BRITISH COLUMBIA BRITISH COLUMBIA
Canada Green Building Council ISSUE 9, FALL 2020, British Columbia Chapter - CaGBC Regional Publication /
FOCUS
WILSON SCHOOL OF DESIGN LEED Gold project advances creativity and urban development
COPPER SPIRIT DISTILLERY A boutique merging of residential and industrial
UVIC DISTRICT ENERGY PLANT Compact building employs passive strategies
TAKING ACTION
Why we need to design and build with carbon in mind
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Message from the British Columbia Chapter of the CaGBC Hello from Thomas Mueller S u s t a i n a b l e Architecture and Building Magazine’s British Columbia FOCUS is one of our favourite ways to celebrate green building achievements across the province. It also affords me the pleasure of updating readers the Canada Green Building Council’s work here in my home province and beyond. The last few months have been unprecedented in many ways. We have all had to adjust in the face of the pandemic. For us, this meant moving our annual conference, Building Lasting Change (BLC) online. Now with BLC 2020 officially in the books, I am pleased to say it was a resounding success. We changed BLC to reflect this new reality in other ways as well. The theme, “Ready, Set, Recover,” speaks to the potential we see in a post-pandemic green recovery. A new CaGBC report entitled “Canada’s Green Building Engine: Market Impact and Opportunities in a Critical Decade” explores the impact of a green recovery that prioritizes green buildings and leverages progressive policies. It shows that a green recovery can deliver 1.5 million direct green building jobs, $150 billion in direct GDP from green building and a reduction in carbon of 53 MT CO2e by 2030. These findings are particularly relevant given the recent Speech from the Throne. In it, the federal government recommitted to its 2030 climate targets and to decarbonization by 2050.
Most recently, the Canada Infrastructure Bank announced $2 billion for building retrofit projects, providing the right market signal to drive much-needed energy retrofits of Canada’s existing stock of large buildings. The current pandemic also drove home the need for greener, healthier buildings. Buildings certified under LEED, which already accounts for many factors of occupant health and wellbeing, will have a head start when it comes to this shift in focus. LEED has introduced new “Safety-first” pilot credits for sustainable best practices that align with public health and industry guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting, workplace re-occupancy, plumbing operations, and indoor air quality. In this issue, you will find stories about healthy and green B.C. projects, some that are addressing embodied carbon, and others that leverage innovative design to reduce carbon emissions, energy and water use. This focus on energy is reflected in some new updates for Canadian LEED projects. Our team has worked diligently to develop a new alternative compliance path (ACP) that recognizes the local code authority’s energy reviews for any project that achieves Step 2 or beyond under the B.C. Energy Step Code. A second ACP we championed addresses the market compatibility of the latest ASHRAE energy standard referenced in LEED v4.1. The new ACP can be used by projects across the country to ensure that energy is measured based on consumption (not cost) to ensure efficient, low-carbon buildings. We will be sharing more about these ACPs in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue and B.C.’s many achievements in transforming our built environment. Sincerely, Thomas Mueller, President Canada Green Building Council
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In this issue
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7. Membership Update 8. Taking Action Why We Need to Design and Build With Carbon in Mind 10. Copper Spirit Distillery - Boutique operation merges residential and industrial
8 15. Wilson School of Design LEED Gold project advances creativity and urban development
28. Turning Our Attention to embodied carbon in both new and existing buildings
22. UVic District Energy Plant Consolidation, efficient equipment, and passive design bring big energy savings
30. CaGBC’s updated Zero Carbon Building Standard fast-tracks carbon reductions by balancing rigour and flexibility
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A joint publishing project of the British Columbia Chapter - CaGBC and SABMag. Address all inquiries to Don Griffith: dgriffith@sabmagazine.com Published by Janam Publications Inc. | www.sabmagazine.com | www.janam.net
Printed on Domtar Husky Opaque text offset paper.
Cover: The Wilson School of Design, Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Photo: Adrien Williams
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CaGBC MEMBERSHIP UPDATE Keep up to date by attending one of our diverse education sessions.
Get involved with the B.C. Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council
The B.C. Chapter’s network of green building professionals is a premier source for education, training and cutting-edge green building information throughout B.C. We provide support and advocacy for green building programs including LEED, WELL Building Standard, and the Zero Carbon Building Standard. Through involvement with the chapter, individuals have the opportunity to access local educational, volunteering, networking and leadership opportunities.
Join Us!
