The Quest to Keep Cool...Advancing a Made in BC Economic Strategy for Transitioning to Heat Pumps in Low-rise Multi-Unit Residential Buildings.
BC’s low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) are home to thousands of residents. Many are low-income and vulnerable to risks from extreme heat and wildfire smoke, rising energy costs, and aging infrastructure. As many within the Phoenix Group recognize, retrofitting these buildings with low-carbon heat pumps achieves numerous benefits:
Health & Safety: Protects residents during extreme weather events like heat waves and improves indoor air quality.
Affordability: Reduces long-term housing and energy costs.
Housing: Discourages displacement of residents by ensuring existing buildings are upgraded to address thermal regulations and other safety and performance issues.
Economic Growth: Creates thousands of skilled jobs and strengthens local industries.
Climate action: Reduces GHG emissions. Scaling up requires coordinated, province-wide leadership and a clear economic development strategy. Over the last 18 months, Urban Climate Leadership, a project of MakeWay, has convened over 200 leaders across private, public and non-profit sectors to help shape and refine solutions to improving the health, safety and resilience of residents living in apartments and condos in BC.
