Last week’s “Get Your Business Winter Ready” event at the Nelson Home Hardware Building Centre brought together business owners, contractors, and energy experts for an evening of learning, networking, and hands-on demonstrations.

With temperatures dropping, many small businesses in Nelson are seeing energy bills rise.

Prior to the event, Chamber Business & Climate Advisor Grace Henecka joined James Bourget, Building Specialist with RDH Building Science, for a downtown business walk to test for air leakage and energy loss. They identified significant heat loss, especially in older, less efficient heritage buildings.

While many business owners don’t have the resources or building ownership to make major upgrades, small improvements like weather-stripping and caulking can go a long way.

“That’s why we wanted to bring everyone together at one event—to connect business owners with the knowledge and resources to make impactful changes, instead of having to figure it all out on their own,” says Grace Henecka, Chamber Business & Climate Advisor.

At the event, James shared low-cost, practical techniques and products, demonstrating how effective air sealing can make a real difference.

“Quick fixes like sealing gaps and cracks often take less than 15 minutes—but they can make a big difference in comfort and energy savings,” says James Bourget.

Participants also learned about DIY upgrades and rebate programs to help reduce energy use, lower costs, and improve comfort this winter.

If you didn’t get a chance to attend but want to learn more or connect with your sector peers, join the Chambers upcoming Business Breakfast series, November 10–14.

A huge thank-you to Home Hardware Nelson for hosting and to FortisBC for supporting this event and helping local businesses reduce energy costs and emissions this winter. 💡❄️