Our members are key innovators and thought leaders of tomorrow’s sustainable world. If you are not already a member, join the CaGBC and our public and private sector member organizations across the country to help transform Canada with greener buildings and healthier communities. All employees of a National member company (either a Green Building Specialist or Green Building Advocate) are entitled to a free B.C. Chapter membership (or other Chapter of their choice). If you are not an employee of a national member company you can join the B.C. Chapter as an individual for $100 per year. Emerging Green Professionals can join for just $35.
Find out more about our membership structure and the many benefits available at www.cagbc.org/britishcolumbia
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TAKING ACTION Why We Need to Design and Build With Carbon in Mind By Lisa Conway
In recent years, human-centered design and biophilic design have been key initiatives in commercial architecture. In the industry’s mission to consider both how individuals experience a space and the effect of materials within the space, a building's impact on climate change beyond operational energy became an afterthought in some cases. Today, the building sector is the world’s single largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), accounting for nearly 40% of total global GHG emissions according to the International Energy Agency. Experts say that carbon emissions from the built environment must peak within the next 15 years for Earth to stay below the global warming tipping point.
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Architects and designers in Canada and across the globe have an opportunity to help curb emissions in the built environment by specifying products that promote green chemistry, a circular economy and a healthier climate across the billions of square metres of new buildings and major renovations worldwide. Buildings produce two types of carbon emissions. The first is operational carbon, which is defined as the carbon dioxide emitted during the life of the building, such as the energy used for heating, cooling and lighting. The second is embodied carbon, which is the carbon dioxide emitted as building materials are manufactured, transported and constructed.
The Interface office in Toronto. Interface is working toward being a carbon negative company by 2040.
It’s crucial that we reduce both emission types, but reducing embodied or “upfront” carbon is the most urgent opportunity as it stands today. Knowing that, architecture and design firms have an immense opportunity to push climate change initiatives forward by proactively working to reduce embodied carbon. Through carbon-action organizations, such as materialsCAN, as well as careful research and strategic material specification, we can create spaces that produce measurable benefits backed by science. In fact, those specifying and manufacturing products for the built environment have the opportunity to create a positive impact on the planet and the health of society at large. Here are four strategies to keep in mind that reduce embodied carbon: • Reuse materials, material waste and buildings whenever possible to eliminate the need to create new materials and construction. The use of recycled content does more than simply divert waste materials from landfills. By replacing virgin materials with pre- and post-consumer recycled content, manufacturers can reduce energy consumption, GHG emissions and more. However, recycling isn’t only about what goes into products, but also what happens at end-of-life. In some cases, manufacturers will reclaim and recycle building materials through product take-back programs, so look for third-party verified programs to ensure products enter a closed loop system. • Understand high-impact materials from a carbon standpoint and pay attention to the embodied carbon of those materials, including concrete, steel, wood, glass, insulation, carpet and more. In fact, there are new resources available that compare the amount of embodied carbon emitted by each potential product, such as the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool. The EC3 tool enables users to measure their project’s carbon footprint as well as compare and evaluate building materials that will help lower embodied carbon emissions.
• Look for transparency documentation, such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), on the products and materials specified. Take note of recycled and bio-based content as this can point to reduced embodied carbon. Manufacturers should disclose this information about their processes, product contents and overall impacts on the environment and human health. However, it’s important to dig deeper and proactively ask manufacturers about their processes to better understand the strengths and weaknesses before specifying products. • Engage and educate suppliers, partners and other vendors about embodied carbon and ask for their current and future strategies to reduce their carbon footprint. While this might seem like a moonshot strategy, purposedriven results are not beyond reach. For example, Interface founder Ray Anderson committed to making the company one of the most environmentally sustainable and restorative brands in 1994 – despite the negative impact that the carpet manufacturing industry was known to have on the environment at the time. Today, Interface is working toward being a carbon negative company by 2040 by changing our relationship with carbon and using it as a resource and creating products and manufacturing processes that have a positive impact on the planet. There is immense power in smart specification decisions and understanding what is behind the materials that we use in built environments. Sourcing materials that limit or reduce carbon emissions is a vital step, and manufacturers and specifiers must take action to reverse global warming.
Lisa Conway, Vice President of Sustainability for the Americas, Interface. (www.buildingtransparency.org).
