BOABC / BCIT Webinar Series: Essentials of Net Zero and Passive House Construction

Join BCIT and BOABC for a six-part webinar series designed specifically for building inspectors who want to deepen their understanding of how high-performance building practices are reshaping code compliance and construction quality in British Columbia.

Led by BCIT Instructor Josh Vanwyck and a roster of expert guest speakers, this series connects the dots between energy-efficient construction, building science, and regulatory standards. Inspectors will gain insight into what to look for in the field, from airtightness testing and low-TEDI envelope assemblies to mechanical and electrical system integration and the emerging role of embodied carbon in code and policy frameworks.

Through practical, technically grounded sessions every two weeks, participants will strengthen their ability to evaluate and support projects that meet the BC Energy Step Code, Zero Carbon Step Code and the Passive House standard, ensuring quality, safety, and long-term performance in their jurisdictions.

Participants may wish to enroll for one, multiple, or all sessions. The price per session is $75 plus GST, and a bundle discount of $375 plus GST for all six sessions (buy 5 get one free).

Note that the webinar links will be sent by BCIT prior to the sessions. 

SESSION 1

• Why Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Construction?
  • Climate and social drivers for energy-efficient housing
  • Benefits for comfort, health, and resilience
  • Examples of ZEBs from across BC

• Codes and Standards – Net Zero, Passive House, and Zero Carbon Standards
  • Overview of performance-based standards
  • BC Energy Step Code, Passive House, and Zero Carbon Building Standard
  • Regulatory and market trends influencing adoption

Date: January 13, 2026

Time: 9:00AM – 12:00PM PST

Cost: $75 plus GST

Registration: Via Member Portal – External Offerings

CPD Eligibility: 3 CPD points – Category A4 (you will need to self report these points)

SESSION 2

• Building Science & Key Issues with ZEB Construction
  • Heat, air, and moisture flows in buildings
  • Common risks and failures in high-performance construction
  • Integrating durability and performance

• ZEB Building Enclosures – High Level
  • Fundamentals of high-performance building assemblies
  • Impacts of new materials and changing standards
  • Considerations of embodied carbon in enclosure design

Date: January 27, 2026

Time: 9:00AM – 12:00PM PST

Cost: $75 plus GST

Registration: Via Member Portal – External Offerings

CPD Eligibility: 3 CPD points – Category A4 (you will need to self report these points)

SESSION 3

• Deep Dive – Airtightness and Low-TEDI Enclosures
  • Why airtightness matters for energy, comfort, and durability
  • Testing and quality assurance (blower door, site practices)
  • Best practices for achieving very low air change rates

• • Design strategies for reducing thermal energy demand
  • Material and assembly options for ultra-low heating needs
  • Balancing insulation, thermal bridging, and passive design

Date: February 10, 2026

Time: 9:00AM – 12:00PM PST

Cost: $75 plus GST

Registration: Via Member Portal – External Offerings

CPD Eligibility: 3 CPD points – Category A4 (you will need to self report these points)

SESSION 4

• ZEB Mechanical Systems
  • Key HVAC and ventilation systems in Passive House and ZEB buildings
  • Design Requirements, quality Control during installation and Commissioning best practice
  • Integration with enclosures for optimized performance

Date: February 24, 2026

Time: 9:00AM – 12:00PM PST

Cost: $75 plus GST

Registration: Via Member Portal – External Offerings

CPD Eligibility: 3 CPD points – Category A4 (you will need to self report these points)

SESSION 5

• ZEB Electrical Systems
  • Electrical load evaluation and panel sizing
  • Smart load management and optimization
  • Solar systems and panel integration
  • Integration with enclosures for optimized performance

Date: March 10, 2026

Time: 9:00AM – 12:00PM PST

Cost: $75 plus GST

Registration: Via Member Portal – External Offerings

CPD Eligibility: 3 CPD points – Category A4 (you will need to self report these points)

SESSION 6

• Building Emissions and Embodied Carbon
  • Operational vs. embodied carbon – why both matter
  • Methods to measure, reduce, and track emissions
  • Life-cycle perspective on sustainable building decisions

Date: March 24, 2026

Time: 9:00AM – 11:00AM PST

Cost: $75 plus GST

Registration: Via Member Portal – External Offerings

CPD Eligibility: 2 CPD points – Category A4 (you will need to self report these points)