Sustainability

pilot project in 2017, which gave builders a framework for sustainability-focused design decisions, according to O’Neil.

He says that Oxford was a partner in the pilot project from the beginning as part of the group’s overall mandate to reduce its carbon footprint by 30 per cent by 2025.

“I think we’re at the front end of seeing this implemented across the industry. And I do expect further adoption of the standard by other folks,” he said.

“We learned how to apply the zero-carbon standard for this project, and we’re going to carry that forward to future projects that we’re going to develop in Vancouver and elsewhere.”

Traditionally, buildings utilize natural gas boilers to produce heat. In the case of The Stack, Oxford has pivoted away from that to use electrification, according to O’Neil.

“We have a heat-recovery system on this project that allows us to significantly reduce any gas you use to heat the building. And any gas that is used initially, will be offset 100 per cent, so that’s the real differentiator,” he said.

Many other developers are looking for ways to ensure that their builds are carbon efficient, according to Sasha Faris, president at First Track Investment.

“A lot of that is going to start weighing into people’s investment practices from the level that they don’t want to get into buildings that aren’t meeting their carbon emission goals,” he said.

But building with environmental considerations in mind is not without its challenges. The rigorous requirements of the BC Energy Step Code, and the cost of sustainable building, can add complexity to projects.

The code is an optional path that can be used by municipalities to incentivize builders to build projects in a more energy efficient manner, beyond the requirements of the BC Building Code. The City of Vancouver currently has its own Zero Emissions Building Plan that is similar to blueprints offered by the Energy Step Code.

“It’s very tough from our standpoint, just the sheer construction costs of the materials that are better suited for the environment. The hardest part is that we need to be more efficient. I would say we have to find new economies of scale to make these products a bit more feasible and easier to obtain from a cost standpoint,” Faris said.

Some developers are finding other ways to incorporate sustainability into their projects.

Southlands Tsawwassen, for example, takes inspiration from agrarian communities, and has homes placed next to agricultural land.

“We’re progressively being forced anyway into some very, very high energy and environment standards. And yet, I think the missing piece of sustainability really is that social sustainability piece. Are we really bringing people together?” said Sean Hodgins, president of Century Group, which is developing the Southlands project on 530 acres of land – 80 per cent of which is public.

Social sustainability, Hodgins says, is much harder to codify. He says he hopes Southlands will bring people together in a meaningful way, revitalize the land and promote long-term living.

Faris says that construction is slowly but surely finding new ways to implement climate-oriented initiatives, and to educate buyers about how their dollars are doing more than just buying a home.

“We obviously want to be a part of that conversation and say: Okay, what is it that we can do to make homeowners happy and feel good about their purchase? Does it benefit the current landscape and reduce the carbon footprint in a way where they feel good about the money spent?’”

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EarthquakE tip

As British Columbians, we live and work in an earthquake zone where more than 1,200 small earthquakes are recorded annually. One of these could be "the big one." Prepare for an earthquake NOW to minimize and avoid injury and property damage.

EarthquakE tip

Seek advice from professionals – such as building engineers and emergency preparedness authorities – if you are unsure about what to do.

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EarthquakE tip

Discuss earthquake insurance with your insurance broker. Check your coverage – it could affect your financial ability to recover losses after an earthquake.

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There are certain things that just make Vancouver, Vancouver. Landmarks, nature, traditions. And of course, Business in Vancouver.

There are certain things that just make Vancouver, Vancouver. Landmarks, nature, traditions. And of course, Business in Vancouver

In fact, from our perspective, so intertwined are we within the city dynamic, the two are essentially equal parts of the whole. It’s easy, really: Business + Vancouver = Business in Vancouver.

There are certain things that just make Vancouver, Vancouver. Landmarks, nature, traditions. And of course, Business in Vancouver.

In fact, from our perspective, so intertwined are we within the city dynamic, the two are essentially equal parts of the whole. It’s easy, really: Business + Vancouver = Business in Vancouver.

In fact, from our perspective, so intertwined are we within the city dynamic, the two are essentially equal parts of the whole. It’s easy, really: Business + Vancouver = Business in Vancouver.

We are business in Vancouver.

We are business in Vancouver.

We are business in Vancouver.

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