BCIT Zero Energy Buildings Learning Centre receives Inspired Educator Award

The BCIT School of Construction and the Environment has fostered sustainability in its curriculum and operations for decades, and is now honored to be recognized by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).

Congratulations to the BCIT Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) Learning Centre for receiving the Inspired Educator Award at the 2021 CAGBC Awards. Award recipients are CaGBC members who have made significant contributions to Canada’s green building sector, and are presented at the annual green building industry conference: Building Lasting Change.

The BCIT ZEB Learning Centre was created to support the construction industry’s transition to the latest energy efficient building codes, including the BC Energy Step Code, and the City of Vancouver’s Zero Emissions Building Plan.

The ZEB Learning Centre features an innovative High Performance Building Lab developed in partnership with BC Housing and BC Hydro, FortisBC, Vancity, and the Real Estate Foundation of BC – the first of its kind in Canada. It also features portable lab boxes containing a full suite of sample materials to allow instructors to deliver hands-on training in communities across BC. The ZEB courses are short and hands-on, delivered by industry professionals, and can also be administered online.

The Inspired Educator Award recognizes a post-secondary academic institution for educating learners in sustainable design, green building, operations, and/or real estate development.

“The recipient fosters passion and success in their students by delivering sustainable content with the desire to better educate the next generation of green building professionals.”

Despite the entire BCIT ZEB curriculum shifting to an online format due to the pandemic, over 500 individuals have benefited from live construction demonstrations and lectures broadcast by the Learning Centre since March 2020.

Congratulations to the hard work and dedication of the following ZEB Learning Centre team members and affiliates:

  • Sally Miller – Local Practice Architecture + Design
  • Cody Brentzen – Envelope 1st/BCIT Part-time Instructor
  • Pierre-Andre Santin – MIZU Passive House Consulting Inc./BCIT Part-time Instructor
  • Mike Cairns – Innotech Windows and Doors
  • Matt Miles – Approach Media Inc.
  • Jayce Hawkins – Approach Media Inc.
  • James Bourget – RDH Building Science
  • Alexandre Hebert – Manager, Zero Energy Buildings, BCIT
  • Mary McWilliam – Curriculum Manager, Zero Energy Buildings, BCIT

The Building Lasting Change conference will be held online from October 26 – 28, and in addition to recognizing the 2021 CaGBC award recipients, it will feature insights from green building leaders and experts, and a glimpse into the future of Canada’s green building sector.

Learn more about sustainability at BCIT, and check out the ZEB Learning Centre team’s award acceptance video.

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