Interview with Fin MacDonald of the CaGBC
Zero Carbon Building Standard VERSION 2 Fin MacDonald guided the recent launch of the second version of the CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Standard, which is designed to accelerate adoption of zero carbon building practices. 1. For context, when did the CaGBC start advocating for Zero Carbon design?
3. What does the version 2 standard entail?
Canada Green Building
energy efficiency. At the same time, Version 2 aims to get more
Council has always been
buildings to zero, faster, by providing more options for different
interested
design strategies.
in
lowering
Version 2 draws on learnings from over 20 real-world ZCBprojects. These projects demonstrate that the industry is ready to raise the bar on expanded requirements for embodied carbon and
the carbon footprint of Canada’s built environ-
The key points of the version 2 standard are:
ment
decreasing
Embodied Carbon: Projects must now take responsibility for
gas
emis-
embodied carbon, and reduce it as much as possible before offset-
sions, as it significantly
ting. This includes the carbon emissions for the building’s life-cycle
impacts the health of both
including those associated with the manufacture and use of con-
people and the environ-
struction materials.
ment. LEED already takes
Refrigerants: ZCB Standard v2 encourages best practices to mini-
into account carbon in its
mize potential leaks of refrigerants that, when released, can have
and
greenhouse
holistic approach, but things became much more urgent after the Paris
significant short-term impacts on climate change.
agreement in 2016. A standard focused on prioritizing carbon emissions
Energy Efficiency: ZCB Standard v2 promotes the efficient use of
reduction was created at that time to recognize the role green buildings
clean energy with more stringent energy efficiency and airtight-
could play in avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.
ness requirements, but maintains the flexibility and accessibility
2. What has the CaGBC learned that has prompted the release of the version 2 standard?
of v1.
Canada’s buildings contribute 17 per cent of all carbon emissions – and a further 11 per cent when embodied carbon from construction is considered. To limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C, the United
Innovation: ZCB-Design encourages projects to develop new skills and create markets for new technologies by requiring projects to demonstrate two innovative strategies to reduce carbon emissions.
their recommended targets to 50 per cent GHG emissions reduction by
4. The CaGBC also has a Zero Carbon Performance Standard. What is that about?
2030 and 100 per cent reduction by 2050. The cost of not adopting
The first version of the Zero Carbon Building Standard had two
a ZCB approach increases with each passing day. Every building built
pathways, one for design and one for performance. With ZCB
today that is not designed to achieve zero carbon emissions is con-
Standard v2, we’ve broken these out into two documents for
tributing an increase in carbon emissions – and will likely require major
ease of use. Where ZCB-Design certification has requirements
investments to retrofit to zero. To achieve these targets, all sources of
that guide the design of new buildings and the retrofit of existing
emissions need to be considered, not just the energy related emissions.
ones to enable them to achieve zero carbon operations (including
The bar also needs to be raised on energy performance. That realization
consideration of embodied carbon, refrigerants and airtightness),
prompted us to make changes to the standard, that balance the rigour
ZCB-Performance certifies buildings that achieve zero carbon
needed to lower carbon emissions, but also create more flexibility in
operations year after year—a verification that is required annually.
how projects get there in order to open pathways to zero for a broader
The two certifications work well together, but ZCB-Performance
range of projects. We just can’t afford to wait any longer – we need all
can be used on its own as well.
Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) updated
buildings to be zero carbon buildings.
5. Is it the objective of the CaGBC to move the construction industry to Zero Carbon building? Absolutely. CaGBC has proven that zero carbon buildings are technically feasible and financially viable. I don’t believe it is hyperbole to say that making the move to zero carbon is critical if we are to stand a chance of slowing the worst impacts of climate change.
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SABMag - SPRING/SUMMER 2020
