Thrive Energy Inc.

08/09/2026

Okanagan building science people: who do you know?

We're looking to add a Registered Energy Advisor to the Thrive team, part time or contract. The work is what you'd expect from us: site visits, blower door testing, HOT2000 modelling, F280 calcs, and Step Code files from Vernon down to Penticton.

We provide the equipment. Current NRCan registration and a vehicle necessary. Pay is based on experience and we're flexible on hourly versus per file.

Room to grow for the right person. If that's you, or someone you've worked with, we'd love to hear about it. Tag them below or email [email protected]

kelownajobs vernonbc pentictonbc hiring energyefficiency

08/09/2026

Thrive Energy Inc. (West Kelowna) is looking for a Registered Energy Advisor to help with extra capacity on a part time or contract basis. Site visits, blower door testing, HOT2000 energy modelling, and CSA F280-12 calculations for new and existing homes across the Okanagan, Vernon to Penticton.

You must already hold current NRCan Energy Advisor registration. This is not a trainee position.

Own vehicle required, equipment provided. Pay based on experience, hourly or per file. Travel paid on longer trips. Start ASAP, with room to grow for the right person.

Send your background and availability to [email protected]!

Send a message to learn more

06/22/2026

If you're building or renovating in the Okanagan, here's what an energy advisor actually does (and when you need one)

A lot of people don't realize an energy advisor is now part of every new build in BC, and bringing one in early can save you real money and headaches.

In plain terms, here's where we come in:

Early design: we energy model the proposed structure so your plan actually passes BC Energy Step Code before you're committed to anything expensive to change. We also provide C

During the build: we handle things like blower door airtightness testing and heat load calculations, so your mechanical system is sized right and the house performs the way it should.

At the finish line: we do your EnerGuide evaluation and final compliance paperwork, so you get your occupancy without last minute surprises.

The builds that go smoothest are almost always the ones where this gets sorted at the start rather than scrambled at the end.

We put together a short video showing who we are and how we work. We're a local West Kelowna firm and certified CHBA Net Zero energy advisors, working with homeowners, builders and developers across the Okanagan.

Happy to answer questions in the comments if you're planning something and not sure where an energy advisor fits in.

06/19/2026

Thinking about a prefab, modular, or manufactured home in BC? Good news for 2026.

CMHC's new Prefab Plus program makes these homes easier to finance, with as little as 5% down. And here is the part that makes it much more accessible: normally a bare lot is tough to finance on its own, so buyers often have to pay cash for the land first. With Prefab Plus, the land purchase and site prep can be the first advance of the mortgage itself, so you do not need the full cost of the lot sitting in the bank to get started.

Better still, because new BC homes are built to the Energy Step Code, yours very likely qualifies for Eco Plus too, which gives back 25% of your mortgage insurance cost.

Whether you are a builder, a buyer, a realtor, or a mortgage broker, our new guide explains how it all fits together, and how to get the refund.

Read it here:

Maximize your savings on modular and prefab builds in BC. Discover CMHC Eco programs, Prefab Plus incentives, and energy compliance steps.

05/05/2026

Heads up for mortgage brokers and realtors.

CMHC Eco Plus gives homeowners a 25% refund on their mortgage loan insurance. Most clients don't know about it. For BC new builds since May 2023, Step Code already gets the home over the qualifying threshold. Usually all that's missing is the EnerGuide label.

On a $625K home with 10% down, that's about $4,359 back to your client.

Full breakdown on the blog.

A guide for Okanagan mortgage brokers and realtors: how the CMHC Eco Plus and Eco Improvement programs work, who qualifies, and why bringing them up wins deals.

04/23/2026

Mortgage brokers: many of your CMHC-insured clients qualify for a 25% refund on their mortgage insurance premium, and nobody’s telling them about it.

On an $800,000 home with 10% down, that’s roughly $5,580 back in your client’s pocket. On bigger mortgages, more. The refund is issued directly by CMHC, not through the lender, so your client sees it as found money that they wouldn’t have known about without you.

Two programs cover it:

Eco Plus is for buyers of newly built, energy-efficient homes. Most BC new construction since 2023 already qualifies under Step Code, so it applies to more of your new-build deals than you’d think, including condos. If they already have an EnerGuide label, that’s all they need.

Eco Improvement is for clients with an existing CMHC mortgage doing $20,000+ in qualifying upgrades. Heat pump installs, insulation, windows, solar, DHW, and more.

Why flag it with your clients:

Referrals and repeat business. Clients remember the broker who saved them thousands they didn’t know about.

Differentiation in a competitive market. Most brokers aren’t talking about this. You can be.

Applies to closings up to 24 months ago. Past clients from the last two years who bought new construction or have done major upgrades are still in the window.

We handle the energy advisor side. EnerGuide evaluations, documentation, and guidance through the CMHC application. You flag it, we do the technical work, your client submits. Other mortgage insurance companies offer similar programs too - not just CMHC.

If you’ve got buyers or past clients who might qualify, send them our way. DM us or reach out directly.

04/22/2026

Renovators, your next major reno client could be sitting on up to $8,800 in CleanBC rebate money and they probably don’t know it.

The rebates only unlock if a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation is on file BEFORE work begins. No evaluation, no rebate. And if your client finds out after the fact, it’s the contractor who looks like the one who dropped the ball.

We just modeled a 1960s Okanagan home for a whole-home retrofit. The full upgrade package included attic, walls, basement, crawlspace, high-efficiency DHW, dual fuel heat pump, HRV, and a 10 kW rooftop solar array. Pre-upgrade EnerGuide rating: 172 GJ/year. Post-upgrade target: 14 GJ/year. That’s a 92% energy reduction.

Important to note: that’s what was modeled for this specific client, not what your client has to do to qualify. A minimum of 3 qualifying upgrades unlocks the Home Energy Improvement Bonus, and insulation rebates stack individually. The solar array was this homeowner’s choice, not a rebate requirement. Every scope is different and we tailor the strategy to whatever your client is actually planning.

Rebate breakdown on this file: Home Renovation Rebate Program insulation rebates: up to $6,500 Two-upgrade bonus: $300 Home Energy Improvement Bonus: up to $2,000 Total potential: approximately $8,800

If you’re running major renovations in the Okanagan, let’s talk. We handle the EnerGuide evaluations and rebate paperwork. You run the job. Your client gets thousands back.

DM us or visit thriveenergyinc.com.

EnergyRebates EnerGuide HomeRenovation BCRebates BCEnergyStepCode EnergyEfficiency HeatPump HomeRetrofit GreenBuilding OkanaganBuilders

04/21/2026

A quiet mismatch on most new builds in the Okanagan right now: tight, well-insulated envelopes paired with furnaces sized for homes that no longer exist. Here's what the F280 numbers are actually showing.

An F280 heat load calculation stops the 3x to 5x HVAC oversizing common in Okanagan new builds. Get the right target before mechanical goes to tender.

04/15/2026

This week on the blog, we got into the details that matter for builders when it comes to air sealing details. Check it out here

Air barrier details that actually pass blower door testing for BC builders. Rim joist, window, and attic hatch sealing techniques.

04/02/2026

There's nothing better than hearing from the people you've worked hard for.
We put together this short video with some of the builders and homeowners we've had the privilege of working with at Thrive Energy. From BC Energy Step Code compliance to EnerGuide evaluations and rebate documentation, we're here to make the process straightforward from start to finish.
If you're planning a new build or renovation in BC and want to know where energy compliance, testing fits in, send us a message. We're always happy to chat.