February Breakfast Session - Electrify BC - Decarbonization in Action

On Thursday, February 23rd, the British Columbia Construction Roundtable will host a compelling panel discussion on Electrify BC - Decarbonization in Action – from municipal mandates to design initiatives to construction processes.

Although buildings are becoming more energy efficient and use less energy, electrifying buildings to provide for the remaining energy used is a large part of the decarbonization solution within the built environment.

CleanBC is a decarbonization roadmap aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change by reducing emissions by at least 40% by 2030 based on 2007 levels. The program includes initiatives and policies to promote clean energy, increase energy efficiency, and reduce emissions from transportation and other sectors like industry and buildings. To help the Province meet its climate goals, BC Hydro plans to invest over $260 million to advance electrification in B.C. and offer new programs and incentives to help British Columbians make the switch from fossil fuels to clean hydroelectricity to power their homes, businesses, and vehicles.

On February 23rd, BCCR is proud to host several of our members as part of a panel of experts to discuss this topic and open up the floor for a fruitful Q&A conversation.

Moderator/MC: Quin MacKenzie, Luuceo, Lead Executive Officer. Quin is the Lead Executive Officer and Director of luuceo consulting. She has facilitated planning and design processes for infrastructure projects across North America to enhance asset performance, specializing in applying leading design frameworks such as Envision and the Integrated Design Process (IDP). Quin has advised clients and worked with project teams to execute sustainable and resilient strategies for alternative project delivery. She has prepared language and sustainability management systems to support project procurement documents for multi-billion-dollar projects in Canada and the United States.

Panelists include: 

Samson Tam, Creative Energy, Director is a Professional Engineer with an established track record of successful low-carbon energy systems in the built environment. At Creative Energy, Samson is on a mission to decarbonize development through the implementation of low carbon district energy systems. As the Director of Development, he facilitates critical conversations at the intersect of engineering, business, and finance, as required for complex district energy partnerships. With a life-long goal of decarbonizing the built environment in our society, he works with private developers, institutional partners, and municipal governments to advance the development of district energy in new and existing buildings.

Jacqueline Spray, BC Hydro, Electrification PMO is currently leading the Electrification Program Management Office (PMO) at BC Hydro.  She has over 20 years of experience at BC Hydro including senior roles in Key Accounts in Customer Service and Distribution Design. The Electrification PMO is coordinating efforts and business improvement initiatives across BC Hydro to support meeting Electrification Plan goals.

Sean Pander is Green Building Manager for the City of Vancouver and a member of the BC Energy Step Code Council, the Buildings to Electric B2E Leadership Council, past-chair of the Zero Emissions Building Exchange ZEBx, and is a recipient of Canada’s Clean50 award.  

Under Sean’s leadership, Vancouver has transitioned Vancouver’s Building By-Law to reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings by over 70% to date and approved changes that will reduce emissions by 90% by 2025. 

In addition, his Green & Resilient Buildings Branch recently had Council approve greenhouse gas and heating energy limits for existing commercial buildings that will drive electrification as well requirements to reduce embodied carbon for new Part 3 Buildings.

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