Kelowna Green Build Solutions Construction Renovations

Ontario leads PV Solar payback

2011-01-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months I have watched the solar industry grow in British Columbia with the help of government incentives. Unfortunately we are still far behind other areas in North America when it comes to Photovoltaic systems, especially grid tie in. A friend in Ontario recently sent me a link (I&MElectric) which outlines their programs for PV Grid Ties. Maybe 2011 will see improvements for British Columbia programs.

http://www.iandmelectric.com/collections/solar-wind-energy-panels-grid-tie

EcoEnergy program to end

2010-04-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

Effective March 31st, the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program is no longer accepting bookings for pre-retrofit evaluations. The program will continue to be administered until March 31, 2011. If you have already booked an appointment for a pre-retrofit evaluation, have completed an evaluation or applied for re-entry to the program, you remain eligible to apply for a grant.

For more information go to http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/grants.cfm?attr=0

www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com

Re-purpose Building Supplies

2010-04-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Are you renovating?

Did you know that you can donate your old kitchen cupboards, bathroom vanities and other building materials to Habitat for Humanity?

Through an arrangement with SC Home Renovation Centre, your donations will be re-sold and a portion of the proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity.
SC Home Renovation Centre is on Hwy 97 between Leathead and McCurdy in the Blue Heights Mall. They carry windows, doors and other used building supplies and can help you save thousands on your next build project. While shopping at SC Home Renovation Centre, watch for the Habitat sticker that means your purchase will help fund building projects in your community. And whether you donate or purchase, you help keep used building materials out of the landfill.

Please call us at 250-762-7303. In most cases, we can arrange for pick-up of your donation. Unfortunately, we cannot accept donations of appliances, lighting fixtures, or furniture at this time.

http://www.habitatforhumanitykelowna.ca/contactus.html

www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com

Extra Solar BC Grants

2010-02-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

SolarBC is happy to announce that incentives for solar hot water will double during February and March, from $1,000 to $2,000. This investment will support the installation of domestic solar water heating systems for the first 200 homes over the next 2-months. So, if you have been wondering about installing solar hot water but haven’t yet taken the plunge, now might be a smart time to do so.

This extra discount to use perhaps in getting solar panels for your own home, or to help show case solar hot water panels on your show home as an additional option for homebuyers.

Rebates/Grants at a glance are:

SolarBC point-of-sale discount: NOW $2,000 (was $1,000)
ecoENERGY rebate: $1250
*Total rebates: $3,250

* For homes with electrically-heated hot water in the FortisBC area there is an additional $300 available. The total covers roughly half the cost of installation depending on the system chosen.

Learn more at www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com or www.solarbc.ca

www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com

EcoEnergy program to end

2010-02-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Be aware that the ecoEnergy program is winding down and the federal government at this time will not be creating a followup program, so do take advantage of the grants and rebates available while possible. The program ends on March 31st 2011, however all installations and final energy audits must be completed before this date and paperwork submitted.

Learn more at

HST - CHBA works towards changes

2009-11-20T08:24:00.001-08:00

Increase of HST threshold a good first step

BURNABY, November 19, 2009 – The Government of B.C. announced today the HST transition rules on housing.

“As a result of the advice you have provided to government and B.C.’s unique real estate conditions, the Province is proposing to increase the threshold for B.C.,” said Colin Hansen, Minister of Finance, in a statement to CHBA BC early today.

The Province is proposing to increase the threshold for the B.C. HST new housing rebate from $400,000 to $525,000 to ensure that, on average, purchasers of new homes up to $525,000 pay no more tax due to harmonization than is currently embedded as PST. Purchasers of new homes would be eligible for a rebate of 71.43 per cent of the provincial portion of the HST paid on a new home, up to a maximum of $26,250. Homes above $525,000 would receive a flat rebate of $26,250 or the same 5% that CHBA BC has recommended. This enhanced rebate represents a 30 per cent increase in the threshold and maximum rebate available.

“CHBA BC has worked diligently to ensure meaningful change to the HST threshold and we are pleased that government has acknowledged our recommendations in their final decision. We will over the next two years continue to compile empirical data to demonstrate to government that this threshold sill needs to be raised. Indexing will also be top of mind as we continue lobbying,” said Bob Deeks, President of CHBA BC.

The Province is also proposing transitional rules for new housing. The provincial portion of the HST would not apply to sales of new homes where ownership or possession is transferred before July 1, 2010.

CHBA BC suggested to government that new houses should be entitled to grandparenting up to July 1, 2010. Grandparenting rules issued in today’s notice state that sales of newly constructed or substantially renovated homes would be grandparented where the written agreements of purchase and sale are entered into on or before November 18, 2009 and both ownership and possession of the homes are transferred under the agreement after June 2010.

For more information on new housing rebates and transitional rules for B.C. HST, please visit www.sbr.gov.bc.ca.

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC, a viable industry driven organization, is the voice of the residential construction industry in BC, and is built on a vision of strong and positive roles for the housing industry. CHBA BC is committed to supporting the professionalism of our over 1700 members and providing affordability, quality and choice for consumers. CHBA BC’s voluntary membership comprises builders, developers, renovators, suppliers and other professionals who are dedicated to industry excellence.

Further Information
Nafisa Abdulla, Director of Communications
Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC
604.432.7112

Green Roofs in the Okanagan Kelowna

2009-11-18T05:57:00.000-08:00

If you are a homeowner or commercial building owner and you are looking to replace your roof there is a new option out there for you to consider, and that is to replace your existing roof with a green roof.
A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves a high quality water proofing and root repellent system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants.
Modern green roof systems were developed in Europe in the 1970’s and they have become very popular. In certain cities in Europe, green roofs are mandated for all new construction. In North America, the benefits of green roof technologies are poorly understood and the market remains immature, despite the efforts of several industry leaders. However, this is changing rapidly in some areas, such as Vancouver, which has over four hundred thousand sq. ft. of green roofs within its boundaries.
Some of the benefits of green roofs are:
• Protection of roof membrane resulting in a longer material lifespan (it is estimated that green roofs will last up to twice as long as conventional roofs), resulting in decreased maintenance and savings in replacement costs.
• Savings on energy heating and cooling costs, depending on the size of the building, climate and type of green roof. Studies at BCIT have found up to a 66 % reduction in cooling costs on a one story building.
• Improves air quality and lowers ambient temperature
• Storm water retention
• Beautifying and reclaiming unused space
• Increased property value
While there are some challenges adapting green roofs to the Okanagan climate, these can be overcome by proper planning and selection of plants.

To learn more contact Jim Frank of Okanagan Living Roofs & Walls
250 826 6814
okroofsandwalls@yahoo.ca

or contact www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com

Going Greener will save you money - Okanagan workshop

2009-10-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

Mark you calendars for the Working Greener Workshop this November 10, 2009 at the Delta Grand Resort in Kelowna, BC.

Learn how going green can reduce operating costs, increase competitive edge and a positive work culture.

Learn more about green design and building at www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com

Okanagan - Stop wasting water

2009-10-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

By Adrian Nieoczym
http://www.kelowna.com/2009/09/30/change-your-water-wasting-ways-b-c-or-be-left-high-and-dry-report/

A major water crisis is coming to British Columbia unless we change how this vital resource is managed, says a new report. And we’re going to feel it in the Okanagan first.

In a report released last week, the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council points out that B.C.’s population is growing, our rates of water consumption are among the highest in the world and that climate change is leading to hotter weather and smaller snowpacks, further reducing the supply of freshwater.

“Water scarcity undermines the viability of our communities and the health of our streams,” it says. The Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council is an independent advisory body set up by the federal government.

