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From industry updates to company news and technical insights, we share knowledge that helps architects, engineers, and developers navigate evolving energy codes, optimize design, and drive meaningful change in the built environment.

ASHRAE Technology Award Winner for 2024/25
ASHRAE Technology Award Winner for 2024/25News

ASHRAE Technology Award Winner for 2024/25

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news — Focal has been awarded the ASHRAE Chapter and Region XI Technology Award for work developing the Comox…
June 4, 2025 Read More
Staff Spotlight: Congratulations Kristian Storgard, P.Eng.!
Staff Spotlight: Congratulations Kristian Storgard, P.Eng.!Interview

Staff Spotlight: Congratulations Kristian Storgard, P.Eng.!

We’re thrilled to spotlight one of our talented team members, Kristian Storgard, who recently achieved his Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation—a significant professional milestone that reflects…
May 14, 2025 Read More
Focal Engineering Launches Community Sponsorship Program
Focal Engineering Launches Community Sponsorship ProgramArticle

Focal Engineering Launches Community Sponsorship Program

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Community Sponsorship Program, an initiative that reflects our commitment to supporting the communities we serve. This…
May 14, 2025 Read More
Navigating Energize Vancouver Requirements for 2025: A Reference Guide for Building Owners and Managers
Navigating Energize Vancouver Requirements for 2025: A Reference Guide for Building Owners and ManagersArticle

Navigating Energize Vancouver Requirements for 2025: A Reference Guide for Building Owners and Managers

The City of Vancouver has implemented a multi-year program to intensify its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings. The initiative aims to…
April 22, 2025 Read More
Celebrating 10 Years
Celebrating 10 YearsNews

Celebrating 10 Years

Wow, what a journey! It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since I sat at my kitchen table, writing a business plan for…
February 13, 2025 Read More
Focal Completes 2-Year Vancouver Energy Modelling Project
Focal Completes 2-Year Vancouver Energy Modelling ProjectGuideline

Focal Completes 2-Year Vancouver Energy Modelling Project

In the fast-moving world of consulting, it’s easy to jump straight from one deliverable to the next. But last week, the Victoria team at Focal…
December 1, 2024 Read More
Focal Wins 2023 EcoStar Award
Focal Wins 2023 EcoStar AwardNews

Focal Wins 2023 EcoStar Award

Focal Engineering is honored to have received the Climate Action Award at the Synergy Foundation’s EcoStar Awards Gala on November 9, 2023, at the Laurel…
November 10, 2023 Read More
Step Code Checklist Updates
From Focal
Step Code Checklist Updates
From FocalChecklist

Step Code Checklist Updates
From Focal

Aligning with the recent changes to the BC Building Code and Step Code (BCBC 2018 Revision 5 in effect May 1, 2023), Focal has been…
August 28, 2023 Read More
Stepping Up: Upcoming Changes to the Step Code
Stepping Up: Upcoming Changes to the Step CodeGuideline

Stepping Up: Upcoming Changes to the Step Code

On May 1st, 2023 Revision 5 of the BC Building Code (BCBC) 2018 comes into effect. This brings with it changes to the energy requirements…
March 31, 2023 Read More
Highlighting Passive Design and Resilience on Global News
Highlighting Passive Design and Resilience on Global NewsInterview

Highlighting Passive Design and Resilience on Global News

Focal Engineering was pleased to speak with Global News about the critical role of passive design and resilience in the future of building performance. As…
September 20, 2022 Read More
Danny Taylor welcomed as Associate
Danny Taylor welcomed as AssociateNews

Danny Taylor welcomed as Associate

We are delighted to share that Danny Taylor has become Focal’s first Associate! Danny has been with Focal since its start in 2015 and has…
September 5, 2022 Read More
Energy Efficiency in the Summer
Energy Efficiency in the SummerInterview

Energy Efficiency in the Summer

Focal was interviewed by Engineers Canada about how our “heating dominated” country can start to prepare for warmer summers. Check it out here! Energy efficiency…
June 6, 2022 Read More
Interview by Passive House Canada
Interview by Passive House CanadaInterview

Interview by Passive House Canada

Thank you PHC for the feature! MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – Susan MacDougall, P. Eng., FEC, CHPC, Founder, Focal Engineering – Passive House Canada | Maison Passive…
March 17, 2022 Read More
eSIM 2021 Conference
eSIM 2021 ConferenceConference

eSIM 2021 Conference

Wes presented on some of his recent research at Focal. This study examines the effect of Packaged Terminal Air Conditioning (PTAC) units on the energy…
June 14, 2021 Read More
Ventilation and the Step Code
Ventilation and the Step CodePresentation