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Copper Spirit Distillery 1 10
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Boutique operation merges residential and industrial By Rafael Santa Ana
Located in the heart of Snug Cove on Bowen Island, a small municipality within Metro Vancouver, the Copper Spirit Distillery integrates an artisanal gin, vodka, and rye distillery with a tasting room and much needed residential rental units for islanders. Focusing on sustainable production processes, the distillery incorporates rain harvesting and heat recovery systems. Connectivity with exterior light is critical in the project; natural light is harnessed even within the 10ft wide residential units and basement mixing rooms. The tasting lounge offers a side patio and a front patio which enhance the public infrastructure of Snug Cove. By integrating the residential and industrial programs, the 8,815 sq.ft. building challenges both provincial code and local planning concepts. After numerous design iterations, the building evolved into two separate volumes connected by mechanical systems below grade and by a patio, with plans to transform it to a light-filled atrium, above grade linking the public spaces of the building. The robust concrete shell remains exposed inside as a finish but is disguised at the exterior with wood cladding that evokes the local vernacular, and at the back with non-combustible phenolic panelling.
The first building volume houses the public and residential areas. Three two-level rental suites sit above the tasting lounge, each with a private patio, views to the north, and skylights that allow natural light into the units. Visitors to the distillery are welcomed through the minimalist tasting lounge and out into a patio next to the south building which has large windows to showcase the German copper stills and the flow of the distilling process. Within the second building volume, a clean concrete form contains the heart of the operation. The formal results and features of this space are shaped by the requirements of the complex mechanical systems involved in the distillation process. The state-of-the-art distilling equipment conveys simultaneously a steampunk and high-tech aesthetic. The area perched above the copper stills accommodates mixing labs, workspaces, and access to the roof terrace, which is filled with herb plantings and offers stunning views of the village and cove. (Continues page 14.)
CLIENT Copper Spirit Distillery AREA 8,815 sq ft ARCHITECTURAL TEAM RSAAW Rafael Santa Ana, Antonio Colin, Larissa Llevadot, Vicente CastaĂąon-Ruembe STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Aspect Structural Engineers MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS Zoom Engineering Ltd. CODE CONSULTING GHL Consultants CONTRACTING West Coast Turn Key PHOTOS Andrew Latreille
1.The distilling equipment in the industrial south building conveys a steampunk and high-tech aesthetic. 2.The tasting lounge on the ground floor of the residential building looks out to the patio between the two buildings.
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Basement 1 Rain Water Collection Chamber 2 Grain Storage 3 Aging Barrels 4 Water Treatment Shaft 5 Mechanical 6 Electrical Ground,second and third floor 1 Entry 2 Tasting Lounge 3 Kitchen 4 Patio 5 WC 6 Storage 7 Atrium 8 Corridor
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9 Distillery 10 Recycling 11 Stairs 12 Residence Entry 13 Residences Entry 14 Corridor 15 Emergency Exit / Balcony 16 Living 17 Stairs 18 Mixing Room 19 Viewing Corridor 20 Bottling + Storage 21 Office 22 Bedroom 23 Bathroom 24 Storage 25 Patio
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3. Looking past the copper stills of the south building to the patio. A glass panel in the patio floor brings daylight into the storage and bottling areas of the basement. 4. The patio between the north and south buildings will eventually be fitted with an emergency staircase and glass roof canopy to form am open air atrium.
1. Water is collected from the North building’s roofs and then used in the distillation process 2. Social interaction between the building’s users and the public realm 3. Atrium glass floor brings light into the basement area 4. Energy produced by the stills to be used as an additional heating source 5. Grey water control 6. Roof garden juniper plantings for gin production
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5 5. The north building at street level contains the ground floor tasting lounge and residential units above. The building company, West Coast Turn Key in West Vancouver, specializes in unique, logistically challenging or off-grid homes.
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A glass panel in the patio floor gives visitors a visual connection to operations and brings daylight into the raw material storage, bottling, and rainwater collection vessel area of the basement. One of the distinguishing features of the facility is its extensive rain harvesting system that allows up to 15,000 litres of water to be captured, easily surpassing the 5,000 litres required per month operating at full capacity. For water discharge a rigorous approach that respects the municipal wastewater integrity is achieved by a three-phase process:
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1 Lounge Entry 2 Tasting Lounge 3 Rain Water Collection Chambers 4 Aging Barrels 5 Patio between buildings showing future configuration as an atrium 6 Still room 7 Mixing Room
8 Roof Garden 9 Corridor 10 Laundry / Storage 11 Living 12 Skylight Corridor 13 Patio and Storage 14 Washroom
sedimentation, temperature control, and PH regulation. The need for space heating is minimal as the distilling operation itself produces enough heat to maintain temperature levels at the upper floors. The client’s holistic approach to the alchemy of boutique distilling remained a constant guide during the logistical challenge of constructing such a mixed-use facility on a small island. The result can be seen in the quality of the product and in the building’s overall operational success, from the large design gestures encompassing the visitor experience to the small details, including the ‘kintsugi-style’ healing of the concrete floor cracks with copper rivulets. RAFAEL SANTA ANA IS THE PRINCIPAL OF RAFAEL SANTA ANA ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP (RSAAW) INC. IN VANCOUVER.