Valley residents have already had a hint of what is to come, according to the report. For example, in 2003, the town of Summerland had to release water from its storage facilities into Trout Creek to save fish. As a result, less water was available for farmers.

The report also says that areas of the province which with the fastest growing populations – like the Okanagan- are also the ones reaching their limits on water use the fastest.

“First and foremost, I think the report really emphasizes the need to start looking at water as an increasingly scarce resource and it also highlights the fact that we have to manage our water resources more efficiently so we can better balance the needs of people, industry and agriculture on one hand and the needs of rivers and fish on the other,” said Mark Angelo, PFRCC chairman and head of the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Department at BCIT.

The particularly hot and dry weather this summer has only made things worse. “There are a lot of streams running at really low levels,” said Angelo. “In many cases that’s exacerbated by excessive water withdrawals.”

Angelo noted that the provincial government recently curtailed water extraction from the Nicola River because low water flows were threatening Kokanee populations. The lower water volumes makes it harder for fish to swim upstream, increases water temperature and reduces the amount of habitat.

B.C.’s excessive water consumption is made worse by our growing population.

“We tend to use well over 300 litres per person, per day, so I think there’s lots of room to try and use water more efficiently,” said Angelo.

Part of the solution is providing financial incentives for people to conserve water, according to Angelo, who would like to see more water meters installed, like those in the City of Kelowna, so people pay for the water they actually use.

He also suggested instituting different pricing tiers so “excessive” users pay more for the extra water they consume.

Angelo also said the province’s Water Act, which dates back to 1909, is in dire need of updating. “It has to be revised to deal with the present day realities.”

The act currently only deals with how water extraction licenses are allocated, he said. “It’s virtually silent on things like the need to maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems and it’s virtually silent on the need to protect fish.”

Many license holders do not use all the water they are entitled to, but if they did, many of B.C.’s rivers and streams would be drained.

“On the Nicola [river], if all of those licenses were used to their maximum potential, you would have a stream that would be close to dry,” said Angelo.

The coming water woes will be felt throughout the province but are likely to hit the the valley first, said Angelo.

“The Okanagan is one of the great places in the entire world to live but you’re seeing some dramatic increases in population. Your precipitation levels, though, are less than other parts of the province,”he said, adding that climate change is exacerbating the challenges. “You are going to see pressures and stresses on water supplies probably sooner – you’re already seeing them- and if anything those pressures or stresses are going to be greater in the Okanagan.”

adrian@kelowna.com

250-575-3517

Want to learn more about water conservation and green building - www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com

BC Hydro Commercial Building Incentives for Kelowna - Okanagan

2009-07-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

Effective June 1st, 2009

The Product Incentive Program provides financial incentives to organizations who replace inefficient products with energy-efficient technologies or add on products to existing systems to make them more efficient. Not all products are eligible. Please contact the BC Hydro web site at bchydro.com/incentives for all program policies, eligible products and performance criteria before purchasing products.

For more information, call 1 866 522 4713

For more information on green building and weblinks go to:
www.flywheelbuildingsolution.com

Kelowna Build Alert - Dual Smoke Sensor Smoke Alarm Recall

2009-07-25T08:39:00.001-07:00

CPSC announced the recall of 94,000 dual sensor smoke alarms; the recall indicates an electrostatic discharge can damage the unit, causing it not to warn consumers of a fire. The smoke alarm were marked with the UL Listing Marks for the United States and Canada.

The recall can be viewed at:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09266.html

Buying Recreational Property – Philippe Daigle Has the Advice You Need

2009-07-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

Summer’s here, and many Canadians are taking a look at the investment and lifestyle benefits of recreational property. Whether your perfect place is a cottage by the lake or a cabin in the mountains, you should be able to obtain financing on a second home with the same terms as financing on your principal residence.

How much you can afford to borrow depends on the size of your down payment, your income, mortgage interest rates, as well as your other financial obligations. A mortgage consultant can obtain a mortgage pre-approval, which will give you a clear sense of how much you can reasonably spend.
With a growing number of mortgage options on the Canadian market, as a prospective borrower you should understand your financing options. Emotion shouldn’t trump common sense when it comes to buying vacation property. Buyers need to do their mortgage homework, and the advice of a mortgage consultant can help them get the most for their vacation home dollar.

Philippe Daigle
250 801 1279
philippedaigle@invis.ca
http://philippedaigle.blogspot.com

Homeowners In The Okanagan Are Going Solar Together

2009-06-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

As taken from the BC Solar E-news June 2009

The Okanagan is heating up – and not just literally! The interior is now home to the first official solar hot water bulk buy in British Columbia, headed by Roger and Susan Huber of Swiss Solar Tech. The 24 homeowners on board are taking advantage of the additional incentives for groups of 20 or more.

"We didn’t expect to bring in the first official batch," said Susan Huber of their accomplishment. "But it feels great and we truly hope we can repeat this soon with another appeal to homeowners in the Okanagan." According to Susan, they managed to gather the homeowners by advertising, and by phoning up those who had an interest in solar hot water – some who had expressed their interest up to ten years ago.

Read more.....

SAVE WATER, TIME, MONEY!! SYLAWN

2009-06-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

SYNLawn is hosting an Open House this Saturday, June 6th at our showroom located on McCurdy Corner.

This is a FREE event! SYNLawn will be supplying cold beverages, hot dogs, hamburgers and snacks with any proceeds going towards this weekend's 'Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life'.

With a variety of applications from landscape grass to putting greens to playground systems, SYNLawn is a great fit for any project.

This is a great chance to get out of the house, learn a bit about SYNLawn, and help us raise funds to further support a great local event!

For more information contact:
Rene Bourgault at 250.765.4032

SYNLawn Showroom
#140-948 McCurdy Rd
Kelowna, BC

Mortgage Rates - 5 year fixed may rise - Laurie Baird

2009-05-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

The following information was forwarded to me by Laurie Baird

5-year bond yields have jumped to 2.27%--up 40 basis points in the last 30 days. As a result, mortgage funding costs are spiking (fixed mortgage rates are generally linked to bond yields).

A few smaller lenders have already raised, or plan to raise, their 5-year fixed rates. As reported a few weeks ago, this may be a precursor to further, more wide-scale, rate increases.

Laurie Baird
(250)469-1611
1405 A Richter St, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 2L9
mtggal@telus.net
Visit our Blog: http://okanaganmortgageteam.blogspot.com

New pool pump technology cuts noise and energy consumption by 75%..

2009-05-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

Here is some interesting information from Gene Brown of Valley Pools

Greetings,

I don't know if "pool equipment noise" has been a concern for you on any of your projects. Some municipalities are getting so fed up with complaints of noisy pool pumps that they've mandated sound enclosures for all pool equipments. My partner Skip and I laugh at the ridiculousness of these efforts, when such an easy solution is available.

At least one of the leading pool equipment manufacturers has come out with a new "Variable Frequency Drive" pump design that has brought pump noise down to a whisper. By no great surprise, the electrical consumption has dropped dramatically as well. We've been using these new pumps for more than three years now, and getting outstanding results.

Admittedly, these new pumps aren't just "plug & play. The overall success of this new technology is dependent on three things. It requires:

An intelligent hydraulics design
Highly efficient, oversized plumbing
Proper programming for slightly longer running times at significantly lower amperages
If "noise abatement" and/or "energy efficiency" have been a concern for you on any of your projects, you may want to take a closer look at the attached article, where Skip describes the concepts and challenges in greater detail. Or give us a call. We're happy to help you with any pool-related design or construction challenges.
Till next time,

Gene Brown
President, Valley Pool And Spa

Solar BC - Kelowna Solar Workshop

2009-05-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

On May 15 Kelowna will be hosting a Solar Hot Water Workshop for community members, developers, builders, contractors, architects and building inspectors.

