoba. These schools use an average of 50-70% less energy per year compared to conventional designs. A preliminary report suggests that just four of these new-generation green schools save 484 tonnes of carbon per year and significantly reduce operating costs at the same time.

For more background on the state of green schools, read SBM’s op-ed on the topic.

50% off for sustaining members and FREE for student members

Get your ticket now!

A CITY RAISED MONEY TO CLIMATE-PROOF ITS BUILDINGS

Ithaca’s main climate objective is to eliminate or offset all of its carbon emissions by 2030. Its focus on retrofitting buildings – installing electric heating systems, solar panels and battery storage as well as reducing energy use and greening the electric grid – promises to tackle an often-overlooked but significant contributor to climate change

Ithaca – which has a total budget of less than $80m – raised $100m by offering investors entry to a large-scale program pitched as low risk with the potential for high cash flow. The goal is to create a lending program providing low or no-interest loans and quick implementation of sustainable technology. The first batch of building owners could sign up as soon as September.

The city is addressing the problem of how to keep its lending program affordable by trying to reduce risk. It aims to create an economy of scale by sizing the program for 1,000 commercial and residential buildings in the first 1,000 days, which will mean more consistent work for contractors and lower material costs. Ithaca plans to use a $10m loan loss reserve, backed by the state of New York, that would act as a guarantee for lenders in case any borrower defaults. It will also secure insurance to protect against “catastrophic losses”, such as a massive default due to another pandemic.

Taken together, this means that money will be offered to building owners as low or no-interest loans paid back by utility bill savings, and could even come with cash incentives. Because the loans will be backed by the city, low-income families can participate, even though their credit history might disqualify them for private loans.

However, these types of improvements may be an easier sell than swapping out a gas range or fireplace. Consumer preference for natural gas appliances is one of the biggest barriers to home electrification. Cost is another.

Ithaca’s path could be a model for other cities.

Read the full story

ENERGY ADVISOR TRAINING

It's not too late to join the Energy Advisor Training at Red River College.

The program will be online with an in-person lab and in-field (work-integrated learning) components in Winnipeg for hand-on training (subject to pandemic-related health constrictions).

Your organization may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 for training each new or existing employee. Find out if you qualify for the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant.

Find out more

PRAIRIE ARCHITECTS IS HIRING

Prairie Architects is hiring a full-time Sustainable Buildings Coordinator. They seek a candidate with experience in sustainable certification processes and a passion for driving environmental change in architecture.
Qualifications
• Graduate from a post-secondary program specializing in the environment.
• Experience with sustainable certification processes preferred.
• Experience in architecture and building industry an asset.

Description of Duties and Responsibilities

The Sustainable Building Coordinator is responsible for guiding the design and construction team through the sustainability certification process.

Some of the tasks will include:
• Manage the certification process of all sustainable projects in the office. (i.e. LEED, Passive House, Net Zero, WELL, Efficiency Manitoba, etc.)
• Oversee the status of all sustainable projects in the office and coordinate schedules on deliverables within the overall architectural delivery model.
• Assist owners with coordination of sustainable grant applications
• Register projects with the certifying entity and act as Client liaison
• Assist the team in researching sustainable design strategies and review design and engineering systems as they relate to sustainable targets.
• Create and regularly update sustainable tracking checklist throughout the design and construction process
• Work with Principals to identify and strategize long-term sustainable initiatives and services to complement and further support Prairie’s sustainable goals and philosophies.

Read Full Job Description

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING TOURS IN OCTOBER

In June we postponed our annual sustainable building tours due to a last-minute scheduling conflict, along with a generally Zoom-fatigued membership.

Mark your calendars now for Thursdays at noon in October because we have a great mix of buildings to tour lined up for you! You'll get to travel to other parts of Canada, Northern Manitoba, the USA, and Europe.

Mark your calendars now.

LUNCH AND LEARNS - SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH AT NOON

Lunch and Learns Second Thursday of the Month Mark your calendars now

Mark your calendars now for our exciting slate of Lunch and Learns. Starting in November they will be the second Thursday of the month.

November 18: Building Waste
January 20: Made in Manitoba Materials
February 17: What does Resilience Look Like in Manitoba?
March: Building Resilience Gathering
April 21: Sustainability and Affordability
May 19: AGM

Building tours will be every Thursday in October at noon, and our first Lunch and Learn of the season will be Wednesday, September 15th.

These Lunch and Learns are part of the Building Resilience: Foundation Edition Project of the Manitoba Eco-Network in partnership with Sustainable Building Manitoba and funded by the Winnipeg Foundation. SBM's work is only possible with the generous support of all our sponsors and members.

Please note that topics and dates may change.

EFFICIENCY MANITOBA'S HEAT PUMP PROGRAM

Efficiency Manitoba’s Heat Pump Program is now accepting online applications (www.efficiencyMB.ca/heatpumpapply) for ground source heat pumps. Efficiency Manitoba will subsidize installations based on a prescriptive structure, outlined on the program's webpage. Applications must be submitted before work begins.

Eligible Installers
Installers must be an accredited Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance (MGEA) member and must also register with Efficiency Manitoba’s Supplier Network in order for customers to be eligible for the rebates. Customers can also use the Supplier Network to find supplier/installers in their part of the province.

Contact the MGEA to find out how to become an MGEA accredited installer, if you aren’t already.

You can find the full Heat Pump Program Guide online.

PODCAST RECOMMENDATION

Green Building Matters -Public Private Partnership Sustainability with Kimberly Hosken
29:19

Kimberly Hosken works building the P3 business at NORESCO with a highly skilled team of industry leaders in central plant design, construction and operations. Partnering with preferred equity firms to create the best value for owners in the P3 market. Developing best in class SOP's, operational plans and systems to achieve a quality working relationship with customers.

Listen here