A message from Thomas Mueller, President & CEO, Canada Green Building Council

Welcome to the latest issue of British Columbia FOCUS, a partnership between Sustainable Architecture & Building Magazine and the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC). In this issue, you’ll read about exciting new projects like the Royal Roads University Learning Auditorium – an adaptive renewal of previously unused space, the highly energy efficient Pontoon House, and The Peak, a six-storey rental apartment building with commercial retail units on the ground floor.

I am happy to report that CAGBC’s annual conference saw a successful return to Vancouver. Over two days, June 1-2, Building Lasting Change hosted representatives from across the building spectrum. In keeping with the market and Canada’s climate targets, the program focused heavily on decarbonizing the building sector.

This shift toward more zero-carbon content doesn’t alter our commitment to the more holistic benefits of green buildings. We continue to support green buildings to eliminate environmental impacts, enhance biodiversity, and improve human health and well-being. However, in this critical decade for climate action, we recognize the need for decisive action – and zero carbon buildings offer a proven solution to significant carbon reductions.

Since its creation 20 years ago, CAGBC has worked to provide the building sector with sustainable solutions that are as effective for business as they are for people and the planet. Our approach to carbon reduction builds on the industry capabilities we have nurtured since the early 2000s and now support through our Zero Carbon Building standards, a revitalized Accelerating to Zero education series, and our industry-driven Accelerators and working groups.

Achieving meaningful climate action means all buildings must be zero-carbon, and deep carbon retrofits are essential. Meeting 2030 and 2050 targets will require building owners and operators to advance their asset- and portfolio-level transition planning. Building owners must consider investments in carbon reduction with every planned improvement or retrofit to ensure assets retain their value in the coming years.

As the real estate sector and other companies move toward adopting Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) goals as key performance metrics, CAGBC will be ready with the tools and services needed to measure, report, and achieve environmental targets. The need to recognize and report climate risk will also increase interest in third-party certifications as a tool for the real estate investment community.

Now is a critical time for the building sector, and we hope you will join us in the transition to zero carbon buildings and retrofits.

Sincerely,

Thomas Mueller President & CEO, Canada Green Building Council