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Wilson School of Design
1 1. The west elevation creates a new front door for KPU on Kwantlen Street to help animate the surrounding mixed-use neighbourhood, and to establish the Wilson School of Design as a hub for technical fashion design education.
LEED Gold project advances creativity and urban development By Geoffrey Turnbull
With over 300 apparel companies, BC’s lower mainland is a centre of excellence for technical fashion design. The vision for the new Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in Richmond is to be the preeminent school for this industry on the West Coast. The broader purpose of the University is to fuel the local economy by generating a steady pool of talent and expertise in the fields of graphic design, interior design, fashion marketing, and fashion technology.
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3 4 The Wilson School of Design acts as a catalyst transforming the campus into a network of educational and social spaces. The building was conceived as an exemplar for the development of KPU, and as a participant in larger plans for the urbanization and intensification of the city of Richmond as a whole. The building visually links the School of Design to Lansdowne Station which provides easy access to the other KPU campuses, the city of Vancouver and the international airport beyond. As a “gateway” to KPU’s Richmond campus and producer of a sophisticated industrial workforce, the new Wilson School of Design represents a significant contribution to the urban development of the Metro Vancouver region. A series of flexible design studios, labs, open offices and shared collaboration and amenity spaces are strategically organized on five interconnected levels into three main zones of programming activity - a total building area of 64,129 sq.ft. Zone 1 on the ground floor includes testing labs and an incubator for BC Technical Fashion; Zone 2 includes levels two to four for teaching/studios; and Zone 3 on the upper level includes multi-purpose event/ conference space for donor events and industry functions. The areas between all program elements creates continuous ‘collision space’ for circulation and breakout. Through an integrated design process, the attributes that have made the warehouse loft typology so attractive to creative activities were identified as ideal for the new building: open, flexible, filled with natural light, and enduring. The site conditions and seismic considerations also necessitated a structure that would be light but stiff. In essence, the structure had to perform like a ship. (Continued on page 20.) 2.The new building actively encourages collaboration with a large central atrium for lounging and project exhibitions. Linea Ceiling & Wall Systems provided its LINEA Grille, LINEA Plank and LINEA Veneer Flat Panels in Douglas Fir for the acoustic wood ceilings throughout. 3. and 4. Glulam columns and beams support a composite concrete floor slab allowing for seamless integration of in-slab heating/cooling for controlled thermal performance. The central atrium is integral to the passive ventilation and daylighting strategies. Olympic International in North Vancouver supplied a range of HVAC products including Jaga fan coils, ERV/HRV from Scott Springfield and Valent, and Aermec air-source heat pump and chiller.
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5 5. The North elevation. The high-performance unitized curtain wall system, customized at each elevation to respond to its orientation and solar exposure, balances a maximum of daylighting and natural ventilation with thermal and solar protection. 6. Studios have high ceilings, ample natural light, and an occupant notification system to notify occupants when conditions are suitable to open windows. Operable windows are equipped with contacts to monitor the position (open/closed) of each window.
Energy Intensity 121 KWhr/m2/year Energy Intensity, base building 96 KWhr/m2/year Energy Intensity, process energy: 25 KWhr/m2/year Predicted % regional energy reduction per Energy Star Target Finder: To meet the Architecture 2030 Challenge, a project must be 25% below the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 standard. The Wilson School of Design is 43% below ASHRAE 90.1-2007 standard, exceeding the Architecture 2030 Challenge by 18%. Recycled materials content 22% by value Water consumption from municipal source 2,710litres/occupant/year Reduction in water consumption 26% Construction materials diverted from landfill 97% Regional materials by value 36%
ARCHITECT KPMB Architects in joint venture with Public Architecture + Communication STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Fast+Epp ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AES MECHANICAL ENGINEER AME Consulting Group Ltd. CIVIL ENGINEER Core Group CONSTRUCTION D.G.S.Construction Company Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PFS BUILDING ENVELOPE Morrison Hershfield SUSTAINABILITY Recollective COMMISSIONING AGENT MDT Systems PHOTOS Adrien Williams
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The same rational, robust plan grid that affords traditional warehouses their exceptional versatility is inherent in the CNC milled post-and-beam timber frame of the new building. The timber structure and plan layout are coordinated to provide 100% fresh air through operable windows, access to the outdoors, and abundant views. Balancing campus-wide serviceability with energy efficiency, the design approach drew upon tried-andtrue natural and mechanical climate control systems, updating them beyond contemporary building standards. The design integrates a high-performance glazing and spandrel curtain wall system to achieve overall glazing U-Values between 0.306-0.315 while maximizing daylighting. Customized at each elevation to respond to its orientation and solar exposure, the curtain wall system provides varying degrees of reflectivity and transparency to allow natural light into the majority of spaces while mitigating glare and solar heat gain. Careful selection of efficient luminaires and ballasts has reduced installed lighting power density by 32% compared to code baseline. The lighting control system includes both occupancy and daylight sensors beyond code (ASHRAE 90.1-2007) in several spaces. Heating and cooling for the building is supplied by a radiant slab system which is zoned to provide individual control of slab temperature in areas such as studios, open offices and meeting rooms.
