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VANCOUVER – The Canadian Home Builders Association of B.C. (CHBA-BC) is receiving a $150,000 grant from the Province’s Housing Endowment Fund to provide research, education and training about the association’s Built Green BC program, Minister responsible for Housing Rich Coleman announced today.
“Built Green BC is a valuable program that’s been developed to help the housing industry and homebuyers move toward more environmentally friendly housing,” said Coleman. “It will also help to meet the new ‘green’ BC Building Code requirements that take effect in September.”
“We all want housing that limits the impact on the environment, and that’s what Built Green BC is designed to do,” said MJ Whitemarsh, CEO of CHBA-BC. “We want to provide more education and training for our members and the public about what Built Green BC can achieve, so this grant will help to do that.”
Through the program, homebuilders, suppliers and manufacturers are trained to develop homes that can be officially certified as Built Green. As well, the program educates the public on the value of a home that meets Built Green standards.
Announcement of the Housing Endowment Fund grant was made today at CHBA-BC’s Checklist for a Greener Future conference. CHBA-BC is a voluntary organization made up of building professionals in the residential construction industry who are committed to industry excellence, and are dedicated to fostering a housing environment in which the industry operates effectively and professionally while maintaining affordability and profitability. Through the association, members have access to technical information as well as specialized education and training courses.
The Housing Endowment Fund (HEF) was established by the Province of B.C. in 2007 with a $250-million capital endowment to encourage new ideas and support innovative housing solutions not served through existing housing programs. The annual investment revenue of approximately $10 million a year is allocated on an ongoing basis each year.
Budget 2008 increased the provincial housing budget to more than $380 million a year, more than three times as much as in 2001.
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Public Affairs Bureau 250 387-8482 |
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