In this first episode of 2026, Andrew Pape-Salmon, adjunct professor at the University of Victoria shares his vision for democratization of energy, practical ways to have a more resilient energy system, the future of solar energy, home energy participation and community-based approaches to sustainable energy, And as always on BWBC we talk about his career path. Listener Heather Hayne asks about electric vehicle uptake and tariffs.

BC Innovators - Hedgehog TechnologiesHartley Bay Microgrid

The First Canadian Smart Remote Microgrid: Hartley Bay, BC - Natural Resources Canada

00:00 Introduction to the Blue Box Recycling Revolution for Energy

3:14 The Future is Bright for Solar

06:11 Community-Based Social Marketing and Energy Awareness

09:53 Democratizing Energy: Concepts and Applications

16:00 Beyond Apps: Energy Cost Management Explained

18:50  The Blue Box Revolution of Energy

20:51 Listener Questions: EV Tariffs

24:17 Shout Outs and Final Thoughts

30:32 Retrofitting Buildings : The underrated housing innovation

36:13 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Host: Elisabeth Girgis

Guest question: Heather Hayne

Production support and sound editing by Ariya Kosavisutte and Makenzie Pratt

Impact Moderato Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Dr. Susane Havelka joins the podcast to discuss community-drivenhousing initiatives in Northern Canada. As the Senior Director of the Inter-Nation Collaboration Team at BC2, she brings her research and architectural expertise to empower remote Northern communities in designing andbuilding their own homes. In this episode, she discusses the relationship between self-building and wellbeing, shares stories of self-built housing initiatives, and explores how culturally relevant, community-driven approachesto housing can improve quality of life.

00:44 Welcome to Better Ways to Build in Canada

01:44 Meet Suzanne Havelka: A Leader in Northern Housing

02:56 The Importance of Self-Building in Northern Communities

10:41 Suzanne's Journey back to Academia and to community

15:20 Community-Led Housing Initiatives

37:44 Lightning Round: Quick Insights

43:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

BC2 Inter-Nation Collaboration: https://groupebc2.ca/en/about/expertise/#internation-collaboration

Blueprint for a Hack: Leveraging Informal Building Practices: https://actar.com/product/blueprint-for-a-hack/

Lived-In Architecture: Le Corbusier's Pessac Revisited by PhilippeBoudon: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3794411-lived-in-architecture

Best Practices inBuilding Systems (BPiBS) | BPiBS is a collaborative and interdisciplinaryresearch project focused on improving how housing and building systems function.

Host: Elisabeth Girgis

Guest question: Ariya Kosavisutte, Theodore McEwen

Production support and sound editing by Makenzie Pratt

Impact Moderato Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Rod Nadeau blends innovation with lived experience. As founding partner of Innovation Buildings Group, he designs projects that aren’t just energy efficient—they’re homes British Columbians can afford, enjoy, and be proud of. In this episode, Rod shares practitioner-led insights from more than 30 years in construction: the lessons tradespeople teach, why the simplest details matter most, and how affordability and climate goals can go hand in hand.

Innovation Building Group: https://innovationbuilding.com/

Ready-To-Build Design Library: https://innovationbuilding.com/services/services-ready-to-build/

ZEIC / ZEBx Case Studies: https://www.zebx.org/category/case-studies/

Smart Density by Naama Blonder: https://smartdensity.com/team/naama-blonder/

00:00 Introduction to Innovative Building Practices00:32 Meet Rod Nadeau: A Pioneer in Sustainable Construction02:19 Rod's Journey and Inspirations02:59 Technological Advancements in Building05:43 Focus on Family-Oriented Housing09:48 Building Design Library and Cost Reduction15:52 Continuous Improvement and Learning from Mistakes19:19 Shoutouts and Acknowledgements20:50 Final Thoughts and Future Projects25:55 Quickfire Questions and Closing Remarks

Best Practices in Building Systems (BPiBS) | BPiBS is a collaborative and interdisciplinary research project focused on improving how housing and building systems function.

Host: Elisabeth Girgis

Guest question: Madeleine Prince

Production support by Makenzie Pratt

https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/bpibs/

Impact Moderato Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this first episode of Better Ways to Build in Canada, Dr. Phalguni Mukhopadhyaya, Director of the Master of Engineering in Building Envelopes and Structures at the University of Victoria and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineers speaks with Elisabeth. Our conversation delves into his intent on the human side of engineering.

After a career advancing material science and shaping national standards, Dr. Mukhopadhyaya shares why empathy, creativity, and communication are just as important as technical know-how—and how these skills prepare future engineers to take on climate change, circularity, and other aspects of housing.

Best Practices in Building Systems (BPiBS) | BPiBS is a collaborative and interdisciplinary research project focused on improving how housing and building systems function.

Host Elisabeth Girgis, guest question by Rakesh Kumar

Production support by Makenzie Pratt

https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/bpibs/

Impact Moderato Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

A podcast for leaders shaping the future of housing in Canada—policy, construction, research, and innovation that puts people first.

At its core, housing is about people—the people shaping technologies, policies, and ways of working that affect how we live.

Hosted by Elisabeth Girgis, Better Ways to Build in Canada is a weekly podcast that brings together voices from across Canada’s housing and construction sectors. With decades of experience in building science, national standards, public funding, and policy development, she explores the leadership decisions, challenges, and innovations shaping housing today.

Each episode features a conversation with a Canadian leader working to meet emerging housing needs. Together, they unpack how they got to where they are, what drives them today, and how public and private actors can help turn good ideas into implementable solutions.

This podcast is part of Best Practices in Building Systems, a national knowledge initiative hosted by the University of Victoria and funded by BC Housing and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.

https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/bpibs/

Music Moderato by Kevin MacLeod