Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society provides grassroots leadership and an inclusive process, with a voice for all community members, to ensure that our community grows and develops in a way that incorporates an environmental ethic, offers a range of housing and transportation choices, encourages a vibrant and cultural life and supports sustainable, meaningful employment and business opportunities.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Creating Real Jobs in Cranbrook

Canada's 1st Passivhaus
We often talk about creating new jobs here in Cranbrook but the answers provided by local government seem to be based on an old economic model that is exceptionally reliant on the Albertan 2nd home market or building another golf course. While this can create good paying construction jobs we have seen that this model is  exceptionally susceptible to outside forces beyond our control. Why not make Cranbrook the manufacturing centre for innovative new green building? Through the use of new technology, the Passivhaus use 90% less energy than traditional building methods. While a relatively new construction standard in Canada they have quickly becoming the standard in Europe. They will become increasingly popular as our energy prices continue to go up but additionally they could create a new job creation engine.  Germany has become a world leader in this type of building and as such they are producing thousands of new jobs in the area of green construction and manufacturing.  Why can Cranbrook not become a centre for this type of construction and manufacturing?  Isn't it time for new ideas in Cranbrook.
To read more about Passivhauses go to:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2011/01/27/ZeroEnergyHomes/

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