WIRL Achieves Passive House Certification
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Bluesky
-
Share on X
- Copy Link
PRINCE GEORGE – The Wood Innovation Research Lab is a marvel in wood construction, but it has recently reached another milestone. It has been awarded passive house certification, the first building of its type in North America to exceed the exacting international standard.
“It is challenging to build a passive house in this area, like in Prince George or Smithers or wherever else because the climate is already challenging. We have to deal with, basically minus 30 in the winter and plus 30 in the summer.”
The certification also sets the bar for future developments and upgrades at the University of Northern BC, which has held the title of Canada’s Green University since 2007.
“BC has a new energy step code and this building is where that code is going to bring us all in fifteen years,” says Dr. David Claus, the assistant Assistant Director of Facilities at UNBC. “So we wanted to see if we can do that now? And what is that going to look like and can we use this as a template for at least the energy standards we want to achieve with any other buildings we build.”
