Thompson Rivers University and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Central Interior Chapter have been chosen to build one of three new CMHC EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative homes in Canada.

The Kamloops “Green Dream Home” team, which includes students and faculty in TRU trade-entry and advanced technology programs, in partnership with the Home Builders, will design and build the eco-friendly home at Sun Rivers in Kamloops, and the “Green Dream Home” will once again be sold to the Kamloops Y for their 2009 Dream Home fundraising project.

The selection of the Kamloops team is part of the second phase of CMHC EQuilibrium Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative – a national project leading to the construction of the next generation of sustainable homes in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada.

This is the first and only developer team in Canada that involves university programs and a building association, but it marks the 17th year of local collaboration between TRU and the Home BuildersThe design of the home will start as an assignment for each of the 38 first-year students in the Architectural and Engineering Technology (ARET) programEach student will develop the design, and the top student will then be chosen to work on the project. The selection of the winning student, later this spring, will include a scholarship award and a work experience opportunity for the student.

Once the final drawings and permits are in place, the 2009 class of Residential Construction trade-entry students, in partnership with the Home Builders Association, will begin work on site in AugustThe construction process will also involve a number of other TRU trades students, including electrical, piping, and horticulture.

“We are extremely proud that Thompson Rivers University students and faculty are part of the team chosen to build the Green Dream Home, ” said Dr. Kathleen Scherf, TRU President and Vice-Chancellor“This project encompasses all the elements that enable TRU to step forward as the university of choice for environmental sustainability, career success and student engagement.”

“This was a natural next step for our Training House Committee to pursue, ” said Doug Wittal, President of the CHBA Central Interior Chapter”As an Association, we have been actively demonstrating and promoting green alternatives for housing for the past three years with our Built Green BC programThis project takes Built Green to a higher level than achieved to date.”

The “Green Dream Home” will be designed to have minimal environmental impact, aim to produce as much energy as it uses on an annual basis, and be built primarily by TRU students as part of their training programOnce completed, the home will be open for public tours and then raffled-off to raise funds for the local YMCA, the tenth training home project for TRU and the CMHA “Central Interior”. When occupied, the home will be monitored for performance for at least one year.

“The Government of Canada is proud to work with the Kamloops’ builder and developer team to extend the EQuilibrium initiative to B.C., ” said MP Cathy McLeod, on behalf of Minister Finley. “As a champion of sustainable housing, the Kamloops builder and developer team, and the other builder teams participating in the EQuilibriumTM initiative, are putting their expertise to work for the benefit of Canadians and providing a blueprint for the next generation of sustainable housing in Canada.”

Contact:

• Ralph Finch, TRU Dean Trades and Technolgy , 250.828.5125
• Doug Wittal, President, CHBA “