7. The connecting bridge extending from the east elevation.
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Heat pump technology is utilized to maximize energy performance with high-efficiency boilers deployed during peak heating. The heat pumps are configured in a heat recovery arrangement to more efficiently provide simultaneous heating and chilled water when required for the radiant slab system. Natural ventilation is achieved through the stack-effect in which operable windows bring fresh air in while the central atrium acts as an exhaust plenum. Mechanically-ventilated air is supplied via two 100% outdoor air handling units equipped with air-to-air energy recovery, variable speed supply and exhaust fans, changeover heating/cooling coils, and air flow measuring stations. Air valves are used for demand-controlled ventilation to reduce ventilation air volume during periods of low occupancy and/or during natural ventilation mode. The design also anticipates a future vegetated roof and access to outdoor terraces as funding is made available. Water-efficient landscaping strategies by the landscaping designer, PFS, include local plant species requiring minimal irrigation and maintenance. Porous hard landscaping surfaces redirect storm water toward planters and dry beds, and promote reabsorption of run-off back into the water table. The design objective was to deliver a healthy learning environment that would foster interdisciplinary collaboration and to exemplify KPU’s burgeoning position as a sustainability leader in the education sector. The design team worked closely with the School’s leadership, user representatives and climate engineers to establish guiding principles for energy efficient performance and to achieve LEED Gold. GEOFFREYTURNBULL IS AN ASSOCIATE WITH KPMB ARCHITECTS.
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UVic District Energy Plant
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Consolidation, efficient equipment, and passive design bring big energy savings By Esteban Matheus
The University of Victoria’s new district energy plant (DEP) replaces a system of outdated and inefficient boilers scattered throughout the campus with a consolidated system serving 32 buildings, and a 27.5 MW capacity of thermal heat.
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1. The new DEP consolidates operations into one location: a glazed box open on the north and east sides to allow people to look inside. 2. Intake louvres are visible on the north facade of the plant. The three stacks are tied to the three boilers inside.
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ARCHITECT DIALOG STRUCTURAL ENGINEER RJC Engineering ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AES Engineering MECHANICAL ENGINEER FVB Energy Inc. CIVIL ENGINEER Westbrook Consulting Ltd. CONSTRUCTION Farmer Construction LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT HAPA Collaborative COMMISSIONING AGENT C E S Engineering PHOTOS Martin Tessler
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Energy Intensity 135 KWhr/m2/year Reduction in energy intensity 72% based on ASHRAE90.12007. Recycled materials content 16% by value Water consumption from municipal source 40,970litres/occupant/year Reduction in water consumption 33 % Construction materials diverted from landfill 96%
The new plant also allows for future expansion, as well as integration of renewable energy sources. The district energy system as a whole will result in an overall reduction in energy use by the university of approximately 10%, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of 6,500 tonnes/year, thanks to efficiencies created by consolidating heating facilities, improved equipment and infrastructure, and reduced losses in the system.
This site was selected for several reasons: - the most appropriate location in a new campus plan, - minimized the plant’s effect on sensitive campus ecosystems, - has adequate space for future renewable energy expansion, - connections to nearby buildings, - not part of the district energy loop, are easy to facilitate, directly linked to municipal streets for easy access, and - allows the university to showcase its infrastructure investments to the broader public.
The DEP is built on a former parking lot in the southwest corner of the campus adjacent to a forest and publicly accessible botanical gardens and interfaith chapel.