Location - Capri Hotel from 7:30 to 4:30

Between a luncheon and networking session workshops will cover everything from Kelowna as a Solar Community to homeowner incentives for solar hot water installations.

Keynote speaker and reknonwned solar expert Gerhard Stryi-Hipp, will be receiving a 2009 Solar Leader Award during the event.

Gerhard Stryi-Hipp is Managing Director of the German Solar Industry Association. He is a senior expert in solar market development and also a board member of the European Solar Thermal Industry Association, chairman of the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform, and member of the European Photovoltaic Technology Platform.

Panel members will include Mayor Sheppard, BCSEA president Guy Dauncey, SolarBC's Nitya Harris, members of NRCAN, Fortis BC and the Provincial Government.

Fore more information contact: Carol Suhan (250 469 8116/carol.Shuhan@fortisbc.com) or David Mayes (250 762 4746 or david@completehomeenergy.com)

Geothermal - GeoExchange Conference and Workshop

2009-05-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

The 3^rd Biennial International GeoExchange Conference and Trade Show May 13 – 15, 2009 is being held by GeoExchange BC in partnership with the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association (TECA). Through the collaboration of these two key organizations the conference aim is to bring you the latest news, knowledge and innovation in GeoExchange from the earth energy source to the point of use supply.

The 2009 conference will be held at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus in Kelowna. This newly developed campus, featuring a state of the art GeoExchange heating and cooling system, will host the trade show, technical sessions and delegate accommodation. Fabulous scenery, excellent recreational opportunities and an exciting conference social program will ensure the 3rd Biennial International GeoExchange Conference and Trade Show remains an unforgettable experience.

For more information contact
Rachel Bolongaro, P.Eng.
Telephone: (604) 308–4805
Email: geoexchange2009@advance-group.com

Okanagan Institute - Clean Tech Funding Workshop

2009-05-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

CleanTech Funding Workshop

Monday, May 11, 1-5pm
Okanagan College, KLO Campus, Kelowna
This is a free event but registration is required.

Presented by the Okanagan Science and Technology Council in association with the Okanagan Institute and Okanagan College.

Invited Agencies making presentations include: CMHC, SDTC, Community Futures, NSERC, ICE Fund, NRC-IRAP, Clean Tech Venture Capital Program

The Okanagan Science and Technology Council has been working with its regional partners to develop a cluster for "Clean Tech Construction." This initiative recognizes the fact that construction has been a driving force in the Okanagan Valley and that designing and constructing green buildings is the most efficient and cost-effective means of reducing greenhouse gases and other negative environmental factors. This is based on the fact that it far easier and less expensive to conserve a kilowatt of energy than it is to generate a new one.

Nonetheless the Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is not always thought of as "Clean Tech" and many practitioners are not aware of the significant funding opportunities that they could access in the Clean Tech sector. While adding alternative energy sources such as solar panels to buildings is an obvious example, improved building envelope design and even the metering and monitoring of buildings for energy efficiency would both have significant impacts.

Following a template developed for the CleanTech Innovation Workshop held in March of this year, each presenter make a 5 to 10 minute overview of their programs and then we will provide break out rooms for representatives of each program to meet with interested parties.

Format and Schedule:
1 - 2 pm - 5-10 minute presentations by each agency
2 - 4 pm - Agency Breakouts - each speaker to meet with individuals
4 - 5 pm - Panel discussion and wrap up

For more information visit or contact Angela Hapke, OSTEC Projects and Events Director:
p. 250.712.3341
e. ahapke@ostec.ca

A Sustainable Kelowna - 2030 Greening our Future

2009-03-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

What will Kelowna be like in 2030? How can we make sure our children will still want to live here when they grow up?
How can we be more sustainable? How can we protect the environment, eliminate gridlock, and enhance the economy, all at the same time? They're important questions, and they're really best answered by you, the people who live here.
As part of the City's new public planning program called Kelowna 2030: Greening Our Future, they are looking for input from a wide range of citizens and groups.

Window PST exemption extended to 2011

2009-02-18T07:39:00.000-08:00

t was announced in today's budget that the exemption for energy efficient windows will be extended until 2011.

This correspondence describes how the Ministry interprets the relevant tax provisions for information purposes only. This ruling and interpretation may be impacted by variations in circumstance, subsequent changes to legislation or subsequent court decisions. This ruling and interpretation is provided as an aid to understanding the legislation and is not intended to replace the legislation. The Ministry is not responsible for updating this ruling and interpretation if there are any subsequent changes to the law.

Policy and Legislation Branch (Consumption Tax Team)
Ministry of Finance
http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/rev.htm
__________________________________________

Certification Requirements for BC House Inspectors

2009-02-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

STTBC and BCIPI Respond to Requirement for House Inspectors to be Licensed

The BC Minister of Public Safety John van Dongen announced on Friday January 30, 2009 that effective March 31, 2009 all house inspectors MUST be licensed in BC, a first in Canada. The Regulation provides that those certified by ASTTBC will qualify for a license. CAHPI(BC) and the National Certification Program are also named. House inspectors certified with ASTTBC will be able to apply to the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority for a license. The fee will be $100 and will be valid for 3 years. “This is an historic day in BC. I congratulate the Minister for his leadership in getting this done. ASTTBC and BCIPI have been calling for licensing for years so this represents a great step forward,” said ASTTBC’s Executive Director, John Leech. “ASTTBC will prepare full information for its members in the next week or two to make sure ASTTBC-registered house inspectors are able to get licensed without delay once the processes are fully defined.” BCIPI President Noel Murphy added that licensing is a first step to a higher quality of service for all British Columbians seeking house inspection services. “On behalf of BCIPI I am pleased that the Government has acted on their promise to license inspectors. Because of the high standards established by ASTTBC in partnership with BCIPI our members are the best qualified in BC and will most certainly be sought out by consumers to offer services as a house inspector.” For full details please go to http://www.bpcpa.ca

The regulation goes a long way to ensure the public has access to qualified, registered and accountable professionals, but it is not without some challenges going forward. “There are a couple of issues that will need to be addressed as we work together with the BPCPA to ensure the most effective Regulation and professional regulation: (1) there will not be one common standard for licensing; and (2) the complaints and professional regulation framework varies between the organizations identified in the Regulation. We need to move quickly to a level playing field to ensure best practices in this field,” said John Leech. “I have assured the Minister, Ministry staff and the Director of BPCPA that ASTTBC will continue to work cooperatively toward the highest standards of professional regulation in BC. Information will be made available to all ASTTBC-registered House Inspectors as needed to meet the requirements of the Regulation. Information will also be posted to ASTTBC and BCIPI web sites: http://www.asttbc.org/docs/govpressrelease.pdf

Claim 15% Tax Credit on Renovation Projects Kelowna

2009-01-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

Homeowners can claim 15% of costs on projects worth $1,000 to $10,000 on top of the grants offered by the Livesmart & ecoenergy programs and local utility providers.

To learn more on unlocking the potential of your home go to www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com

Madhavi Acharya
Tom Yew
Dana Flavelle
BUSINESS REPORTERS

OTTAWA–Installing a new furnace this year? Building a deck?

The proposed federal budget offers a temporary new tax credit for your home renovations – provided you do them soon.

The Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) is designed to get Canadians spending now to help create jobs in industries typically hurt by an economic downturn.

