Stationary energy – in the Comox Valley, primarily in the form of residential buildings – are the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, behind only transportation. Objective 8-A of the Regional Growth Strategy aims to reduce GHG Emissions created by the building sector by 50% by 2030 (from 2007 levels), and a multi-faceted approach is needed to help achieve this.
Background/Strategies
On October 17, 2023, the CVRD Board of Directors approved the Residential Emissions Reduction Action Plan (RERAP). The Action Plan builds off of the Transition 2050 Residential Retrofit Acceleration Strategy and contains six strategies that focus on incentivizing deep energy retrofits, making new construction cleaner and more efficient, and enabling education and capacity-building:
- Implement targeted actions to phase out oil and gas heating through electric heat pump retrofits
- Explore a home energy municipal financing program
- Implement a home energy retrofit concierge program
- Convene an intergovernmental climate action working group
- Promote energy efficient opportunities and requirements in new construction
- Build industry, local government, and homeowner capacity and support education
Work that may impact new construction in the electoral areas (for example, adopting the Zero Carbon Step Code) will involve a new staff report to the Electoral Area Services Committee and will be voted on by electoral area Directors.
Please note: the CVRD only has jurisdiction over building authority within the electoral areas and that this work would not affect any Comox Valley municipality.