Canadian universities among winners of 2023 Design and Build Challenge

Teams from the University of British Columbia and the University of Waterloo are among the winners of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Decathlon 2023 Build Challenge. The Design Challenge is a one- to two-semester project, while the Build Challenge is a two-year competition. The University of British Columbia – Vancouver was third overall in the Build Challenge, placing first in the Architecture, Occupant Experience and the Embodied Environmental Impact categories, second in the Durability and Resilience category, and third in the Integrated Performance and Comfort and Environmental Quality categories. Teams from other Canadian universities also placed among the winners, including the University of Waterloo (first in the Build Challenge –Engineering category), Concordia University (third in the Design Challenge – New Housing division), the University of British Columbia Okanagan – Kelowna, and Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops (both winning second place in the Design Challenge – Attached Housing division).

solardecathlon.gov/index.html

Five winners announced in First Climate Solutions Festival –Quebec

The inaugural Climate Solutions Festival – Quebec has announced five winners, drawn from 25 finalists, who received $300,000 in prizes. The festival took place in Montreal, QC May 23 and 24, and included more than 800 attendees and participants and over 200 idea submissions from Quebec innovators. Prizes were awarded to ideas with demonstrable potential for real-world impact on climate, which can be developed and used quickly. The event also included keynote speeches and panel discussions, as well as booths from organizations in cleantech, research, business, and environmental stewardship. Partners for the event included JNF Canada, le Gouvernement du Québec, National Bank of Canada, Cycle Momentum, Esplanade Québec, 2 degrés, Mitacs, and Innovobot. climatesolutionsprize.com

IonicBlue receives CIB funding for decarbonization projects

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East Rutherford, NJ-based IonicBlue, a joint venture between Johnson Controls and Apollo Global Management. Inc., is receiving up to $100 million in funding from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) toward decarbonization projects. Under the agreement, CIB will invest funds in public and private decarbonization projects in commercial, industrial, manufacturing and government buildings, as well as airports, hospitals and universities, supported by the IonicBlue Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) offering. IonicBlue’s EaaS features Johnson Control’s energy efficiency performance contracting with its OpenBlue suite of connected smart buildings technology and services, combined with Apollo’s solutions for meeting energy savings and decarbonization objectives. ionicbluellc.com

Ontario HVAC Coalition dissolves

The board of directors of HVAC Coalition Inc. have decided to dissolve the organization as a separate, standalone corporation and pass on its watchdog function to the Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada’s (HRAI) Contractors Division. The HVAC Coalition was an advocate for HVAC/R contractors on utility matters in Ontario for almost 30 years. The organization defended HVAC contractors against inappropriate encroachments by regulated utilities, with the goal of creating a level playing field for all competitors in the sector. The HVAC Coalition struggled in recent years to secure industry support through funding, and according to the organization, eventually decided its mandate would be better pursued through the HRAI’s Contractors Division. The HRAI Contractors Division agreed to take on responsibility for utility matters in Ontario and across Canada at its meeting in late May, and announced it will be establishing a utility action committee of volunteers in the near future. The Contractors Division is asking members interested in taking part in an industry committee to contact Martin Luymes at mluymes@hrai.ca. hrai.ca

Celebrating green building innovators at the CAGBC Awards

The Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) announced the 2023 winners of the CAGBC Awards at the Building Lasting Change conference in early June. The annual awards are divided into two categories, Green Building Excellence for buildings and Green Building Leadership for teams and individuals. In addition, the 2023 Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Michael Brooks, CEO of Real Property Association of Canada, for his 25-year career advancing green building. cagbc.org

CIPH ABC: Siân Smith recognized for promoting women in the industry

Siân Smith, general manager of Riptide Fulfillment Corporation, is the second woman to receive the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) Women of Distinction Award. Smith joined the CIPH board in 2009 and was the first woman to serve as CIPH chair in 2015/2016. On hand to present the award was president and general manager of Rheem Canada Barbara O’Reilly, the first recipient of the award. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to mentoring, developing and promoting women in the plumbing and heating industry. The CIPH Women of Distinction award was presented at the CIPH Annual Business Conference 2023 in St. John’s, NL.

A. O. Smith exec elected chair

David Hammond, vice president and general manager, Canada and Export Markets, with A. O. Smith Enterprises Ltd., is the 2023/2024 chair of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating board. In his role with A. O. Smith, Hammond has implemented major transformational changes within the organization. He held previous positions with Reliance Home Comfort and Union Gas. He has served on various codes and standards committees, and in 2020 Hammond was chosen to co-chair the NRCan Water Heater Experts Market Transformation team. In this role he worked with industry, government and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive approach to market transformation. Hammond received the Joseph K. Seidner Award in 2021 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the industry. To see more ABC coverage visit mechanicalbusiness.com. ciph.com