"These measures to support home construction and renovation will help stimulate our construction and building-supplies industries," Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in his speech. "This in turn will support forestry and other Canadian industries. It will give an immediate boost to our economy, and help to create jobs."

Effective today through Jan. 31, 2010, homeowners can claim a tax credit for 15 per cent of renovation expenses between $1,000 and $10,000. The maximum tax credit (on $9,000 in renovations) is worth $1,350.

The government estimated the total value of the tax credit at about $3 billion, and expects about 4.6 million families to benefit.

The tax credit would apply to a variety of home improvements, such as renovating a kitchen, bathroom or basement, new carpet or hardwood floors, building an addition, deck, or fence, installing a new furnace, painting the inside or outside of a house, or laying new sod.

Expenses such as building permits, professional services, and equipment rentals are also eligible. Routine repairs and maintenance will not qualify for the credit. Nor will the cost of purchasing furniture, appliances, electronics, or construction equipment.

Houses, cottages and condominium units owned for personal use are eligible.

Reel Change Sustainability Film Fest, Kelowna

2009-01-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

Ken Kunka of Flywheel Building Solutions will be one of the guest panelists at the first annual Reel Change Sustainability Film Fest hosted by the Fresh Outlook Foundation. This event will take place at the Kelowna Rotary Centre Jan 30 and 31st, 2009.

For more detailed information go to www.freshoutlookfoundaiton.org

Federal Budget to help improve homes

2009-01-21T08:16:00.000-08:00

This info was forwarded to me by Westside mortgage expert Philippe Daigle http://www.philippedaigle.com

OTTAWA — The Harper government has been floating the idea of a tax credit for home renovations - an idea that could deliver significant stimulus for Canada's residential construction industry in the Jan. 27 budget.

Deliberations continue as Canada's premiers meet today in Ottawa to put the final touches on a budget request for Prime Minister Stephen Harper - one that sources say will include more cash for employment training, more benefits for the jobless and extra funding for infrastructure.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, meanwhile, has been conducting his own consultation on the looming budget, expected to deliver up to $30-billion in stimulus to soften an economic downturn.

During a closed-door session in Montreal last week, Mr. Flaherty asked participants' opinion on a partly refundable tax credit for renovations. Some economists among the more than 20 attendees criticized the proposal while representatives of the building-trades sector lauded it. Tax credits can be used to reduce the amount of taxes a person owes to the government, but refundable tax credits can benefit filers even if they have no taxes to be paid; in that case, they could get a refund based on the credit.

Kelowna Home Show

2009-01-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

Flywheel Building Solutions is excited to be part of the Kelowna Home Show running Feb 27th thru to March 01 at Prospera Place. It is gearing up to be one of the largest in years and is consistantly the most attended Home Shows in the valley.

This year the Home Show features some excellent experts ....

Host of DISASTER DIY on HGTV BRYAN BAEUMLER is part of the new breed of contractors who are passionate, dedicated, and have a plan to execute. Bryan's mantra in his own contracting business is ‘Design, Destroy, Rebuild’ and he will bring a fresh vitality to the presentation stage this year. Saturday and Sunday only. Sponsored By Terasen Gas

JANE LOCKHARTcomes straight from her popular TV show on W, ‘Colour Confidential’ to join us at the KELOWNA HOME SHOW for the first time, with great new ideas on colour, decor and style trends for today and tomorrow. Appearances Friday and Saturday only.

DON BURNETT - ‘Going GREEN’is nothing new to Don, who has been dispensing sage advice about keeping our outside environment of trees, schrubs, gardens and landscaping healthy, green and beautiful.

Ken Kunka AScT,BCQ
President
Flywheel Building Solutions
http://www.flywheelbuildingsolutions.com/
250 859 6062

Flywheel - Habitat Set to Build Green in Penticton

2009-01-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

The South Okanagan chapter is preparing to build it’s second home this spring in Penticton. Building upon the lessons learned from its first build in 2007, Habitat is looking forward to partnering with Okanagan College this spring. Students from the carpentry program will be bringing the house up to lock-up stage but many volunteers are still needed to complete the building and landscaping. The following Video will explain the next program and family. http://www.habitatsouthokanagan.ca/movies/habitatnew.mov

Unfortunately the modern design proposed by Architect Cal Meiklejohn cannot be used with the building scheme restrictions for the new lot, but Habitat is looking to incorporate sustainable building practices and products as outlined in the “Built Green” program (www.builtgreencanada.ca).

Flywheel Building Solutions is proud to donate $400 towards this build plus assisting in the design and project coordination.

If you would like to learn more about Habitat for Humanity or volunteer please go to http://www.habitatsouthokanagan.ca . Habitat is also looking for gifts-in-kind, particularly towards “green” products.

Flywheel - Economy - Inflation vs Deflation

2009-01-10T07:17:00.000-08:00

This information was forwarded to me by Laurie Baird of Okanagan Mortgages.com

Canadians not deflated about economic outlook

Jacqueline Thorpe, Financial Post Deflation may be public enemy number one among central bankers, monetary policy wonks and bond market aficionados, but a survey shows it has not even a blip on the average Canadian's radar screen.

The poll released Wednesday shows 50% of Canadians expect inflation to increase over the next year, versus 21% who expect the current recession to be deflationary.

The finding, contained in Pollara Inc.'s annual financial outlook survey, underscores the grip inflation continues to hold on the Canadian psyche. It could ultimately be a good thing, providing a bulwark against deflation -- a downward spiral in prices caused by consumers delaying purchases in anticipation of cheaper goods in the future. Deflation can become debilitating if it causes companies to cut production and employment, leading to ever-weaker output.

That inflation, rather than deflation, is still the main concern for Canadians could be understandable if the survey were conducted last summer when commodity prices were soaring and gasoline roared across $1 a litre, but the poll of 2,670 people was conducted between Dec. 11 and 15, 2008. That was after gas prices had tumbled, sale signs filled shopping malls, stock markets had tanked, house prices were beginning to fall and constant talk of depression and deflation filled the airwaves.

After decades of worrying about inflation, it could be that Canadians have not yet wrapped their heads around the idea that prices can also materially drop.

It could also be that with the domestic economy in relatively better shape than in the United States, Canadians simply do not see deflation posing as much of a threat as south of the border. There, the U.S. Federal Reserve has pulled out all the stops to try to prevent deflation, including cutting interest rates to nearly zero.

Meanwhile, it is hard for any average consumer to see lower prices as a threat.

"Nobody understands deflation can be bad for them because they don't recognize it could also involve their pay cheque," said Avery Shenfeld, senior economist at CIBC World Markets.

Mr. Shenfeld was among a panel economists who attended the release of the survey at an Economic Club of Toronto outlook on Wednesday.

"The reason prices are falling is usually that the economy is in a mess."

The Bank of Canada could take some heart in the perception that deflation is not considered as big a threat as policymakers or the media do. For deflation to become dangerous it has to seep into the consciousness, causing consumers to curtail purchases.

"Inflation expectations tend to be pretty sticky in both directions which is actually good thing for public policy," Mr. Shenfeld said.

While deflation is no big threat, the survey, with a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points 19 times out of 20, shows Canadians see many economic demons over the next year: A record high 91% believe the economy is in recession; almost a third believe the recession will last 13 to 18 months; 68% believe employment will worsen while 31% believe either it somewhat likely or very likely someone in their household may lose a job.

Oddly, many Canadians still expect their personal financial situation to be maintained or even improved in 2009, said Michael Marzolini, chairman of Pollara. This could be because the Canadian unemployment rate has not dramatically soared yet.

