Egnite Sustainability Inc

We are proud to announce that Egnite Sustainability is now Silver Certified as designated by . We have undergone a comprehensive assessment to achieve GreenStep Silver Certification. The process includes a one-on-one review of our business practices with a GreenStep Assessor to see how we’re doing against their environmental sustainability and climate action criteria. Following the assessment, we received a report that recognizes where we are doing well, and also highlights areas where we have opportunities for improvement, helping us to form an action plan for continued success on our sustainability journey. We will be reassessed every two years to maintain our certification and our momentum. We will be consistently working towards reducing our carbon footprint and using sustainable business practices whenever possible, and is encouraging companies like us to join the movement. Check it out!

Welcome to 2025!

As we step into the new year, it's time to embrace new opportunities, set ambitious goals, and make 2025 our best year yet. Whether you're planning to start a new project, pursue a passion, or simply enjoy the journey, now is the time to pump it up and go all in!

From all of us here (Brendon, Tom, Devin, Amanda, and Shilo) thank you for being part of the Egnite community. Your support and enthusiasm drive us to keep pushing boundaries and delivering exceptional results. Together, let's make this year unforgettable.

Here's to a fantastic 2025! Let's make it happen! LET'S DO THIS!

Happy Holidays from Egnite!

As we approach the holiday season, we want to take a moment to wish everyone a joyful and restful time. Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or simply enjoying the winter break, we hope you find time to relax, live in the moment, and cherish the company of family and friends.

At Egnite, we are grateful for your continued support and engagement. Your trust and loyalty inspire us to keep innovating and providing top-notch solutions in energy efficiency. We appreciate each and every one of you for being part of our journey.

Thank you for staying tuned to Egnite. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the new year.

Happy Holidays and best wishes! ❤️

Revolutionizing Construction: MettleWood

A groundbreaking innovation in the construction industry, MettleWood, is set to transform how we build. Developed by InventWood, this cellulose-based material is 80% lighter and 50% stronger than steel. MettleWood achieves its remarkable strength by removing lignin from wood, compressing the cellulose to create a product with a 1200% increase in tensile strength. This makes it not only stronger but also more sustainable and cost-effective.

Manufactured in Frederick County, Maryland, MettleWood is highly resistant to moisture, infestation, and fire, making it an ideal choice for various applications. The goal is to eventually use only wood from invasive species. With its production ramping up, this new material promises to reduce the environmental impact of construction significantly.

Stay tuned as MettleWood paves the way for a more sustainable future in building materials.

Thinking about replacing your old furnace with a new heat pump? You might be wondering if your existing ducts can handle the change. The good news is, they can — with a few adjustments!

A Few Key Points:

Load Calculation: Start by getting a load calculation to determine your actual heating needs. Most furnaces are oversized, so you might need less heat than you think.

Duct Adjustments: Even if your current ducts seem too small, a knowledgeable HVAC professional can make modifications to improve airflow. This includes repairing disconnected ducts, reducing excessive duct length, tightening up flex ducts, and re-insulating to prevent heat loss.

Sealing Ducts: Ensure all duct joints and seams are properly sealed. Leaky ducts can significantly reduce the efficiency of your new heat pump system, leading to higher energy bills and less comfort.

Switching to a heat pump or dual fuel setup is a smart move for both your home and the environment. Will you be making the switch?

3D Printing: A Solution to the Affordable Housing Crisis?

The affordable housing crisis is a pressing issue, and innovative solutions are crucial. One promising approach is 3D printing technology, which is being championed by Texas-based company ICON. Their recent Initiative 99 competition highlighted the potential of 3D printing to create affordable homes quickly and efficiently.

ICON has been at the forefront of this technology, having printed 150 homes and structures across the U.S. and Mexico. Their Vulcan II printer, which uses a material called Lavacrete, can construct a house in just 24 hours. This rapid construction method not only addresses the housing shortage but also reduces labor costs and supply chain issues.

The company's digital design catalog, Codex, offers a variety of ready-to-print home designs, all aimed at achieving EnergyStar certification. This ensures that the homes are not only affordable but also energy-efficient.

