ADVANCING A MADE-IN-BC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR TRANSITIONING TO HEAT PUMPS IN LOW-RISE MURBS
As climate disruption accelerates, the need to build economic, social, and ecological resilience has never been more urgent. Amid compounding crises—housing affordability, public health threats from extreme heat, and mounting energy costs—heat pump retrofits in low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) have emerged as a critical, actionable opportunity. But to realize this opportunity, BC needs to move beyond pilot projects and fragmented programs. We must build a coordinated, made-in-BC economic development strategy rooted in equity, innovation, and scale.
This dialogue summary captures the insights and ideas of a “cluster” of government, industry, finance, housing, Indigenous, and non-profit sectors. Convened by Urban Climate Leadership, a project of MakeWay, this multi-session dialogue series has brought together practitioners, policymakers, and thought leaders to chart a path toward accelerating the adoption of heat pumps in BC’s low-rise MURBs.
The guiding question: How can we build a provincial strategy that strengthens the economy and ensures long-term, healthy, safe, and resilient housing for residents vulnerable to climate impacts?