Canadians are all government interventionists now, survey data show.

"The villains are on Wall Street or in Washington," Mr. Marzolini said of the average perception. "The current solution is direct government intervention, spending on infrastructure job retraining, tax cuts and even bailouts and protectionism.

Flywheel - Budget - American Greenbacks

2008-12-17T11:52:00.000-08:00

This information was forwarded to me by Laurie Baird of Okanagan Mortgages.com

The Cupboard is almost bare

For the first time in its history, the U.S. Federal Reserve is effectively giving away money
· TSX +262.28pts (Reuters) TSX index surged more than 3% in a broad rally after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut its target for overnight interest rates to a record low range of zero to 0.25% and said it would do everything it can to chase away the economic gloom.

· DOW +359.61pts

· Dollar +2.02c to $83.21US. as sentiment toward the US dollar darkened with the Fed’s gloomy announcement that it will stop at nothing to flood the financial system with greenbacks

· Oil -$.91 to $44.51US per barrel.

· Gold +$6.30 to $841.70US per ounce
www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/bond-look.html Canadian bond prices

The net worth of Canadian households fell by about $191 billion in the third quarter, and it's likely to have gotten worse as stock prices tumbled in the current three-month period. Bank of Montreal economist Doug Porter said that, although people don't tend to adjust their consumer spending in direct relation to their net worth, a decline in net worth will negatively impact the economy as ordinary Canadians tighten their wallets.

"As the stock market continued to weaken, it became obvious that it would have an effect, not just on consumer behaviour but also on business behaviour,'' Porter said in an interview. "I do think it was the intense financial market turmoil we saw over the fall that really played a big role in tipping the global economy into a full-fledged recession.''

Fed tries to steer economy out of long recession

Alia McMullen, National Post For the first time in its history, the U.S. Federal Reserve is effectively giving away money.

The central bank took the unprecedented step yesterday of slashing its benchmark interest rate to an extraordinarily low range of zero to a quarter per cent on Tuesday in an attempt to prevent the world's largest economy from suffering a long and painful recession.

"This is an historic move and it will go down in the annals of Fed history as the most aggressive attempt ever to reverse a deep recession, prevent deflation and spur financial-market re-normalization," said Sherry Cooper, the chief economist at BMO Capital Markets.

Stock indexes surged on the Fed action, with the Dow Jones industrial average up 4.2% to 8,924.14 and the S&P500 up 5.1% at 913.18. This helped to boost the S&P/TSX Composite Index 3.1% to 8,724.11.

The move had immediate benefits for fixed mortgage rates, with the long-term bond rates on which they are set tumbling on the Fed's signal that it would keep interest rates at an exceptionally low level for some time.

The Fed cut the Federal Funds Rate, at which the banks lend to each other, from 1% to a range of 0% to 0.25%. The reduction surpasses the previous low of half a per cent set during the Second World War, a sign of just how serious the current U.S. recession is.

"With every layoff announcement and stock market decline, consumer confidence drops," Ms. Cooper said. "It will take a mighty effort by central banks and government authorities to drag the global economy out of this ditch, but with the stimulus we are likely to see in coming months [from central banks and governments], the economy will hopefully bottom around midyear 2009 followed by a sluggish recovery in the second half and moderate growth in 2010."

But with no more room to cut rates, the Fed will embark on a new strategy to stimulate the economy by pulling "all available tools" out of its box. For the first time in its 95-year history, the Fed plans to buy debt from mortgage insurers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as well as mortgage-backed securities to help reduce mortgage rates. It also plans to provide additional funds for households, homeowners and small businesses.

For now, the Fed's efforts appear to be working. Yields on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 30-year fixed mortgage bonds as well as government 10-year and 30-year Treasuries -- which have a direct impact on fixed mortgage rates -- declined to record lows on Tuesday. These rates had been surging, despite official interest rate cuts, because investors had been looking for a safe haven to park their money and ride out the financial crisis.

Michael Englund, the chief economist at Action Economics in Boulder, Colo., said the Fed's plan to purchase mortgage-backed securities and possibly government Treasuries as well as their pledge to keep interest rates low would continue to put downward pressure on fixed mortgage rates and eventually help to stimulate the U.S. housing market.

However, problems in the U.S. economy stretch further than the deep housing slump. Economists expect the Fed to also begin to print money in an effort to prevent consumer prices from falling into a dangerous downward spiral. This alternative method of boosting the flow of money in the economy is known as quantitative easing, a strategy developed by the Bank of Japan during its lost decade of zero interest rates and price deflation.

Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at MFR in New York, said the Fed was clearly trying to fight off deflation, which is a persistent decline in consumer prices that comes hand in hand with job losses, wage cuts and a devaluation of money.

"The action taken [Tuesday] and the quantitative easing moves to come speak volumes about just how petrified policymakers are that the economy is in danger of sliding into a deflationary spiral that would be disastrous considering the highly leveraged condition of the economy," said.

The risk of deflation was evident just hours before the Fed's announcement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices for November fell a record 1.7% from the previous month, taking the annual rate to the 43-year low of 1.1% equalled in 1986 and 2002.

Mr. Shapiro expects the Fed to ultimately beat inflation, but he had a very pessimistic outlook for the U.S. economy. He predicted the economy to remain in a recession that could possibly extend past 2010.

Laurie Baird

(250)469-1611

1405 A Richter St, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 2L9

mtggal@telus.net

Flywheel - Built Green

2008-10-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Ken Kunka of Flywheel Building Solutions has just passed the Built Green Training Course and looks forward to working towards certification as a Certified Energy Advisor this November.

For more information on Built Green Canada go to http://www.builtgreencanada.ca

Flywheel - Okanagan - Green Education Events

2008-08-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some local workshops and lectures coming up in our area over the next few months

Pathway to a Living Future - Presented by Casciadia Thompson Okanagan Chapter
September 10th - Kelowna
Click here to learn more or Register
Guest Speaker Jason McLennan, CEO, Cascadia Region Green Building Council
http://www.cascadiagbc.org
Jason was recently featured in the July edition of Dwell Magazine on the topic of eco-toilets

Built-Green Course - hosted by the Canadian Home Builders Association of BC
Aug 21/22nd - Kamloops
Click here for Class information

Greening the Buidling Code - Are You Ready for the September - by the HomeOwner Protection Office (HPO)
September workshops
Click here in case you missed the summer workshops

"Greening the Building Code" - Hosted by Building Officials Association of BC (BOABC)
September 11 - Kelowna
September 10 - Kamloops
Click here for more info.

Introduction to Energy Modelling - Lighthouse - Sustainable Building Centre
Click here for more info
Oct 22, 2008, 12-5pm, Lake Okanagan Resort, 2751 Westside Road, Kelowna

Building Energy Simulation Software - Lighthouse - Sustainable Building Centre
Click here for more info
Oct 23-24, 2008, 8am-5pm, Lake Okanagan Resort, 2751 Westside Road, Kelowna

Flywheel - Solar Village in South Korea

2008-07-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Article found on http://www.ecospace.cc/
Donggwang is a completely energy independent village located on the western half of Jeju-do island, the largest of South Korea’s semi-tropical southern islands. The picturesque island is also home to Halla Mountain, a volcano that rises from the center of the island, and is the tallest mountain in South Korea.

