Watch our Latest Videos
ZEBx TV is our professionally produced video channel which brings an animated and visual understanding to the playbooks and case studies you'll find in our resources.
NearZero: Reaching the Top Step
How are homeowners, builders and designers already reaching the highest step of emission reduction requirements? We found some of them from ZEBx's NearZero program, listen to them here.
Overview
NearZero 1 was the inaugural stream of the NearZero program, funded by CleanBC and the City of Vancouver. It sought to identify the challenges and solutions associated with using heat pumps for space heating and domestic hot water in Step 4, Step 5 and Passive House homes. It was launched in 2018 and by 2022, over 40 projects were registered in the program.
The 'Reaching the Top Step' video captures the thoughts and experiences of participants of the NearZero 1 program - the early adopters of high-performance homes. In this latest video produced by ZEBx, homeowners, builders and designers share their insight on their commitment and work to reduce emissions by building high-performance homes. The BC government aims to reduce emissions 40% by 2030, and one of the key strategies that will reduce energy consumption and emissions from new homes is the BC Energy Step Code.
The 'Reaching the Top Step' video captures the thoughts and experiences of participants of the NearZero 1 program - the early adopters of high-performance homes. In this latest video produced by ZEBx, homeowners, builders and designers share their insight on their commitment and work to reduce emissions by building high-performance homes. The BC government aims to reduce emissions 40% by 2030, and one of the key strategies that will reduce energy consumption and emissions from new homes is the BC Energy Step Code.
Is BC Ready for Electrification? B2E w BC Hydro, Sep 2023
B2E, a program alongside ZEBx and part of the ZEIC family, collaborated with BC Hydro in Sep 2023 to help answer the question 'Is BC Ready for Electrification?'
Overview
2023 has been one of the hottest years on record and this climate crisis is the result of our relentless emissions of greenhouse gases. In dense urban environments like Vancouver, buildings contribute the most to our collective emissions.
The BC government aims to reduce emissions 40% by 2030, and one of the key strategies that will reduce energy consumption and emissions from new homes is the BC Energy Step Code.
To meet national, provincial, and local climate targets, our buildings, transportation, and industry need to shift to low-carbon technologies and energy. In British Columbia, we have a unique advantage. 98% of our electricity is generated from clean and renewable sources. In all sectors, the switch from fossil fuels to clean electricity is a critical strategy to reduce the province's greenhouse gas emissions.
Planning for High-Performance Buildings
From ZEBx’s Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook Series
Overview
High-performance buildings are not as straightforward to design and build as code-minimum buildings. They require more upfront planning and a more integrated design and development process before construction begins.
ZEBx teamed up with RDH Building Science to produce a playbook on this critical aspect of these buildings. This resource will help guide developers and integrated project teams in setting the right goals, milestones, deliverables and schedule to achieve a high-performance building target in a cost-effective way.
Building Industry: Here's how to get to Net-Zero Energy-Ready (NZER) by 2032.
From ZEBx’s Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook & Winner Series
Overview
ZEBx and Intergral have developed a series of Net-Zero Energy-Ready (NZER) playbooks, videos and case studies to help you meet the 2032 targets.
Low Carbon Energy Systems
From ZEBx’s Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook Series
Overview
In Feb 2022 ZEBx launched their latest playbook on low-carbon energy systems – a cost effective way to ensure that operating a building doesn't contribute to climate change. This is the fifth of six accompanying videos for the ZEBx Net-Zero Energy-Ready Challenge Playbook Series. The playbook and this accompanying video, both collaborations between AME Group and ZEBx, provide valuable insight and guidance for choosing the best low-carbon energy system for both space heating and domestic hot water systems in large buildings.
Thermal Bridging In Net-Zero Energy-Ready Building Design
From ZEBx’s Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook Series
Overview
Minimizing thermal bridging through the building envelope is a key design aspect for achieving net-zero energy-ready (NZER) buildings. However, this can seem quite complicated for project teams, especially when much of the envelope is unknown during the early building design stage.
Finding the optimal envelope solution for thermal performance that also incorporates architectural intent, cost savings, constructibility and durability is only achieved when the entire project team is engaged to collectively meet these goals.
This playbook outlines good design practices for anticipating and dealing with thermal bridging in order to meet the expectations of the BC Energy [Step Code], Passive House or other NZER standards. The intent of this document is to provide guidance for design teams including developers, architects and consultants, to effectively tackle thermal bridging while meeting all project goals, not just thermal performance.
Life Cycle Assessment Process to Estimate Embodied Carbon in Buildings
From ZEBx’s Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook Series
Overview
As operational emissions in buildings are reduced, embodied carbon emissions from building material choices are becoming proportionally more significant. In June 2021, ZEBx released its third playbook in the Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook Series. It’s a collaboration with the UBC Sustainability Initiative and focuses on the lifecycle assessment (LCA) process to estimate the embodied carbon in buildings. Check out our latest video to supplement this playbook here.
Planning Airtight Buildings
From ZEBx’s Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook Series
Overview
Why Build Airtight Buildings? Building airtightness reduces energy consumption by minimizing heat loss via air leakage through the building enclosure. For this reason, many North American building codes have set airtightness targets as part of high-performance building standards. In addition to energy efficiency, airtight buildings experience benefits of improved moisture management, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and quality assurance.
Ventilation Strategies for Net-Zero Energy-Ready Buildings
From ZEBx’s Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook Series
Overview
Achieving higher levels of energy performance means rethinking the way many aspects of multi-unit residential buildings are designed and built, including ventilation systems. A number of innovative and energy-efficient ventilation strategies can help achieve net-zero energy-ready and other higher performance targets. This video is based on the playbook entitled Ventilation Strategies for High-Performance Multi-Unit Residential Buildings – the first of six playbooks in ZEBx’s Net-Zero Energy-Ready Playbook Series. It provides an overview of ventilation strategies and offers some guidance on making the right choice of ventilation system for the building.
Mundell House: Airtightness Testing Demonstration Project
A virtual experience of a demonstration airtightness test
Overview
The UBC Mundell House is a new 123,000 sq ft rental residential project with 135 units for faculty and staff comprising two linked 6-storey buildings. While the building was designed to meet an energy target through UBC’s policy, it was not designed and constructed to meet a specific BC Energy Step Code performance target. Airtightness testing was optional at that time, however the Project Team decided to conduct an airtightness test in July 2020 to understand the building’s performance and to serve as an example for future UBC Properties Trust projects which will be required to meet the Energy Step Code.