Acacia Engineering Ltd.

06/15/2026

Are you planning upgrades for a residential building and wondering what rebate or financing options may be available?

Join VT Group of Companies (Acacia, VerdaTech and Qualistat), for a focused on helping multi-unit residential buildings better understand available funding pathways, retrofit planning, and financing opportunities through programs such as the BC Hydro Multi-Unit Residential Building Retrofit Program and CMHC MLI Select.

BC Hydro currently offers funding of up to $5,000 for Opportunity Assessments and up to $30,000 for Feasibility Studies, subject to program requirements.

In this session, we will cover:
✅ How Opportunity Assessments and Feasibility Studies can help identify energy-saving retrofit opportunities
✅ Retrofit planning for energy efficiency, electrification, and building performance upgrades
✅ How available programs may help reduce upfront planning costs before major upgrades
✅ CMHC MLI Select and potential financing benefits for eligible multi-unit residential projects
✅ Key steps to help build a clear business case before starting upgrades
This seminar is helpful for:
✅ Property managers
✅ Strata managers and condo boards
✅ Building owners
✅ Developers
✅ Consultants and retrofit contractors
✅ Rental buildings, stratas, and equity co-ops exploring retrofit or financing options

🎤 Speaker: Sreejith Sreekumar ( MASc.,CEM®, EIT, REA )
📅 Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM B.C. Time
💻 Location: ONLINE Event

Register for FREE: https://lnkd.in/gFYryGvb

We look forward to seeing you there.

06/10/2026

Stephen was in Edmonton reviewing the rough-in stage for two beautiful custom residential homes.

These projects include more advanced mechanical systems, including multi-zone heating, hydronic basement heating, and zoned ventilation through the HRV system. The goal is simple: better comfort, better control, quieter operation, and improved energy performance.

One of the key advantages of this approach is reducing unnecessary exterior penetrations and improving ventilation efficiency throughout the home. For high-performance, Net Zero, or Net Zero Ready homes, these design decisions can make a real difference.

Great work by the builder and mechanical contractor on bringing the design together in the field. This pre-drywall review is an important step to make sure the systems are installed as intended before the home is closed in.

At the end of the day, comfortable and energy-efficient homes come from proper coordination between mechanical design, building envelope design, and energy performance planning.

With VT Group of Companies (Acacia Engineering Ltd., VerdaTech Energy Management and Consulting Inc and Qualistat Building Performance Consultants).

Visit: VTGroup.ca
Call us: 403 251 0683

06/03/2026

Is your -unit residential building ready for upgrades?

BC Hydro, in collaboration with the Government of British Columbia, launched the Multi-Unit Residential Building Retrofit Program in September 2024 to support energy-efficient upgrades for eligible buildings across B.C.

The program offers financial support for:
✅ Opportunity Assessments – Up to $5,000 to identify energy-saving retrofit opportunities
✅ Feasibility Studies – Up to $30,000 for a deeper review of building systems and upgrade options
✅ Equipment Upgrade Rebates – Including heat pumps, windows, lighting, water heating, and more
✅ Renewable Energy & EV Infrastructure – Support for solar panels, batteries, and EV charger installations

These upgrades can help reduce energy costs, improve tenant comfort, increase building resilience, and support long-term property value.

VT Group of Companies (Acacia, VerdaTech and Qualistat), has helped numerous properties across B.C. navigate this program and maximize available rebate opportunities with a clear, practical process.

Find out what your building may qualify for.
We would be happy to walk you through the details.

📑 E-brochure of the program: https://lnkd.in/gn-UN5yM
🌐Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gJYS8-Mj
📲:1-866-241-6804

With Acacia Engineering Ltd., VerdaTech Energy Management and Consulting Inc. and Qualistat Building Performance Consultants

05/25/2026

05/19/2026

Using Expert, VT Group completed an energy audit for a automotive dealership facility in Medicine Hat. RETScreen was used to compare the building’s existing performance against proposed upgrades, helping identify practical energy-saving opportunities with measurable financial results.

Results:
✔ 139,164 kWh/year total energy savings
✔ 281,006 kWh/year fuel savings
✔ 17.8% fuel reduction
✔ 18.3% GHG reduction
✔ Approx. $9,425 annual fuel cost savings

The audit identified several high-impact energy conservation measures, including:
• LED lighting retrofits
• Motion & daylight controls
• Programmable thermostats
• High-efficiency heating equipment
• Ventilation improvements aligned with ASHRAE standards

One of the key insights from the RETScreen analysis was that heating represented the facility’s primary weather-sensitive energy load, while lighting and controls offered strong opportunities for electricity savings.

At VT Group, we use RETScreen as part of our ASHRAE energy audits to help clients make informed, data-driven decisions that improve building performance, reduce operating costs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn more about how we use RETScreen in our projects:
🌐: https://vtgroup.ca/retscreen/

With CanmetÉnergie / CanmetEnergy-Varennes

05/11/2026

A recent case study demonstrates the strength of in supporting data-driven retrofit decisions.

For an and Development office in Lindsay, Ontario, RETScreen was used to model both baseline and proposed building performance, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of energy, cost, and emissions impacts.

Key :
• 64.9% reduction in total energy use
• 76.2% reduction in fuel consumption
• 297,044 kWh/year in
• 90% reduction in GHG emissions (31.9 tCO₂e)
• $21,301 in annual fuel cost savings

The model evaluated a full suite of integrated upgrades, including:
• Building envelope improvements (insulation, air sealing, high-performance glazing)
• High-efficiency air-to-air heat pumps
• Energy recovery ventilation (55% effectiveness)
• LED lighting with occupancy controls
• 40 kW solar PV system

The key takeaway is the ability of RETScreen to convert detailed technical inputs into clear, decision-ready outputs. In this case, the most significant gains were achieved by reducing heating demand through envelope and mechanical upgrades, with solar PV further offsetting electrical consumption.

For organizations planning retrofits or new builds, this type of modeling is critical to prioritizing investments and validating outcomes.

If you're working through similar challenges, it’s worth a conversation.

With VT Group of Companies (Acacia, VerdaTech and Qualistat) and CanmetÉnergie / CanmetEnergy-Varennes

05/04/2026

Big from smart energy modelling—and the right team behind it.
We recently completed a case study on a community centre in Edmonton where we used to compare a code-based baseline against a full redevelopment design.

The speak for themselves:
• 35% overall energy reduction
• 47.4% fuel reduction
• 56% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• 53,382 kWh/year energy savings
• 30.4 tonnes of CO₂ avoided annually

By combining envelope upgrades, improved ventilation, higher-efficiency mechanical systems, lighting controls, and a 56 kW solar PV system, the project demonstrates how integrated design delivers real performance improvements.

At , we help clients achieve these outcomes by:
• detailed energy modeling and scenario analysis
• cost-effective upgrades and ECMs
• retrofit and redevelopment decision-making
• projects with NECB, ASHRAE, and sustainability targets
• energy, cost, and carbon savings before construction

If you're planning upgrades or redevelopment, we can help you move from assumptions to clear, data-driven decisions.

CanmetÉnergie / CanmetEnergy-Varennes