As we look for ways to tackle the housing crisis, 3D printing stands out as a scalable and sustainable solution creating homes for as little as $140K. With continued innovation and support, it could play a significant role in providing affordable housing for communities in need.

Stay Cozy and Energy Efficient This Holiday Season!

As the temperatures drop and holiday cheer fills the air, it's the perfect time to think about energy efficiency in your home. Here are some simple and affordable tips to keep your home warm and efficient:

Seal Drafts: Use weatherstripping or draft stoppers on doors and windows to prevent cold air from sneaking in.

Insulate Windows: Apply plastic window insulation film to keep the heat inside and the cold outside.

Use Heavy Curtains: Hang thick, thermal curtains to add an extra layer of insulation to your windows.

Adjust Your Thermostat: Lower your thermostat a few degrees and wear cozy sweaters and socks to stay warm.

LED Holiday Lights: Switch to LED holiday lights—they use less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs.

Unplug Unused Electronics: Save energy by unplugging electronics and appliances when they're not in use.

DIY Door Sweeps: Make your own door sweeps using old towels or fabric to block drafts at the bottom of doors.

Reflective Radiator Panels: Place aluminum foil behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room.

Use Rugs: Cover bare floors with rugs to add warmth and reduce heat loss through the floor.

Cook and Bake: Use your oven to cook and bake holiday treats—the heat will help warm your home!

Get Ready for the Ultimate 80s Bash! 🎉

Dust off your leg warmers and neon outfits because we’re taking it back to the 80s! On December 6, 2024, Fortis BC presents the Builders Ball & Finalist Night🕺💃
Celebrate the incredible work of CHBA-CO members and find out who the finalists are for the 32nd annual Housing Awards.

Time:
6:00 PM - 11:59 PM (PST)

Location:
Revelry Food+Music Hub, 1383 Ellis St, Kelowna, V1Y 1Z9, Canada

Tickets:
CHBA-CO Members: $95
Non-Members: $150

Don’t miss out on the fun, food, and fantastic entertainment! Grab your BFF and get ready to party like it’s 1985!

For more details and to register:
https://tinyurl.com/builderparty
or
Nancy Dunsmore - (250) 861-3988

🔹 What is it?

Continuous exterior insulation involves adding a layer of unbroken insulation to the exterior of your building, reducing thermal bridging and improving energy efficiency.

🔹Benefits:

Enhanced Thermal Performance: Significantly improve the thermal performance of a building by reducing thermal bridging. This means that heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer are minimized, leading to a more stable indoor temperature.

Reduced Energy Consumption: By improving the thermal performance, continuous exterior insulation helps reduce the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling.

Improved Indoor Comfort: With better thermal performance, the indoor environment becomes more comfortable. There are fewer drafts and cold spots in the winter, and the building stays cooler in the summer.

Protection from Moisture and Temperature Fluctuations: Continuous exterior insulation acts as a protective barrier against moisture and temperature extremes. It helps prevent condensation within the wall assembly, which can lead to mold growth and structural damage. This protection extends the lifespan of the building materials and reduces maintenance costs.

🔹Best Practices:

Ensure a Continuous Barrier: It is crucial to have a continuous air barrier to prevent air leakage, which can compromise the insulation's effectiveness. Proper sealing around windows, doors, and other pe*******ons is essential to maintain the integrity of the air barrier.

Alignment of Insulation Boards: Insulation boards should be installed in a staggered pattern to avoid gaps and ensure complete coverage. This helps to eliminate thermal bridges and provides a more uniform layer of insulation.

Use Compatible Materials: This includes ensuring that the insulation, air barrier, and weather barrier materials work well together to avoid issues with thermal expansion and contraction.

Proper Sealing and Flashing: This includes using high-quality sealants and tapes to seal joints and seams, as well as installing flashing around windows, doors, and other openings to direct water away from the building envelope.

On November 26th at 8:00AM the Community Energy Association is hosting part two of a free, two-part webinar for HVAC contractors on dual fuel (hybrid) heating systems. The sessions will cover topics such as right-sizing systems, equipment selection, balance points, control strategies, and quality installations. While the content is tailored for HVAC contractors, other building professionals are welcome. Attendees can earn CPD points through BC Housing. If you can’t attend, the slide deck and recording will be provided to all registrants.

