Vancouver, BC – The Manufactured Housing Association of British Columbia (MHABC) congratulates and supports the City of Vancouver’s recent announcement advancing the Natural Gas Amendment to build more attainable housing faster.
MHABC sees the city’s decision as leveraging the benefits of modular construction, which realizes a 42% reduction in emissions compared to site built as per Dr. Mohamed Al-Hussein, PHD, Peng study. By utilizing renewable gas through existing infrastructure, homes can achieve affordable solutions for reducing emissions at the outset, during plant construction, and throughout long-term operations.
“This is a strong move in supporting a provincial initiative to get more affordable and sustainable housing into Vancouver as quickly as possible,” says MHABC advocacy lead Paul Binotto. “This initiative, along with modular construction’s 42% reduced emissions compared to site-built homes, a 50-70% decrease in site waste, and carbon-neutral home operations with the option of electric or renewable gas, offers affordability and energy resiliency.”
BC modular is not only affordable but also sustainable.
Over the past two years, MHABC’s advocacy program has been instrumental in supporting initiatives aimed at expediting home construction in B.C., with a particular focus on single and multi-unit housing. Our efforts have been centered around developing ‘Modular Friendly’ by-laws, comprehensive permitting checklists, and specialized inspectors’ checklists. These tools are designed to streamline processes and promote the efficient integration of modular housing solutions across the province.
Modular construction in BC not only gets housing out faster and more affordably but also creates jobs and stimulates economic growth.
MHABC’s collaboration with the B.C. government, various municipalities, and the Building Officials’ Association of British Columbia (BOABC) has been crucial in advancing these initiatives. Together, we have worked diligently to highlight the critical role of factory-built housing as a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective solution to B.C.’s housing needs. These resources and a holistic approach to energy management make modular construction key to implementing provincial housing initiatives while minimizing stress on municipal infrastructure. This approach also supports Vancouver’s move to allow the integration of gas and renewable gas into new construction projects.