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Floor plan indicating path of public tours 1 DE Campus system overview 2 Building input/output 3 Architectural feature: form, material 4 Mechanical feature: pumps 5 Mechanical feature: boilers
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3. The sloped roof directs rainwater into the bioswale on the south side of the building to help manage stormwater. 4. The rain garden, located on the west side, adds to the natural beauty of the site while also serving as an important resource conservation measure. 5. Glulam columns, CLT panelling, and structural steel bracing ensure that the post-disaster facility will survive a major seismic event, and last for at least 50 years.
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Diagram showing potential removeable heat graphed against the height of the building.
The building includes an electric vehicle charger, and bike racks and shower for the operators. The main occupied space is the plant’s control room, which is 100% daylit by operable windows that also provide a beautiful view of the forest to the shift engineers that are present 24 hours a day. All spaces are within five metres of these windows. The space undergoes 26.7 air changes/hour. Large north-facing glazing allows views into the plant and brings in daylight, with a smaller curtain wall strip at the south. All lights are LED fixtures and work with daylight and occupancy sensors to achieve an overall projected consumption of 26.7 KWhr/m2. On the exterior, water runoff from the DEP roof and the surrounding landscape is conveyed via a bioswale that runs behind the building into a newly established rain garden. Water is held and filtered by the garden soil, and surplus amounts infiltrate into the surrounding native sub-soil. During heavy rainfall, water is held in the upper tier of the garden and then spills over a weir to the garden’s lower tier for absorption into the sub-soil. This action slows the entry of storm water into the municipal system at a time when the system is under the most pressure. Within the building, a 33% water use reduction, or 19.23L per m2 per occupant per year (compared to a baseline reference building as per LEED 2009) has been achieved through the use of low-flow fixtures. 6. Operators are able to work in a spacious, naturally lit facility that has a warm, biophilic ambiance thanks to exposed CLT panels throughout the plant.
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Recoverable heat is used to enable natural ventilation.
The building employs passive energy strategies starting with organizing all equipment by height clearance to create a building form that slants from the north east towards the south west. Intake louvres on the north and east facades, and exhaust louvres on the south and west elevations, maximize natural ventilation when cooling is required, eliminating the need for mechanical fans. Residual heat from the boilers warm the building in winter. The high-efficiency burners in the plant are expected to result in a 6,500-tonne annual reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG). There are also future opportunities for the DEP to be retrofitted as a low-carbon fuel plant through the use of electric boilers, or expanding the plant to accommodate biomass fuel, which would further reduce GHG emissions. The project team calculated a baseline EUI for this building typology at 376 kWh/m2. Anticipated EUI for the new DEP is 135 kWh/m2, representing a 64% reduction. The main structural material of the 710 sq.m building is cross-laminated timber (CLT) for the roof and wall panels, and glulam columns. As this is a post-disaster building, additional steel structure was added for lateral forces associated with the high seismic zone in Victoria. The building is designed to last at least 50 years and survive a major seismic event. The timber structure helps to reduce the embodied energy of the building, and imparts a warm and comfortable environment to the interior. A higher-quality metal standing seam roof was chosen to provide extended durability. One of the most innovative aspects of the DEP is the educational component of the project. It was a priority for the university to showcase its investment in sustainable infrastructure while also educating students and the broader public about energy usage on campus. Signboards and digital dashboards describe the sustainable design of the building and the vital role the plant plays in reaching the University’s GHG emission reduction goals. The DEP has recently achieved LEEDŽ Gold certification. ESTEBAN MATHEUS IS ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT AND PROJECT LEADER FOR THE PROJECT AT DIALOG. MARTIN NIELSEN WAS THE PARTNER ON THE PROJECT, AND GEOFF COX WAS PART OF THE ARCHITECTURE TEAM.