Large beds of photovoltaic panels can be found on each of the 40 houses in Donggwang generating all the power necessary for the village to run. Even the local elementary school runs on free electric energy from the sun. In 2004, the government paid for 70% of the installation fees to help create the state-of-the-art renewable energy village.
Choo Chan Lee a resident of Donggwang and former successful grocery store owner in New York describes what he likes best about his chosen place of retirement,

“In Jeju we don’t have many factories, so the air is very nice. Very nice environment. The motto is a clean city - clean island. They’re trying to do this solar and then the windmills. My favorite part of living in Jeju is the fresh air. The clean air.” (Ecoworldly)

Donggwang sets an incredible example of the potential for clean renewable energy systems in an area of the world that is typically overshadowed by China’s excessive pollution.

Village’s such as Donggwang and a town in Missouri that is running on 100% wind power are no longer distant goals, but a reality, and a direction we must actively pursue in order to balance our existence on this Earth.

FLYWHEEL Building Solutions works with you, the HOMEOWNER

2008-07-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

Are you planning on buying, building or renovating in the Okanagan?

How much time and money are you willing to waste?

Time is one of the most important factors in any building project and Flywheel Building Solutions helps you minimize time wasted and maximize the work done in a creative and professional manner.

Flywheel supports you through the planning and growth of your project by focusing on the key areas of: Code, Design and Build. You have a goal, a dream, a vision; Flywheel can help you achieve that goal with attention to detail from the planning phase to completion, we keep your project on track and on time.

"We put your building projects into gear!"

Greywater is Greenwater

2008-04-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

Grey water, also spelled graywater, is wastewater generated from processes such as showering, bathing and laundry. Greywater gets its name from its cloudy appearance and from its status as being neither fresh (white water from groundwater or potable water), nor heavily polluted (blackwater). Greywater can be used for internal use for toilets and or for irrigation use. There are also programs for rainwater recycling.

As Greywater recycling is soon becoming a necessity and a mandatory requirement in many countries (see links below). Canada has been slow in developing and adopting a grey water standard. With the changes to the 2006 BC Building Code, local jurisdictions can make rulings to allow for grey water systems as an alternative solution. Kelowna is one municipality who has allowed the use of Brac Systems - Grey Water Recycling

When recently speaking with local BRAC representative Blair Gautschi, he stated that more people are becoming aware of the growing water problems facing us in the Okanagan (The Okanagan could double in population by the year 2020). However there has been much resistance in establishing a valley wide grey water program because of a lack of urgency due to our seemingly abundant fresh water supply, a resistance to change and the risk of liability if something goes wrong. The Canadian government has recently prepared a draft grey water recycling standard and hopefully more jurisdictions will take the initiative to introduce recycling programs in their areas.

For more information on BRAC or Grey Water recycling contact:

Blair Gautschi, Master Plumber
Excel Ventures, BRAC Systems Inc.
250 212 9750
excel@bracsystems.com
http://www.bracsystemsbc.com/

Suggested Links to review

Australia - http://www.greywaterreuse.com.au

Video on Middle East water crisis - http://www.rana.lilypadresources.com/greywater/upehi.html

Grey water info - http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/index.htm

Grey water codes - http://www.resourcecenter.pnl.gov/cocoon/morf/ResourceCenter/article/1638

FLYWHEEL Building Solutions - Alternative Building Practices - Rammed Earth

2008-04-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

When thinking about an article on alternative building practices I instantly thought of Nicholas Hill and Grant Tweter of Solum Rammed Earth Homes. Rammed earth (RE), also known as pisé de terre or simply pisé, is a type of construction material. RE has been used for centuries to build dwellings and monuments in many parts of the world.

Many ancient buildings stand today as a testament to the durability of this natural and environmentally sustainable building material.It is an age-old building method that has seen a revival in recent years as people seek low-impact building materials and natural building methods.

Modern RE is much improved with technological advancements in the equipment used to test, mix, form and compact the material. Structural RE walls which are engineered to meet or exceed the regional climatic conditions and code requirements. Local soils that have been carefully tested for strength and appearance are mixed with a small amount (5-10%) of Portland cement and water. Layers are placed in special forms and mechanically compacted into stone-like walls. In colder climates a high R-value insulation is embedded within the core of the wall creating a warm, high-mass interior.

The result is a healthy, beautiful, natural looking structure that uses very little energy to heat or cool, will last an extremely long time, and will require much less maintenance than other buildings.Solum

Rammed Earth is a member of the Canadian Home Builders Association and provides full sub-contracting services for all applications of stabilized rammed earth (SRE) work throughout the Okanagan Valley. With over 5 years combined experience, Solum directors have experience spanning residential, commercial, civil, and landscape applications. Solum maintains a competitive advantage by owning all the necessary unique equipment to efficiently carry out SRE projects, including a custom earth blending machine. Nicholas calls it a green concrete process.Some of the many benefits to using Rammed Earth construction are:BUILD GREEN Reduce the embodied energy in building a home by using local material as the main structural component; you are doing your part to offset CO2 emissionsENERGY EFFICIENT Effective R24+ insulation value and high thermal mass maintains ambient temperature levels saving you money over timeAESTHETICS Stand out with a naturally unique home that blends into the Okanagan landscapeMARKETING Differentiate your business and attract clientele by using innovative-rammed earth walls that are unique in appearance and offer unparalleled design flexibilityDURABILITY & LOW MAINTENANCE Free your time and moneyGOOD INDOOR AIR QUALITY Breathe easier with little to no toxic off-gassingFIRE RESISTANT Sleep easy knowing your walls are completely fire resistantSOUND PROOFING Relax in comfort with reduced noise pollution

Flywheel Building Solutions -My Xeriscape Adventure

2008-03-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

After spending money and time over the last three summers feeding, power raking and watering my front lawn to only see it go brown by July, I've decided that maintaining a green lawn is really not a good idea in the central Okanagan. This is especially true when you factor in the start of water metering in our local area in 2007. So I've decided to rip out my front yard and do something different. I thought I would put in rock garden but I've come across a relatively new idea called xeriscape.

XERISCAPE comes from a combination of two words: "xeri" is derived from the Greek word "xeros" meaning dry; and "scape, meaning view or scene, together they mean "a dry scene."

The term Xeriscape was coined in Denver, Colorado in 1978. Xeriscaping is landscaping with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants, allowing a conservation of water and nutrients. Xeric landscapes are conscious attempts to develop plantings which are compatible with the natural environment. Xeriscape landscapes need not be just cactus and rock gardens. They can be green, beautiful landscapes in which plants are maintained with water-efficient practices, and heavy mulching. Xeriscaping is not the same as Zeroscaping. Zeroscaping is using a lot of rocks and a few sparse plants to create low-water-use landscaping. Xeriscapes use a wide variety of native and other water-efficient plants to create an oasis of colour, interest, diversity, and texture.Much to the dismay of my wife I am planning on starting this as soon as the ground is good to work this spring and hope to keep you posted on a regular basis. I would appreciate any advice or information you may have on the subject.

I've found these sites that may interest you.

www.summerlandornamentalgardens.org/xeriscape

www.dryvalleynurseries.com/index.php

www.avant-gardening.com/xeriscape.html

Greener kitchens

2008-03-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

If you have not noticed, kitchen renovations seems to be the hot topic covered by many renovation magazines and TV shows. Our last article spoke on the problems involved in choosing the right kitchen ventilation system for your cooking needs and the size of your home. This article will touch on the green ideas and suggested links and literature to check out as you move through the design process. As always feel free to contact us at info@flywheelbuildingsolutions.com if you require any further assistance is sourcing information or contacts.

