As part of the Climate Emergency Action Plan, the City of Vancouver is exploring regulation to reduce carbon pollution and increase climate resiliency of our buildings.

Currently, nearly 60% of Vancouver’s carbon pollution comes from burning natural gas (which is methane, a fossil fuel) for space and water heating in our buildings. Carbon pollution, also known as greenhouse gases or emissions, causes climate change and contributes to smog and air pollution, which impacts our health and environment. Of that carbon pollution, about 1/3 comes from Vancouver’s 98,000 existing detached houses.

There are a number of ways to help reduce carbon pollution from heating and cooling our homes and buildings:

• Upgrading natural gas furnaces to more energy efficient versions
• Replacing hot water heaters with electric alternatives
• Switching to renewable gas for existing gas systems

For more information on the draft plan, visit the Shape Your City page here.

Workshop details

• Learn about the role homeowners can play in reducing carbon emissions
• Provide feedback on the proposed regulation, including changes to the building code to require upgrades at time of replacement
• Learn what supports are available for homeowners, such as rebates for electric heat pumps, information on knowledgeable contractors and renovation support
• Provide feedback on the proposed approach that will help shape the final program
• Ask questions about your house and heating or cooling systems and learn about the range of options available

Who is this workshop for?

This free workshop is for anyone who lives in a detached or duplex house in Vancouver, and wants to learn about and provide feedback on the regulation being proposed.

Attend for your chance to win!

On top of helping to shape the Climate Emergency Home Heating and Cooling program, workshop attendees will be entered into a draw to win one of these prizes:

1. A $150 gift certificate to Support Local BC which can be redeemed at a variety of local businesses
2. A tour of the Neighbourhood Energy Facility in False Creek South for 4 people
3. 4 tickets to BC Hydro’s Powerhouse at Stave Falls

Everyone who attends a workshop will be entered into the draw. Prizes will be awarded based on a random draw. For more information please see the contest rules.

ACCESSIBLITY, REGISTRATION, TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS, AND PRIVACY

Accessibility

Closed captioning and ASL interpretation will be available for this event when requested. Should you require this, please make sure to note this on the registration form.

For information or questions on accessibility matters, please email green.buildings@vancouver.ca.

Registration

A link to access this webinar will be sent to all registrants via email in the days and hours preceding the event.

Technology requirements

The workshop will be hosted using Cisco Webex. We recommend that you download the Cisco Webex app in advance of the session from https://www.webex.com/.

To engage fully you will need:

• A laptop, desktop computer, tablet, or smart phone with the Cisco Webex app installed
• Speakers or headphones
• For ASL speakers: a webcam

Download Cisco Webex - https://www.webex.com/

If you do not have access to a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet:

• Registrants can access via the telephone number provided in the registration link that will be sent out via email in the days and hours preceding the event.

Protecting your privacy

To ensure that we are using online meeting technology in a privacy-conscious way, we are following best practices for this online event series:

• We will only circulate the meeting link to those who are registered for the event
• We will ask that participants use their first and last name as their display name on the event, so we can check incoming participants against the event registration list

To protect your own privacy we suggest that:

• You use a unique email address to log into the event. This is to ensure that the platform doesn’t conflate input from multiple users of the same email.
• We suggest you do not use your Facebook profile to log into the webinar. This is so that the webinar platform can’t cross-reference you with your Facebook account.
• We will not be recording this session, but we will be taking notes. Please do not share sensitive information about yourself or others, and do not say anything you do not wish to enter the public domain.

To protect the privacy of others we ask that:

• You do not record or photograph yourself, other participants, or the hosts during the webinar, unless permission is requested and given.

Commitment to community guidelines and social accountability

We strive to ensure the safety of our guests and speakers. There will be zero tolerance for those who promote violence against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or different ability. Anyone who incites harm towards others will be removed at the discretion of our technical team and moderator.

Respect the opinions of others. Every participant brings information, points of view and ideas to contribute.

Share opportunities for airtime equally. If you’ve asked a question or shared a comment, ensure that new voices are heard before you contribute again

Practice self-care: if you need to get up or take a break, please feel free to do so.