Going Green in Vancouver Commercial

July 2007

In 2007, Vancouver City Council made targets have all new construction Green House Gas (GHG) neutral by 2030.

There are currently two standard guidelines of sustainability for commercial buildings in Canada, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BOMA (Best Building Owners and Managers' Association) building environmental certification.

These guidelines evaluate a number of sustainability indoor and outdoor categories such as proximity to public transportation, infrastructure for low-emission vehicles, stormwater management, use of natural light, heat island reduction, water efficient landscaping, onsite waste management, energy use regulation measures, controllable systems and much more.

It is far more cost effective to install environmental measures during construction than after. For example, in their 2009 report on Electric Vehicle Charging, Council cited Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association (VEVA)s estimate that the installation of an EV infrastructure at the time of construction would be about $1,500 per stall. Overall cost of a stall is about $30,000 so creating EV capability is a small percentage.

Large commercial structures have traditionally been the "SUVs" of the building world. Though sustainable building is more expensive to initiate than structures that only meet standard building code, many developers are seeing that they can yield a higher return on investment for their lower maintenance costs and increased worker productivity.

To learn more about how and why to invest in sustainable constructions, call your ECO Realty commercial real estate sales representative.

Vancouver Convention Centre is Red Hot for the Long Cool Green

Creating Canada's largest living roof on VCC is only the top layer of the British Columbia Pavilion Corporation's commitment to sustainable building practices. The Leed Gold certified building features a range of ambitious green features, including a cooling and heating system that utilizes deep seawater, onsite water treatment, a fish habitat, a computerized excess rainwater reuse system and over 400,000 plants and grass species on its green roof, including many native species. The structure's major advantages are its ability to cope with stormwater, its ability to control its thermal output, its ability mitigate water pollution and protect local aquatic life.

The building is a marvel of engineering, as much as it is a testament to the tenacity and creativity of the architects, building crews and landscape artists. The crews faced daunting challenges; they built the structure with its multi-faceted sloping roof on piles, with only a single dry land access point to feed supplies.

When the world comes to Vancouver and Whistler in 2010, this is one of many projects that will promote the region as an exemplar for the next generation commercial developers.

To learn more about the benefits of investing in green buildings, call ECO Realty for expert advice and unprecedented service.