Canadian Green Product Suppliers:

http://www.greenworksbuildingsupply.com

http://www.thehealthiesthome.com

Suggested books and magazines:

May 2008 issue of Fine Homebuilding – currently on newsstands or visit http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/fh_currentissue.asp

2007 Kitchen and Baths – Fine Homebuilding – still on some newsstands

Good Green Kitchens – Gibbs Smith, Publisher

Suggested web links:

Green Kitchen Renovations

Green Kitchen design

Home Recycling centers - video

Green counter tops explained - video

Worm composting

Understanding Land Title Searches

2008-03-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

In my 14 years in municipal inspections this has been one of the most misunderstood portions of the design and building process.

A title search is a process where someone searches the public records in the city or town where a piece of property is located. The searcher will go through the grantor and grantee indexes and examine the documents recorded in the land registry concerning that particular piece of property. This is usually performed by a lawyer, notorary, private search agency or in some cases can be provided by your local building authority.

During a title search, several key things are examined. For instance, mortgages, real estate taxes, liens for sewers, roadways, sidewalks, and other municipal improvements, federal taxes, government claims, legal judgments, foreclosures, condemnations, covenants, and easements and liens placed on title by previous contractors. Many municipalities are turning to registering notices on title in the event that work has been done without permits or that there are outstanding permit issues that have never been resolved and may have significant structural or safety issues.

(For specific information on Title Searches contact your lawyer or local building department (if they are not too busy) or drop us a line at http://www.flywheelbuildingcoach.com/contact.php )

All building departments require a copy a recent copy of a title search at the time of application. This is to ensure that there are no legal restrictions, which would inhibit the proposed construction, and to provide proof of ownership and ensure that in the case of a new subdivision that the lots have been registered with the Land Registry Office http://www.ltsa.ca . Some also have private building scheme restrictions, which will limit the style and look of you new home, or addition and set time limits to completion. If you are building in a rural area, then it is important to review if there are limitations to where you can build do to septic system covenants. Many home additions or pool plans have been squashed due to septic field locations. When you factor in all restrictions it can seem like you are trying fit a square into a round hole.

There have been many instances that lots are pre-sold and then the permit applications are made but the lots have not been legally registered. This process can be lengthy and it is important that the lot purchaser inquires if and when the lots will be registered by the developer. There may be amendments to the original documents that may put further restrictions on the proposed plans. Permit applications have been delayed by months and have caused much grief for building authorities and owners.

Another big whammy for some home owners are covenants revolving around geotechnical (Okanagan Geology Mar 1) and environmental issues and as we continue to develop up the hillsides it will become more predominant as local jurisdications protect themselves against future legal action. These covenants may create a safe build area, which may be smaller than the zoning regulations, drainage and retaining requirements and in some cases will require a soils engineer for the foundation design and site reviews. This can create a significant increase in the cost of construction and limit your home or renovation design. For some reason this is a major item that is not explained very well to potential home buyers of hillside lots.

Please take to time to obtain a recent copy of your title and to understand what is registered against your title.

Okanagan Geology - Don't build your house upon the sand

2008-03-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

"He shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

For anyone familiar with this ancient parable you will understand it is a practical example of what happens when you do not build your home upon a strong foundation.

The Okanagan valley is an area of Canada both unique in climate and geology. Ranging from sandy/gravel soils of Canada’s only desert in Osoyoos to the massive silt and sand deposits around Penticton to the ancient volcanic features of Mount Boucherie and Dilworth Mountain in the Kelowna area. These unique features have been a major focal point to attracting people to the valley. But it also causes unique problems for construction. Clay and high sulphate soils have caused severe damage to foundations in the central Okanagan while improper drainage has led to sink hole development in the areas around Penticton. The Okanagan valley is rich in mineral deposits including uranium, which has caused water quality issues in some communities. Several fault lines also cross the Okanagan valley. The Okanagan Fault line is recorded as one of BC’s largest earth structures. These fault lines have resulted in areas in additional code requirements for commercial foundations in the Kelowna area. It has also resulted in the Central Okanagan having high potential for Geothermal heat development. These unique issues only become more relevant as we continue to build in areas that we would have never even thought of developing 5 years ago. Money is a strong motivator to overcoming land issues. That is why I would recommend seeking out the services of professional geoscientist (geotechnical engineer) if you are building anything larger than a garage or adding

Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering includes investigating existing subsurface conditions and materials; assessing risks posed by site conditions; designing earthworks and structure foundations; and monitoring site conditions, earthwork and foundation construction.

A typical geotechnical engineering project begins with a site investigation of soil and bedrock on and below an area of interest to determine their engineering properties including how they will interact with, on or in a proposed construction. Site investigations are needed to gain an understanding of the area in or on which the engineering will take place. Investigations can include the assessment of the risk to humans, property and the environment from natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, soil liquefaction, debris flows and rock falls.

A geotechnical engineer then determines and designs the type of foundations, earthworks, and/or pavement subgrades required for the intended man-made structures to be built. Foundations are designed and constructed for structures of various sizes such as high-rise buildings, bridges, medium to large commercial buildings, and smaller structures where the soil conditions do not allow code-based design.

For more information on geoscience and work undertaken by a professional geoscientists, see the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (APEGBC) website: www.apeg.ca or check out Wikipedia – Geotechnical Engineering.

If you are interested in leaning more about the Okanagan, I would suggest picking up a copy of Okanagan Geology British Columbia

Building Changes in Foreign Lands

2008-01-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

You may or may not be aware of the current provincial review called the "Modernization Strategy". Basically it is program that encompasses the major players in the building industry and it will compile recommendations to improve the quality of construction and inspections in BC.

However you may not be aware of the significant changes happening in other countries. New Zealand experienced many of the same "Leaky Condo" issues that we faced in BC. They went through an investigative and finger pointing period similar to our Barrett Commission (www.hpo.bc.ca/Publications/Barrett1) and came up with pretty much the similar causes and suggestions as we did. However what they have done since that time can be viewed as a drastic change in the way they do business industry wide. While we have adopted the HPO program, which I believe has raised the construction bar; it has failed to address the main issue of having mandatory qualified people doing the work. That would range from the builders, trades, designers and inspectors.

It appears that the NZ Department of Building and Housing has taken it seriously and are requiring all the major players on a construction job to meet minimum levels of competency. They call it the Building Practitioners Scheme. It is stated "Occupational licensing is for people who take pride in their work; for the people who want to take responsibility, not just for the quality of their own work, but also for the work of the people they supervise".

By 2010, a licensed building practitioner will be required to carry out or supervise specific restricted work on homes and other buildings. There will be 13 licenses being introduced that will apply to designers, builders, site supervisors, construction managers and carpenters. Further licensing will incorporate skilled trades such as roofers, specialized structural components and building services.

For more information go to www.dbh.govt.nz and click on Building.

Please let us know what you think of this type of licensing program.

It's not easy being green

2007-12-15T14:37:00.000-08:00

While sitting in on a recent Green Building Code workshop this summer I felt this sickening feeling wash over me. It reminded me of the time I was trying to learn to surf in Australia. I was having a great time but getting a little tired trying to ride each wave I could. I turned around to see what was coming next and slam, I was run over by a rouge wave and was fortunate to bounce along the bottom and be washed up on the shoreline and not out to sea.

That feeling made me think of the huge wave of information washing over designers, builders, owners and regulators. We have been recovering from a serious case of new code blues and and now green codes. It seems like everyone is promoting "green" products. Love him or hate, Al Gore has opened the debate (that the David Suzuki helped start 30 years ago) on what we are doing to planet. Some now are sounding off against the "tree huggers" saying that it really is not so bad and it's a natural cycle. If you've seen the movie "the Inconvenient Truth", I would find it hard to think that this is "natural". But even if we are reading too much into this, I really believe, for my kids future, that we are better off erring on the side of cleaning up our act for the next generation.

