New Dialogue Report Highlights Economic Opportunity in Scaling Heat Pump Retrofits for Low-Rise Apartments in BC
Urban Climate Leadership (UCL), a project of MakeWay, has released a new dialogue report examining the economic opportunity associated with scaling heat pump retrofits across British Columbia’s low-rise apartment buildings.
The report, “Keep It Cool: Advancing a Made-in-BC Economic Strategy for Transitioning 5,000 Low-Rise MURBs to Energy Efficient Heat Pumps,” synthesizes insights from a January 30, 2026, dialogue that convened leaders from BC’s innovation, technology, manufacturing, engineering, and building sectors.
The discussion focused on how British Columbia can leverage its existing industrial strengths to build a competitive local ecosystem for building electrification, while improving housing quality and reducing emissions.
Participants highlighted several areas where BC already holds a strategic advantage, including expertise in building science, engineered systems, and high-value niche manufacturing. These capabilities position the province to play a leadership role in developing and deploying advanced heat pump solutions for multi-unit residential buildings.
However, participants also emphasized that realizing this opportunity will require stronger cross-sector coordination, targeted workforce development, improved access to financing, and clearer policy signals to sustain market demand.
With the right conditions in place, scaling retrofits in low-rise multi-unit residential buildings could support local manufacturing, skilled trades jobs, and innovation across the clean economy, while improving the comfort, health, and affordability of housing for thousands of residents.
The report is the sixth dialogue summary released through UCL’s Keep It Cool initiative, which brings together leaders from across the building ecosystem to identify practical pathways for accelerating building electrification while strengthening Canada’s clean economy.
The full dialogue report is available for download here.
