Interview conducted & produced by David Dodge, Subaru of America in production with Green Energy Futures.
– Original blog post with video at >> http://www.greenenergyfutures.ca Episode #213
– We’ve seen some amazing super energy efficient buildings on Green Energy Futures, including living buildings and net-zero churches, homes and even department stores. But we’ve never heard of anyone doing what the Scott Subaru car dealership in Red Deer is doing.
Garrett Scott: “Hi, I’m Garrett Scott, I’m the dealer principal of Scott Subaru in Red Deer and we have almost completed our construction of the World’s first Passive House car dealership.”
– Scott said they were inspired to do something special when they visited the Subaru plant in Indiana.
Scott: “Subaru America has a zero waste plant and the plant is also sitting on a wildlife nature preserve as well. They’ve got incredible kind of wetland and green space around it and the zero waste is pretty unique when you consider manufacturing; you’re always wasting a little bit, you would think.”
– Inspired by the zero waste idea, Scott came back to Red Deer and talked to Cover Architects and came up with the idea of building the first car dealership built to the Passive House standard.
Scott: “We wanted to be able to have the ultimate calling card and have something that was so unique but also represent some of our values. Why waste if we don’t have to? Why build something that is just ‘Ho Hum’, that everyone else has done before and if you’re going to be in one spot for 50 years or want to be here for 50 years more; let’s build a legacy project that means something today as much as it would 20 years from now.”
– There are many reasons why they undertook the project.
Scott: “We’re talking about eliminating 80% of our heating and cooling costs almost and that’s the reason we did it. That’s cool. That’s really quite exciting.”
– But it’s about more than saving money.
Scott: “Being as efficient as it is from an energy standpoint motivates us to take our business and follow a similar trend we try and make the most efficient process for our customers from a purchase standpoint, from a repair standpoint, but also then correlate that into our staff; Passive House buildings are considered much more livable and much more enjoyable than your standard commercial building is.”
– So how do you take a car showroom with floor-to-ceiling windows to Passive House standards?
Scott: “So, Passive House is essentially an unbreakable blanket around the building that keeps it insulated from the environment outside and that goes with the walls, the windows, the doors, and also the foundation, the flooring. You build exterior walls that are getting close to 20-22 inches thick; you’ve got four layers of different types of insulation, types of material, impenetrable barriers.
– All of this adds up to a car dealership that uses 80% less energy and doesn’t have a conventional furnace.
Scott: “There is heat recovery units and then super efficient air-source heat pumps and these air source heat pumps, they can be 200% more efficient than a furnace and with that you get those incredibly low consumption numbers, and they’re rated now to be available in Alberta for temperatures down to -30. We’re very confident that this will get done but the big issue with this building isn’t necessarily heating it, the envelope is keeping the heat in, it’s cooling it and these heat pumps also work in the inverse fashion and they cool the building too.”
– Garrett’s grandfather Kipp Scott opened the family’s first car dealership in Red Deer 50 years ago. Garrett says this is a legacy project that he hopes will still be cool 20 years from now.
Scott: “This building will also garner some more exposure than a traditional new dealership would and that’s also one of the big motivators in doing this is to achieve the goals we have as a Subaru dealer. We need to be extremely unique. This helps us get there.
National Small Business Week is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship that has been celebrated for over 40 years.
Did you know:
Canada has over 1 million small businesses currently in operation!
For statistical purposes, a small business has between 1-99 employees, but most have less than 10.
These small businesses employ over 8 million Canadians.
By comparison, only 2.5 million Canadians are employed in medium sized businesses (100-500 employees).
In 2019, Canadian small businesses contributed 36.7% of our gross domestic product (GDP).
*Statistics taken from Statistics Canada – Innovation, Science and Economic Development website.
Time is running out to apply for the
Catalyst Incubator!
Calling local entrepreneurs! The Catalyst Incubator, funded through the Central Alberta Innovation Network (CARIN) and provided by Community Futures Central Alberta, is nearing its registration deadline.
Both Fall and Winter registration dates for this unique, cohort-based program helping to foster new ideas, make critical connections, and help start-up businesses are now open. The Catalyst Incubator is 100% FREE and focuses on supporting start-ups in manufacturing, agriculture, technology, energy innovation, and more.
Increase your business’ online presence with free help from the Digital Service Squad
The Digital Service Squad (DSS) is designed to help small businesses take their businesses online. This program, a partnership between Business Link, Community Futures and Digital Main Street, will help small businesses in Alberta undergo digital transformations and adopt eCommerce practices. DSS is open to home-based or commercial small businesses registered in Alberta with less than 50 employees.
Digital Service Squads guides businesses through digital transformation. Small businesses can apply to participate in the program, free of charge.
In this edition of our Quarterly Update, we shine a spotlight on the Community Futures Central Alberta Flex Loan. Flex Loans are available to clients in all industries, including home-based and storefront. The loans can be used for equipment, inventory, renovations, marketing, working capital, etc.
According to CFCA Business Analyst Kelsey Krieger, “Flex loans offer our clients a lower interest rate and a lower barrier to entry to qualify for financial support for their small business or startup. This product allows clients to make near-term plans for purchasing needed equipment or doing important upgrades to their business.”
• Qualification for unsecured (will still take GSA and personal guarantee) will be based on credit history and net worth.
CFCA introduces Tyler Harke as its new Community Economic Development Coordinator
Community Futures Central Alberta is pleased to welcome Tyler Harke as its newest staff member.
Tyler is a life-long Albertan who comes from a family of entrepreneurs. He is excited to serve in both the Community Economic Development role as well as part of the Digital Services Squad.
Tyler brings over 15 years of experience in marketing and communications roles and looks forward to playing a key role in helping small business thrive in this great region!
Join Mike Szabo on a journey of stories and songs he wrote and the covers that inspired him. Mike is promoting the release of his debut vinyl LP, Take My Heart 2020. Cover for the show is by donation and guests will be seated first come, first served.
Fish in a Birdcage at The Velvet Olive
October 28th @8:30
Dustan Townsend AKA “Fish in a Birdcage” is a young and passionate musical virtuoso. Townsend is originally from Red Deer, Alberta and is now on a two year long busking/street performing adventure around Europe with Spain being his next destination.
Yep, you heard that right! We’re hosting a Grand Opening celebration for Red Deer’s largest music store! When Long and McQuade bought the business in February of 2020, plans to renovate the store were made but had to be postponed. Fast forward to 2022, renovations are now finished and we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the occasion with YOU, our amazing customers!
Come to the store on Oct. 29 for some awesome giveaway prizes, live music, and free food. Our BBQ will be fired up from 12 to 2 and we have live music scheduled from some excellent local musicians!
Love must conquer clever disguises in this delightful comic masterpiece.
The Games of Love and Chance was originally written by Pierre de Marivaux at the height of opulence and extravagance during the reign of Louis XV in France. This playful and witty comedy has been newly translated and adapted by Artistic Director, Richard Beaune and this is it’s world premiere! Indulge in an evening (or afternoon) of love, laughter and decadent silliness as Red Deer’s only professional theatre company brings this sumptuous story of love and deception to life on stage.
Starpainter is a folk rock band from Lethbridge, Alberta. They wear their influences on their sleeves, showcasing strong songwriting and an affinity for gently psychedelic alt-country tones. The band has been growing a following on the strength of their debut full-length titled Bury Me By My Family (2020). Their imaginative, guitar-heavy live show is built on a foundation of prairie-born craftsmanship with a pop sensibility that defies their youth.
