When the idea first came up for retrofitting a bus into a mobile workshop and showroom, there were a few of us at Small Planet who were a bit skeptical. Since then, even the most reluctant of the staff admit to being intrigued by the transformation that is taking place at our Tumwater warehouse.

In October, Albert Rooks, CEO of Small Planet Supply, took possession of a four-year-old Starcraft 25-foot shuttle bus and began planning the transformation. Now, halfway through the change, we asked him why this was so important to him, especially since running the Better Building Coach entails using fuel.

Albert stated that he did weigh the carbon cost of running the bus against the potential benefits when making his decision and decided that the long-term benefits were worth it.  “I think the Better Building Coach is a very effective way for people to see new technology for building really efficient buildings.  I think the key to our future in respect to climate change is through industry education. By familiarizing people with new technology and building materials, they will become more comfortable specifying and installing them. By having a functioning HRV system, people will be able to experience first-hand the filtered fresh air inside the Better Building Coach, no matter where it is located.   In addition, I’m hoping the Better Building Coach will provide a platform to talk about and share ideas on the myriad of ways you can make buildings better.”

The technology that will be showcased in the Better Building Coach includes:

• Operational Zehnder ComfoAir 350 Q

• Operational Sanden CO2 Heat Pump Water Heater

• Zehnder ComfoAir 200

• ComfoAir 70

• Natural insulation materials (ThermaCork and Havelock wool)

• High-performance building tapes and membranes

The Better Building Coach will make its first stop in Vancouver, BC at the Vancouver BuildEx show on February 12 and then it will begin its journey through Washington, Oregon, and on to California.  It will return north to Canada later in the year for workshops there. If you’re interested in our scheduling a stop in your city or at your workplace, complete the Mechanical Workshop Request form on our Upcoming Mechanical Workshop page and we’ll do our best to get you on board. You can also follow our building progress and travels via #betterbuildingcoach.