About the speaker:
Rob began his HVAC career in the mid-1970s, specializing in high-end custom homes. He quickly earned certifications in sheet metal, refrigeration, and gas fitting. Rob was involved in installing and designing early energy-efficient systems like condensing gas furnaces, heat recovery ventilation, heat pumps, and solar thermal systems. Notably, he was the Mechanical Consultant for the first Canadian residence to achieve LEED® certification. He has also been an active industry advocate, serving as an executive member of HVCI and TECA, promoting higher standards and better education.

This month, we’re excited to showcase a standout project by , built in beautiful Summerland and designed to meet Step 5 of the BC Energy Step Code—the highest level of energy efficiency in British Columbia’s building performance standards. This high-performance home is a model of energy-conscious design. A slab on grade with R20 under slab insulation ensures outstanding thermal performance from the ground up. High-performing triple-glazed windows and patio doors further reduce heat loss, while a meticulously designed air barrier system achieves an impressive airtightness of just 0.58 ACH (air changes per hour). Comfort and efficiency continue with a cold climate air-source heat pump, providing energy-efficient heating and cooling, paired with an electric heat pump hot water heater. An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) maintains fresh, filtered air throughout the home, contributing to excellent indoor air quality with minimal energy loss. This project isn’t just about meeting energy efficiency standards—it’s about exceeding them, and by doing so they are eligible to receive $21,300 in rebates. Congratulations to for bringing this vision to life!

www.dmdcontracting.ca

Understanding ASTM E1105

Hey builders and contractors! Want to ensure your projects can handle the elements? ASTM E1105 is your go-to standard for testing the water pe*******on resistance of windows, doors, and curtain walls.

Why it matters:

Real-World Testing: ASTM E1105 uses both uniform and cyclic pressure tests to simulate actual weather conditions, ensuring your installations are up to the task.

Wide Application: This standard applies to windows, skylights, doors, and curtain walls, making it versatile for various parts of your build.

Avoid Delays: By identifying and fixing water pe*******on issues early, you can prevent costly project delays and maintain your schedule.

Quality Assurance: Ensuring your installations meet ASTM E1105 standards means higher quality and durability, which translates to satisfied clients and fewer callbacks.

Stay ahead in quality assurance and keep your builds watertight. Understanding and implementing ASTM E1105 can save you time, money, and headaches down the line. Interested in having your projected tested? Give us a call!

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Planning a heat pump installation?

BC Housing's new guide provides essential tips on sealing and insulating around heat pump pe*******ons to prevent air leaks and moisture buildup. This resource is perfect for professionals aiming to retrofit buildings for optimal energy efficiency and durability. Check out the full guide for detailed diagrams and practical steps! https://tinyurl.com/mwc5scsh

Meet Finesse: Our sister organization and your partner in building performance excellence!

At Finesse, we specialize in ensuring your buildings meet the highest standards of efficiency, comfort, and safety. Here’s a glimpse of the services we offer:

🔹 Whole Building Air Tightness Testing:
We conduct comprehensive air tightness testing and commissioning for apartment buildings, condominium towers, and commercial buildings to ensure code compliance. Testing can also be performed mid construction to assess the performance and integrity of air barrier systems. Our testing ensures compliance with BC Energy Step Code, BC Housing Projects, Built Green Canada, Passive House, LEED, and more.

🔹 Residential HVAC Commissioning:
We ensure your HVAC systems are installed and operating correctly according to design specifications. Our process includes:

Verifying installation
Testing system performance
Making necessary adjustments
Documenting results

This guarantees energy efficiency, reduced operating costs, and enhanced indoor comfort and air quality.

🔹 Commercial and Residential Duct Testing:
Our duct testing services evaluate the airtightness of HVAC duct systems to ensure they are properly sealed and efficient. We follow standards like SMACNA for commercial systems and IECC or HERS for residential systems, aiming to minimize energy loss, improve indoor air quality, and ensure efficient HVAC system operation

🔹 Water Pe*******on Testing:
We test windows and doors for their ability to resist water infiltration under simulated conditions. Using the ASTM E1105 test standard, we ensure your windows can effectively prevent water from entering the building, protecting your interior from potential water damage.