Ventilation and the Step Code

Focal was hired by the Township of Langley to create and deliver a presentation for their Builder Forum Series. A recorded version and the presentation…
January 18, 2021 Read More
New Publication: Builder Insight #19- Modelling the Future Climate in Passively Cooled Buildings
New Publication: Builder Insight #19- Modelling the Future Climate in Passively Cooled BuildingsGuideline

New Publication: Builder Insight #19- Modelling the Future Climate in Passively Cooled Buildings

We were pleased to author this Builder Insight for BC Housing, with the support of our friends at Integral Group. This document outlines a methodology…
October 5, 2020 Read More
BC Energy Step Code Tips & Tools
BC Energy Step Code Tips & ToolsTool

BC Energy Step Code Tips & Tools

We’re always looking for tips and tools to share that help demystify some of the complexities around energy modelling. Here are two recent developments that…
July 10, 2020 Read More
International Women in Engineering Day 2020!!
International Women in Engineering Day 2020!!Interview

International Women in Engineering Day 2020!!

In celebration if #INWED2020 we are delighted to profile one of our energy modellers, Sarah Shepherd, who answered a few questions about what brought her…
June 23, 2020 Read More
Focal Turned 5!
Focal Turned 5!News

Focal Turned 5!

On Feb 13, 5 years to the day after we first incorporated, we were delighted to celebrate with our extended Focal family and friends. Thanks…
February 13, 2020 Read More
EcoCity Greenest Office Award!
EcoCity Greenest Office Award!News

EcoCity Greenest Office Award!

Focal is honoured to have won the EcoStar 2019 Award for Greenest Office. We’re grateful to the Synergy Sustainability Institute, Monk Office the award sponsor,…
November 21, 2019 Read More
Step Code Design Guide Supplement: Overheating & Air Quality
Step Code Design Guide Supplement: Overheating & Air QualityArticle

Step Code Design Guide Supplement: Overheating & Air Quality

As the climate warms, buildings are experiencing more overheating in the summer months. What temperatures are too warm? How can designers incorporate energy efficient cooling…
October 7, 2019 Read More
EcoCity World Summit
EcoCity World SummitPresentation

EcoCity World Summit

AC - Session 02A: Urban Design Safe and Affordable Housing: A Basis for Health and Sustainability Focal will be presenting in BC Housing’s session discussing…
October 7, 2019 Read More
Wood Design & Building Article
Wood Design & Building ArticleArticle

Wood Design & Building Article

Check out this article where our colleagues at TransSolar and Fast & Epp discuss the innovative project, The Arbour, at Toronto’s George Brown College. Thanks…
September 21, 2019 Read More
EGBC INNOVATION MAGAZINE: Project Highlights
EGBC INNOVATION MAGAZINE: Project HighlightsArticle

EGBC INNOVATION MAGAZINE: Project Highlights

Every year we enjoy reading about what our professional colleagues are working on in the Project Highlights issue of Innovation Magazine. It’s always great to…
June 7, 2019 Read More
Creating Connections Conference 6.0 Tall Poppies: Maintaining your Confidence
Creating Connections Conference 6.0 Tall Poppies: Maintaining your ConfidencePresentationConference

Creating Connections Conference 6.0 Tall Poppies: Maintaining your Confidence

Focal’s partners and staff frequently present and contribute articles on various topics related to energy efficiency and engineering. Here, Susan joins a panel to talk…
May 4, 2019 Read More
Queen’s Engineering Excellence: 125th Awards
Queen’s Engineering Excellence: 125th AwardsNews

Queen’s Engineering Excellence: 125th Awards

Susan was honoured to be included among 125 award recipients by Queen’s University Faculty of Engineering, celebrating as many years of engineering education, research and…
March 29, 2019 Read More
BC Energy Modellers discuss impacts of future climate conditions
BC Energy Modellers discuss impacts of future climate conditionsNews

BC Energy Modellers discuss impacts of future climate conditions

It’s always a pleasure when energy modelling events and discussions make it into the larger news cycle!   https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/technology/2018/10/bc-energy-modellers-discuss-impacts-future-climate-conditions
October 8, 2018 Read More
Professional Practice Guidelines: Whole Building Energy Modelling
Professional Practice Guidelines: Whole Building Energy ModellingGuideline

Professional Practice Guidelines: Whole Building Energy Modelling

Focal’s Susan MacDougall participated as a reviewer on these Professional Practice Guidelines, that are intended to help raise the bar in the energy modelling industry…
October 4, 2018 Read More
30 by 30 Initiative in 30 Second Sound Bites
30 by 30 Initiative in 30 Second Sound BitesArticle

30 by 30 Initiative in 30 Second Sound Bites

Why are we aiming to have 30% of new professional registrants be female by the year 2030? Learn more by meeting some of the volunteers…
September 11, 2018 Read More
EM=QC2
EM=QC2Article

EM=QC2

It may not be the theory of relativity, but we think this equation is pretty important for building projects with an energy modeller on the…
June 7, 2018 Read More

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