Vancouver, B.C., recently adopted a new policy requiring zero greenhouse gas emissions on new buildings by 2030.
All new buildings will have to be heated, cooled, and powered without any net emissions. Starting now, all new city-owned and Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency projects must meet the high standard.Â
The head of the city’s green buildings program said new city projects will be a testing ground for techniques that will later be codified into the building standards. By 2025, all rezoned residential developments will have to achieve net-zero. All other new buildings must reach the standard by 2030.
The city council will fund a non-governmental Zero Emissions Building Centre of Excellence to dispense information and advice on how to reach net zero. It is expected that much of what will need to be done reach the ambitious goal involves tightening the building envelope.
Related Stories
Sustainability | Sep 19, 2016
Brussels’ Botanic Center apartment block looks to live up to its name with the addition of 10,000 plants and a rooftop “Chrysalis”
The project, which has been commissioned and is in the design phase, would eliminate CO2 and produce its own energy.
Energy | Sep 13, 2016
Oberlin College to hold conference on post-fossil fuel economy
The gathering will address climate change and new sources of energy.
BIM and Information Technology | Sep 7, 2016
Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool updated to factor in waste management
The costs and benefits of managing 29 types of waste are now included.
Sustainability | Aug 30, 2016
New federal project plans must include climate impacts
Agencies must quantify the specific impacts when possible.
Sponsored | Coatings | Aug 29, 2016
Making a greener future with biorenewable coatings
 Biorenewable and recycled materials help eliminate waste and reduce the use of virgin materials
Great Solutions | Aug 23, 2016
Visual energy model database demystifies net-zero design
Diamond Schmitt Architects’ ecoMetrics tool allows its designers to quickly analyze solutions based on models from 44 LEED-certified projects.
Energy Efficiency | Aug 17, 2016
Investor Confidence Project aimed at raising trustworthiness on energy efficiency projects
The new initiative screens projects to see if they are investor-ready.
| Aug 3, 2016
GREEN BUILDING GIANTS: Sustainability leaders turn to wellness and technology to get an edge
AEC leaders in green building are stepping up to a higher level of innovation and to be a green leader today, you have to dig deeper into data.
| Aug 3, 2016
Top 60 Green Building Engineering Firms
Jacobs, AECOM, and Arup top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest green building sector engineering and E/A firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 3, 2016
Top 90 Green Building Construction Firms
Turner Construction Co., Clark Group, and Hensel Phelps top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest green building sector construction and construction management firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
