Celebrating Our FortisBC Efficiency in Action 2025 Award Win: A Milestone for Sustainable Building in Castlegar

What an incredible moment for our team at The Confluence! We were thrilled to receive the prestigious FortisBC Efficiency in Action 2025 Award in the Commercial – Small category. This recognition isn't just a plaque on the wall—it's a testament to our commitment to pioneering energy-efficient design and leaving a lasting green footprint on our community. As a building that's only been open since August 2024, achieving this in our first full year feels like a dream come true.

A Quick Look at the FortisBC Efficiency in Action Awards

The Efficiency in Action Awards are FortisBC's annual celebration of British Columbia's top energy innovators. Launched years ago to spotlight organizations driving down energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the program honors projects that leverage FortisBC's rebate incentives for upgrades like high-efficiency equipment, heat recovery systems, and smart building tech.

Each year, FortisBC selects one winner per category from a pool of standout applicants, recognizing excellence in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, public institutions, and more. With 10 categories in total (based on the latest program structure), the awards cover a broad spectrum of impacts—from small businesses slashing electricity bills to large-scale industrial operations saving thousands of gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas annually. Past winners, like those in 2024, collectively saved over 27,200 GJ of gas (enough to heat nearly 270 homes) and more than 750,800 kWh of electricity (powering about 30 homes). The value of this award lies in the rebates that fund these transformative projects, and the prestige of being a BC sustainability leader.

Our category, Commercial – Small, shines a light on compact operations that punch above their weight in efficiency. We're proud to join this elite group in 2025.

How The Confluence Earned Its Green Stripes

From day one, The Confluence was designed as more than just a hub for economic development, coworking, and community events—it's a blueprint for low-impact living. Our Passive House certification ensures ultra-low energy needs, and in just 15 months, we've achieved an 80% reduction in energy consumption compared to a standard building. How? A smart blend of innovative features:

• Mass timber construction: Sustainable, locally sourced wood that sequesters carbon while providing natural insulation.

• Airtight building envelope: Minimizing drafts and heat loss for year-round efficiency.

• Heat recovery ventilation system: Capturing and reusing warmth from exhaust air to slash heating and AC demands.

• Sensor-controlled lighting: Automatically adjusting to occupancy, cutting unnecessary power draw.

These aren't gimmicks—they're proven strategies that align with FortisBC's programs, helping us secure rebates while keeping operational costs low and resident comfort high. By focusing on a green footprint over a CO2-heavy one, we're not just saving energy; we're modeling a future where buildings like ours support Castlegar's growth without compromising our Kootenay landscapes.

Why This Matters for Castlegar and Beyond

Winning this award reinforces our role in the West Kootenay. As home to the Visitor Centre, Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce, and Destination Castlegar, The Confluence isn't just a space—it's a statement. Our efficiency efforts reduce strain on local utilities, lower emissions to help meet BC's climate goals, and inspire other developers to prioritize sustainability. Imagine: if every new build followed suit, we could cut community-wide energy use by thousands of GJ, equivalent to powering hundreds of homes or removing cars from the road.

A huge thank you to our Castlegar & District Chamber of commerce team, sponsors, contractors, and tenants for making this vision real. This award belongs to all of us.

Let's build a greener Castlegar together!

Join Us in Building an Even Greener Future

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also looking ahead. The Confluence was made possible by visionary early supporters, and we continue to welcome like-minded companies and philanthropists who want to put their name behind proven, high-impact sustainability in the Kootenays. Whether through naming opportunities or program sponsorships, partnering with an award-winning Passive House project offers tangible ESG results and lasting regional visibility. If your organization believes in building a greener future, let’s talk; together we can make the next chapter even bolder.