Jessica McIlroyManager, Buildings

Jessica McIlroy is the manager of the Pembina Institute’s Buildings program, working to rapidly scale our building decarbonization efforts.

Jessica is also currently a city councillor with the City of North Vancouver and works with Climate Caucus, a non-profit network of local government elected officials leading the transformation needed for communities to thrive within planetary boundaries. She is passionate about advancing climate policy and action within local governments and sits on the B.C. Municipal Climate Leaders Council, Lower Mainland Local Government Association Executive, and Metro Vancouver Climate Action Committee

Jessica has previously held leadership positions with the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association, the B.C. Women in Energy Network, and Marine Renewables Canada, part of an extensive history of working to advance clean energy in B.C. and across Canada. She holds a B.Sc. in environmental science, an M.Sc. in environmental sustainability, and an MBA.

When not working, Jessica takes every opportunity to be in the forest and mountains with her family and two dogs. Whether it is backpacking, biking, skiing or running, she’s always happiest outdoors.

Contact Jessica McIlroy

cell: 604-992-6462 • email: jessicam@pembina.org • tweet: @jessicamcilroy

Jessica McIlroy's Recent Publications

An joint industry letter to B.C. municipal councils It's time for local governments to adopt the Zero Carbon Step Code

Publication Sept. 20, 2023- By Betsy Agar, Jessica McIlroy

As practitioners, professionals and advocates in the buildings sector, we are urging local governments to recognize these capabilities and adopt the highest tier of Zero Carbon Step Code no later than 2025.

The Role of Renewable Natural Gas in the Zero Carbon Step Code A primer for B.C. local governments to decarbonize the building sector

Publication June 20, 2023- By Jessica McIlroy

This paper is a resource for B.C. local governments to better understand the role of and relationship between building codes/performance and RNG and other low-carbon fuels in decarbonizing the building sector.

Getting Canada’s homes in order Opportunities for transformative action through the Canada Green Building Strategy

Publication June 19, 2023- By Jessica McIlroy, Betsy Agar, Tom-Pierre Frappé-Sénéclauze

How the Canada Green Buildings Strategy can help create safer, healthier, more resilient buildings, and stimulate industry and market transformation through deep retrofits.

Aligning incentives with B.C.'s goals Ensuring utility demand-side measures are effective tools to meeting climate and energy goals

Blog June 7, 2023- By Jessica McIlroy

British Columbia has taken a big step towards achieving its net-zero commitments for buildings by proposing changes to the Demand-side Measures Regulation, which governs demand-side management (DSM) programs for gas and electric utilities in the province. The proposed changes to the DSM regulation are a good start towards transitioning B.C.’s homes to cleaner sources of heating, while improving affordability.

Effective demand-side energy measures Aligning utility incentives with B.C.’s climate and energy goals

Publication June 7, 2023- By Jessica McIlroy, Betsy Agar, Tom-Pierre Frappé-Sénéclauze

The Province of B.C. is proposing changes to the Demand-side Measures Regulation, the framework by which the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) assesses the adequacy and cost-effectiveness of the gas and electric utilities demand-side management (DSM) programs.