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TURNING OUR ATTENTION to embodied carbon in both new and existing buildings By Scott R Armstrong When I started in the green building industry, I recall a conversation with a developer that went something like this: (me) “What’s your construction waste diversion strategy?” (client) “BFI.” (citing a then-popular waste hauler). Driven by the climate imperative, our industry has changed: energy efficiency, energy use intensity, thermal energy demand, carbon emissions are now top of mind. And it’s through this same imperative that we are now realizing how important construction materials are to the overall carbon impact of new buildings. New buildings are perceived as being inherently more energy efficient and responsible for emitting less operational carbon than existing buildings. While this may be true in many cases, the past decade of operational efficiency gains has focused almost exclusively on the implementation of newer and more efficient mechanical solutions rather than enduring enclosure-first solutions or more integrated passive and active design strategies. Programs like Passive House, Toronto Green Standard, and the Zero Carbon Building Standard are changing this mentality – with requirements like TEDI designed to obligate attention to enclosure and ventilation load. This focus, though broader, potentially still does not fully account for the implications of embodied carbon. With a diminishing timeline for climate action, the 2020s must be the decade of action and assessing material choices using life-cycle emissions is vitally important. A report on global embodied carbon indicates that building materials account for 11% of carbon emissions in Canada1. Further, embodied carbon likely represents 50% of a code-compliant building’s total carbon emissions over a 30-year horizon2. Thus, selecting low embodied carbon materials today influences greatly a building’s emissions profile during this critical period. On a recent project, a thermally-efficient and air tight building enclosure with optimal passive heating and daylighting helped enable simpler, more efficient mechanical and electrical systems. Since these systems are not typically included in embodied carbon accounting, further study could focus on whether ‘bonus’ embodied carbon reductions are obtainable by using such systems. In some instances, a photovoltaic system could be sized such that it exports more energy than needed by the building, potentially achieving credit for reducing peak grid emissions.
A recent project demonstrated that a focus on low embodied carbon versions of the insulating and structural materials reduced the upfront/embodied carbon to the point where it was possible to show a net positive performance over a 30-year timeline. The practical combination of integrated energy system design, renewable generation, and material selection allowed for a new kind of low-carbon performance optimization.
Existing Buildings Turning our attention to embodied carbon means that we cannot ignore the emissions represented by existing buildings. Cumulative emissions from global concrete production “from 1928 to 2016 were 39.3 ± 2.4 GtCO2, 66 % of which have occurred since 1990”3. In other words, buildings constructed in the past 20 to 30 years represent a significant contribution to CO2 emissions currently contributing to climate change. Toronto’s Tower Renewal project involves approximately 1,200 apartment buildings, 8-storeys or taller, housing approximately 500,000 people. These buildings typically comprise a concrete structure and a mix of concrete and/ or masonry cladding. The form (shape, height, and windowto-wall ratio) is well suited to deep energy retrofits, perhaps approaching EnerPhit-level performance. While retrofits represent additional embodied carbon (particularly from cladding replacement, insulation upgrades, or structural improvements), the use of low-embodied carbon or carbon-storing materials would limit the effect and lessen the life-cycle emission burden. Importantly, deep energy retrofits coupled with on-site renewable energy would significantly reduce ongoing operational carbon emissions with the potential to ‘pay back’ the new embodied carbon investment. Think about it: a climate positive building that is deleting its past contribution to the climate emergency!
Scott Armstrong is a Project Principal, Building Sciences at WSP. 1 Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction (Nairobi : UN Environment, 2019). 2 Opportunities for CO2 Capture and Storage in Buildings, Magwood, C. October 2019. 3 Global CO2 emissions from cement production, Andrew, Robbie M., Published: 26 January 2018.
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CaGBC’s updated Zero Carbon Building Standard fast-tracks carbon reductions by balancing rigour and flexibility By Mark Hutchinson In this critical decade for climate change, which calls for urgent and sustained action in order to achieve Canada’s carbon targets, zero carbon buildings represent the best opportunity for cost-effective emissions reductions. At the same time, investments in zero carbon buildings will generate opportunities for innovation and job creation. To take advantage of these opportunities and future-proof Canada’s cities and communities, industry and governments must adopt low-carbon strategies now. With the newly released Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Standard v2, CaGBC is striking a balance between rigour and flexibility to help advance the goal of decarbonizing Canada’s built environment by 2050. Version 2 offers a more flexible approach to enable a greater number of buildings to reach zero carbon, while at the same time, it raises the bar on emission reductions and promotes innovation in design, building materials and technology. CaGBC launched the made-in-Canada ZCB Standard in 2017 to provide a path for both new and existing buildings to reach zero. Since then, more than 30 real-world projects have registered to pursue certification – either in design or in full operation – across a wide spectrum of building types, including schools, offices, multi-residential, commercial, and even industrial buildings. Eleven projects have already certified. Version 2 draws from the learnings of these projects as well as from consultations with building industry experts, government and academia, all of which demonstrated that the building industry is ready to raise the bar on expanded requirements for embodied carbon and energy efficiency. At the same time, the updated Standard aims to get more buildings to zero, faster, by providing more options for different design strategies and by recognizing high-quality carbon offsets when necessary.
