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Kelowna's first hemp-insulated home

Hempworks - Hemp used for insulation

At first glance, 278 Summer Wood Drive in Kelowna’s Wilden neighbourhood looks like a regular house.

But the 3,247-square-foot, five-bedroom plus legal suite home is special. Among the many energy-saving features it includes is a unique feature in Kelowna, hemp insulation. It is a natural plant-based product that not only lowers the carbon footprint of the building’s construction but also helps improve the air quality in the home and helps regulate moisture formed by condensation. If you look at the whole life cycle of hemp insulation, it is a carbon negative material.

According to Johanna Eger, marketing manager for Wilden, the lower embodied carbon, moisture-regulating properties and elimination of the toxins found in traditional fibreglass insulation, all make for more comfortable living.

She said the decision to include hemp insulation came from a challenge to build an energy efficient home with a lower carbon footprint.

“At Wilden, our CEO wants to be proactive and try new things,” said Eger. “We like to be on the leading edge when it comes to sustainable building practices.”

The Wilden home is built to the Step 5 standard of the B.C. building Step Code (the highest ranking) and includes features like being net-zero ready and using an air-source heat pump as its main source for heating. It also has a small gas furnace backup.

In addition to the increased living comfort, hemp insulation also gives the home the benefits of a healthier and bio-degradable insulation product, one that has a long life and can help future-proof the home.

“We want to set an example with this home of what can be done,” said Eger.

The house also includes a one-bedroom legal suite and a number of energy efficient systems, including a heat pump water heater, triple-paned windows and overall excellent airtightness to ensure occupants enjoy a peaceful and cozy environment throughout every season, all while lowering energy bills.

The home is located just 10 minutes from downtown Kelowna and 15 minutes from the Kelowna International Airport and the UBC Okanagan campus.

A public open house will be held at the home on March 29 from noon to 5 p.m. Private showings can also be booked by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 250 762-2906.

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Driving Change: Scaling Sustainable Transportation Event April 25

Join us to discover how clean transportation is shaping the Okanagan with EV demos, sustainability insights and inspiring break out session.

Date and time: Fri, Apr 25, 2025 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM PDT

Location: Orchard Ford Sales, 911 Stremel Road Kelowna, BC V1X 5E6

Book your ticket: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1297305177709?aff=oddtdtcreator

Agenda

12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EV Displays, Vehicle Demos & Open Networking

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Presentation Session #1 with Dale Conway

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Presentation Session #2 with Dale Conway

Event Description:
Dale Headshot
Join us for a special Open House edition of the Sustainable Development Leadership Series, hosted at Orchard Ford in Kelowna. Presented in partnership with Community Futures and featuring local sustainability leader Dale Conway Founder of Current Taxi, this interactive event showcases what real-world sustainability looks like in action.

This gathering is designed to inspire and connect entrepreneurs, business leaders, and curious community members interested in the future of clean transportation, sustainable decision-making, and collaborative leadership.

We’re also pleased to welcome City Councillor Maxine DeHart, who will be in attendance as both a community advocate and columnist for "Straight from DeHart." Her presence brings an added layer of community significance and storytelling to the event, highlighting the broader impact of what's happening on the ground.

What You’ll Experience:

· Live EV displays and charging demonstrations from Orchard Ford and Limitless EV

· Interactive 1-hour speaker sessions led by Dale Conway, Founder of Current Taxi (two time slots available)

· A behind-the-scenes look at how Current Taxi evolved from a local electric taxi service to a scalable clean transportation provider

· Practical takeaways on building sustainability into your business model

· Peer networking, Q&A, and an opportunity to contribute to ongoing community leadership

Whether you're looking to electrify your business fleet, understand more about EV infrastructure, or explore how sustainability can shape your operations, this event is designed for you.

Session Focus:
Each of Dale’s two sessions (1 PM & 3 PM) will highlight key decisions, operational pivots, and lessons learned from over 12 million zero-emission kilometers. The format will blend storytelling, practical frameworks, and audience engagement, aligned with the goals of the Sustainable Development Leadership Series to promote peer mentorship and best practices in the Central Okanagan.

This is a free public event, with an Open House style, open to anyone interested in learning and connecting around the future of sustainable business.

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Two Kelowna companies get federal funding for infill housing research

Funds for housing research

(n)Design and icInfrastructure are leading a project that has received $416,001 from the Government of Canada’s Research and Knowledge Initiative. It aims to gather new data and design digital tools to solve challenges related to infill housing.

The two companies are working with five local governments—Kelowna, Regional District of the Central Okanagan, Salmon Arm, Colwood and Calgary—in an effort to identify three key barriers to implementing infill housing in Canadian cities and towns; engage communities, municipalities and developers using human-centred design methods to create practical, user-focused solutions; and develop tools and frameworks to support policymakers and stakeholders in advancing infill projects efficiently and equitably.

“We are honoured to receive this funding to tackle the housing crisis through collaborative, community-driven research,” (n)Design principal designer and founder Sean Shepherd said in a press release. “By putting people at the centre of the process, we aim to design solutions that are both effective and adaptable to local needs.”

The project is one of 18 that have received a total of $10 million from the federal government

“Infill housing represents a sustainable way to increase supply, but the systemic challenges are complex,” icInfrastructure founder and director Iain Cranston said. “Our project will deliver actionable insights that empower cities to unlock the potential of under-utilized land and create more livable, inclusive communities.”

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