Partner with Finesse for reliable, efficient, and high-quality building performance solutions!

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FortisBC has just launched their 2024 New Home Program webpage!

This program is designed to help builders and developers achieve higher energy efficiency in new home construction, and this page is a great resource for additional information.

The page covers:

- Eligibility requirements
- Home performance rebates
- Support rebates for energy advisors and builders
- Equipment and appliance rebates
- Design offer rebates
- Application process

🔗 Check it out here: https://tinyurl.com/Fortis2024

Exciting Heat Pump News!

The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) announced that all eight manufacturers in the Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge completed rigorous product field testing to demonstrate energy efficiency and improved performance in cold weather. Cold climate heat pumps (CCHPs) developed as part of the challenge could be in homes within the US and Canada by year’s end!

The DOE challenged the industry to create energy-efficient, all-electric HVAC units that thrive in cold winters, breaking the stereotype that heat pumps can’t handle the chill. The goal was to commercialize heat pumps that could deliver as much heat as needed without using auxiliary heating elements. These CCHPs would be capable of operating at –15°C or lower with energy performance well beyond current best-in-class products. During testing some units were operating at temperatures as low as –26°C while still meeting efficiency requirements

In just three years, after rigorous testing in the northern U.S. and Canada, these innovations are ready to hit the market. Six other companies are also in the challenge, with some entering their second winter of field testing. Carrier and Lennox have announced their new cold-climate models are rolling off production lines and should be available in November or December. Bosch’s IDS Ultra, unveiled at CES, is also officially for sale.

“This is a huge achievement,” says Ram Narayanamurthy, deputy director of the DOE’s Building Technologies Office. “Typically, it takes five years to bring a product from concept to market.”

For now, expect these advanced heat pumps to be on the pricier side, but experts predict that competition and scaling will drive prices down in the coming years.

Solve the Pressurized Room Problem for a More Comfortable Home!

Do you have rooms that feel stuffy and uncomfortable when the door is closed? This could be due to pressurized rooms, a common issue in homes with forced-air HVAC systems. When air pressure builds up in a room, it can lead to reduced HVAC efficiency, discomfort, and energy loss. But don’t worry, we’ve got solutions!

Key Solutions:

Install Return Ducts: Adding dedicated return ducts in each bedroom helps balance air pressure by providing a direct path for air to return to the HVAC system.

Use Transfer Grilles or Jump Ducts: These allow air to flow between rooms and the hallway, equalizing pressure.

Under-Cut Doors: Trimming the bottom of doors creates a gap for air to flow out, reducing pressure buildup.

Pressure Relief Vents: These vents allow excess air to escape from pressurized rooms into adjacent spaces.

Balanced Ventilation Systems: Implementing systems like ERVs or HRVs can manage air pressure throughout the house, ensuring balanced airflows.

Addressing pressurized bedrooms is essential for maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient home.

New Refrigerant Regulations in Canada

Refrigerants are vital for cooling and heating applications like air conditioning, refrigeration, and heat pumps. They work by absorbing heat at low temperatures and releasing it at higher temperatures, which is essential for temperature control. Despite their importance, refrigerants have environmental impacts.

To address these concerns, regulations have been established:

Key Regulatory Milestones:
Montreal Protocol (1987): This international treaty aimed to phase out ozone-depleting substances, including CFC and HCFC refrigerants, prompting the transition to HFC refrigerants in the HVAC industry.

Kigali Amendment (2016): This amendment to the Montreal Protocol focuses on phasing down HFCs in favor of lower GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerant alternatives to combat global warming.

Starting January 1st, 2025, chillers in Canada must use refrigerants with a GWP of less than 750. This shift brings in a new category of refrigerants, A2L, which are considered "Lower Flammability." The new regulations will impact both new construction and existing building equipment replacements. While Canada's regulations currently apply only to chillers, U.S. regulations will also influence equipment availability.

Existing equipment using HFCs can still be used, but the move towards decarbonization and electrification means more buildings will start incorporating heating equipment like heat pumps with these new refrigerants.