What’s new in v2: Embodied carbon, new tools, more innovation The ZCB Standard provides two pathways for any type of building to get to zero carbon. ZCB-Design guides the design of new buildings, as well as the retrofit of existing structures, while ZCB-Performance provides a framework for verifying that buildings achieve zero carbon annually.
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The updates introduced in ZCB Standard v2 focus on the following key components: Embodied carbon: Projects must now account for and offset carbon emissions across the entire project life-cycle, including those associated with the manufacture, use and even end of life of construction materials. Refrigerants: The Standard also tackles refrigerants like those used in heat pumps. While heat pumps are extremely efficient and run on electricity, the refrigerants in most heat pumps are “near-term climate forcers” – greenhouse gases that last a short time in the atmosphere but trap a lot of heat, helping accelerate the impact of climate change. ZCB Standard v2 encourages the implementation of best-management practices to minimize potential leaks, and any leaks that might occur must be offset. Energy efficiency: ZCB Standard v2 promotes the efficient use of clean energy sources with more stringent energy efficiency requirements. At the same time, the addition of energy efficiency options that recognize different design strategies ensures that all projects have a path to zero. Airtightness: ZCB Standard v2 also introduces a requirement for airtightness testing that is intended to drive improvements in the energy efficiency of the building envelope. Impact and innovation: ZCB-Design Standard v2 encourages new technologies and design approaches by requiring projects to demonstrate two impactful and innovative strategies to reduce carbon emissions. Applicants can propose their own strategies, providing broad flexibility while helping to build skills and develop markets for low-carbon products and services.
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New tools: To aid projects, the ZCB Standard v2 also introduces new tools and resources, including helpful reporting workbooks, an embodied carbon reporting template and a life-cycle cost calculator. The Standard also includes resources and case studies.
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A way to begin future-proofing cities and communities The updates in ZCB Standard v2 are designed to fast-track the decarbonization of Canada’s built environment, with a proven path forward for the building industry. Given the long lifespan of buildings, it’s critical that zero-carbon construction and renovation projects start today – Canada cannot wait if it hopes to meet its carbon targets.
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To learn more, visit cagbc.org/zerocarbon. Mark Hutchinson is Vice President, Green Building Programs, Canada Green Building Council.
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NORTHERN LIGHTS COLLEGE TRADES TRAINING CENTRE McFarland Marceau Architects Ltd. Institutional [Large] Award / Prix institutionnel (grande taille)
THE ROB AND CHERYL MCEWEN GRADUATE STUDY AND RESEARCH BUILDING, SCHULICH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, YORK UNIVERSITY Baird Sampson Neuert Architects Institutional [Large] Award / Prix institutionnel (grande taille)
Photo: Marie-Odile Marceau, McFarland Marceau Architects
(l to r): Jon Neuert, Principal and Jesse Dormody, Project Architect, Baird Sampson Neuert Architects Inc.
SIFTON CENTRE Diamond Schmitt Architects Commercial/Industrial [Large] Award / Prix commercial/ industriel (grande taille)
WEST BAY PASSIVE HOUSE BattersbyHowat Architects Inc. Residential [Small] Award / Prix résidentiel (petite taille)
(l to r): Liviu Budur and Matt Smith, Diamond Schmitt Architects
(l to r): Heather Howat, David Battersby, and Bettina Balcaen, Battersby Howat Architects
COVENANT HOUSE NSDA Architects Institutional [Small] Award Prix institutionnel (petite taille)
THE REACH GUEST HOUSE Kearns Mancini Architects Residential [Small] Award / Prix résidentiel (petite taille)
Wanda Felt, Architect AIBC, LEED and Larry Adams, Architect AIBC, LEED AP, NSDA Architects
Jonathan Kearns, Principal, Kearns Mancini Architects Inc.
BATA SHOE FACTORY REVITALIZATION Architect of Record: Quadrangle Collaborating Design Architect: Dubbeldam Architecture + Design Residential [Large] Award / Prix résidentiel (grande taille)
CHARTER TELECOM HEADQUARTERS Waymark Architecture Commercial/Industrial [Small] Award / Prix commercial industriel (petite taille)
Heather Dubbeldam and Scott Sampson, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
(l to r): Will King and Graeme Verhulst, Waymark Architecture
COURS BAYVIEW YARDS Hobin Architecture Incorporated Existing Building Upgrade Award / Prix amélioration/rénovation d’un bâtiment existant (l to r): Leila Emmrys, Sandy Davis, Dan Henhoeffer, and Hugo Latreille, Hobin Architecture Incorporated
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