So what do we do as a building industry and home owner. I think the most important thing is to become educated on the topic and research what is coming at us. Knowledge is Power! There are hundreds of organizations out there that are leading and other that are blurring the lines. Some of the good ones can be found on the Green Solutions page of our website.

Stay tuned for further discussion in later newsletters.

What's up Dock - Environmental Update

2007-11-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

In the spring of 2004 the provincial government introduced sweeping environmental changes that have greatly affected properties neighbouring creeks, lakes and ravines. This regulation known as the Riparian Areas Regulation, which came under the local enforcement in 2006, provides protection for the features, functions and conditions that are vital in the natural maintenance of stream health and productivity. In short is restricts property owners from building within 30m(100 feet) from the watercourse boundary or ravine without a lengthly and costly environmental review. This also includes landscaping.

While working recently with Jason Schleppe of Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd of Kelowna he indicated that most property owners fail to research if there are any environmental regulations that could significantly reduce the allowable building area of their lot. It is not until they move into the building permit application stage that they become aware of the regulations. Most municipalities and regional districts are obligated to review and enforce the regulation and many have established mapping areas to indicate where environmental assesments are triggered. These maps are broad in nature and in some instances exemptions can be given if it can be determined that there will be no significant impact to the surrounding area.

Jason also indicated that new regulations pertaining to the construction of docks could also have a significant impact on lakeshore development. Maps have been produced to flag Yellow and Red zones as well as safe zones (no colour). Most shoreline properties from Kelowna to Vernon appear to fall within the Red or Yellow zones. These areas have been set up to further protect sensitive wetlands and spawning migration patterns for fish. Persons wishing to repair and construct new waterfront structures within Yellow or Red zones will be required to complete an environmental assessment which will be approved or rejected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

For further information contact:
Jason Schleppe, M.Sc., R.P.Bio.
Natural Resources Biologist
ECOSCAPE Environmental Consultants Ltd.
4824 Parkridge Dr.
Kelowna, BC
V1W 3A1
Phone: 250.491.7337 ext. 202
Fax: 250.491.7772
Cell: 250.808.3474

Owner-builder regulations

2007-11-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking of acting as your own General contractor (owner-builder) to build a single family home then please take notice.

As of November 19th, 2007 the Home Protection Agency (HPO) will implement the Homeowner Protection Amendment Act. This amendment will allow for easier access and information online but has created more stringent criteria and fees. The Act strengthens HPO’s ability to pursue and file legal action against persons abusing the owner-builder regulation.

The HPO was created in 1998 under the Homeowner Protection Act to enhance the standard of residential construction and to protect the homeowner. This was the result of the Leaky Condo Disaster of the mid 1990’s where hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs and law suits brought the construction industry to its knees. See www.hpo.bc.ca/Overview/index.htm for more historical information. By the way BC was not the only area to experience this level of construction failures. Many areas of the coastal US, Australia and New Zealand had faced similar issues and in the case of New Zealand they have totally changed their codes and enforcement regulations.

In short the original Act created mandatory new home warranty insurance and builder licensing for single and multi family projects. All homes are required to be built by a licensed builder or through an owner-builder exemption. No building permits can be released until proof of HPO certification has been provided. But unfortunately HPO agents found that it was very difficult to pursue and charge violators under the original wording of the Act. This led to non-registered builders and owners to violate the intent of the Act and as a result buyers of owner-built homes did not have the same level of protection as buyers of homes built by licensed builders.

The major changes for owner-builder authorization are:

• Applicants are required to go through a pre-screening process
• Owner builder Authorization fees are $425
• Owner builders are expected to occupy the new home themselves for at least 12 months after obtaining an occupancy permit and are not permitted to sell or rent the new home during that one-year period.
• Owner builders will be obligated to provide a disclosure notice if they sell the home within a 10-year period. The disclosure notice will state that the home was built by an owner builder and whether or not there is a policy of home warranty insurance in place for the home.
• Owner builders who sell their home within the first 10 years are obligated to subsequent purchasers for defects in the home during that 10-year period. Owner builder obligations are now similar to the obligations of a Licensed Residential Builder under a policy of home warranty insurance. That is 2 years for material and labour, 5 for defects in the building envelope and 10 years for structural defects.
• Homes built after November 19th will be identified on a registry will notify potential purchasers if the home is owner-built or built by a Licensed Residential Builder.

Note any individual who has obtained authorization prior to November 19th can use the old forms until February 19th, 2008.

For further information on the Home Protection Amendment Act contact HPO help desk or contact us at info@flywheelbuildingcoach.com

Building during a Boom

2007-10-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

You just have to look at the number of billboards from Osoyoos to Vernon advertising vacation resorts and condominium projects to get a feeling for the incredible growth the Okanagan valley has and will experience for years to come. So if you are a home owner looking to renovate you are likely experiencing some frustration in the availability of quality trades at a reasonable price. If you are new to the area and looking to build a new home then you are looking at some long waiting times and high budgets to pull off your dream. The Okanagan has an incredible number of quality builders, designers and trades but this has come to a bottleneck with many backed up for over a year or not taking on smaller projects. There is also the tendency for an increase in miscommunication leading to mistakes and fly by night contractors taking owners for a ride during these busy times

Looking at the 2007 economic profile prepared by the Economic Development Commission (EDC) http://www.edccord.com . It appears that continued growth will buck the economic slowdown experienced in other parts of North America. The profile shows that the central Okanagan business sector is moving to diversify and confidence is at an all time high. This can only be bolstered from the recent announcement that the Kelowna Airport will be expanding capacity and lengthing their runway to accommodate direct International traffic, particularly from Europe. Did you know that 33% of Okanagan residents have ties to Germany! The main driver in the central Okanagan is and always will be the construction sector. Since the first wave of retiring baby boomers in 2003, the central Okanagan has experienced new starts exceeding the echo boom of Expo 86. Statics show that the Okanagan is the main Canadian retirement area and that more people are buying here to live rather than work. We can only guess what may happen in 2010 when we are introduced to mainstream international markets. But there has been signs of leveling off in some sectors. I believe this shows how our current market is affecting the “average” resident. The building trend has been offset by the high cost of development, lot prices and wage increases and skilled labour shortages. Building a single family home may be a luxury that most working families can no longer afford. If you were wondering the average new house price in the Central Okanagan has gone from $124k in 1990 to $225k in 2000 to a staggering $560k in 2007. My 35 year old home has nearly doubled in value in under 3 years. Projects are taking longer and costing more. The average renovation project is taking well over 12 months to complete. More and more home owners are being forced into running their own job and/or physically doing some of the work themselves to reduce time and costs or in fact just get their project started.

So what is being done to improve our situation.
• The EDC http://www.edccord.com is looking a ways to import foreign skilled labour for short and permanent residence.
• Organizations such as the Canadian Home Builders Association http://www.chbabc.org and the Southern Interior Construction Association http://www.sica.bc.ca have been working with local and provincial bodies to develop local skilled labour.
• A number of businesses and construction methods have been introduced to streamline http://www.smartwaytobuild.com and improve the quality of construction.

But even with these improvements most owners will be required to be more involved in the process. The owner will have to educate themselves on the full process from lot purchase to codes and bylaws to the design and contracting phase. Stricter provincial regulations http://www.hpo.bc.ca/default.htm have put more responsibility on the home owner when it comes to building their Single Family Home. Having a better understanding of the entire process and taking the time in the planning process and hiring the right people to help you will greatly improve your chances at a smoother and economical project.