Building Responsibly
We're not just chasing certifications - we're actually trying to make buildings that don't cost the earth, literally.
Look, I've been in this field for over 15 years, and I've seen way too many projects that call themselves "green" but barely scratch the surface. For us, sustainability isn't some marketing angle - it's baked into every decision we make.
Growing up in BC, you can't help but respect what nature's capable of. Our climate here taught me that buildings need to work WITH the environment, not against it. That means understanding sun paths, wind patterns, thermal mass, and yeah - how water actually behaves during those intense Vancouver rainstorms.
Every project we take on starts with a simple question: how do we make this building use less energy, create less waste, and still be somewhere people actually WANT to spend time? Because let's be real - if it's not comfortable, all the green tech in the world won't matter.
These aren't just badges - they're frameworks that keep us honest and push us to do better.
We've guided 12 projects to LEED certification (Silver through Platinum). The framework's comprehensive - covering everything from site selection to indoor air quality. Yeah, the paperwork's intense, but it forces you to document real performance data.
This one's my personal favorite. Passive House is ridiculously strict about thermal performance - we're talking airtightness levels that most builders think are impossible. But when you nail it, heating bills drop by 75-90%. The comfort level's unreal too.
Not gonna lie - this one's intense. We're currently working on our second LBC project. It demands net-positive energy, on-site water treatment, and only materials from their "Red List" free sources. It's challenging but pushes innovation like nothing else.
These are our baseline. Every residential project we do targets minimum Energy Star certification, but honestly, we usually exceed it by a fair margin. EnerGuide ratings help clients understand real-world performance in terms they can actually grasp.
Data from our completed projects over the past 5 years. This stuff's verified, not estimated.
Average energy use reduction vs. code baseline
Kilograms of CO2 prevented annually
Potable water use reduction average
Construction waste diverted from landfills
A few projects where sustainability wasn't an add-on - it was the whole point.
Challenge: Young family wanted a net-zero-ready home that didn't look like a science experiment. The lot was narrow and heavily shaded by neighboring Douglas firs.
Approach: We designed a three-story form that maximizes southern exposure on the upper floors. Triple-glazed European windows, 16-inch thick walls with continuous exterior insulation, and an HRV system that recovers 93% of heat from exhaust air.
Results: The home uses about $45/month in electricity for ALL heating, cooling, and ventilation. That's for 2,400 sq ft in Vancouver. The indoor air quality testing came back better than most hospitals. No joke.
Challenge: Adaptive reuse of a 1912 warehouse into modern office space. Heritage restrictions meant we couldn't touch the exterior or primary structure.
Approach: We worked within the bones of the building. Added interior insulation where possible, installed a massive rooftop solar array, and designed a displacement ventilation system using the building's high ceilings. All new elements were designed to be fully reversible.
Results: The building now generates 60% of its own power. Tenant satisfaction surveys show people actually prefer working here over newer buildings - the daylighting and air quality make a real difference. Plus we kept 1,200 tons of material out of landfills.
Challenge: Six families wanted to build a co-housing project that would be fully off-grid for water and seriously push the envelope on embodied carbon.
Approach: Mass timber structure (way lower carbon than concrete/steel), on-site rainwater harvesting and greywater treatment, composting toilets, and a shared mechanical system. We sourced 90% of materials within 500km.
Results: It's been operating for 18 months now. The water system works flawlessly - they haven't used municipal water once. The shared approach to utilities cut everyone's costs by about 40%. And the building's already sequestering more carbon than it emitted during construction.
Here's what we actually believe: the greenest building is the one that lasts. That means designing for adaptability, using materials that age well, and creating spaces people genuinely love. If a building gets torn down in 30 years because nobody wants to be in it, all that "sustainable" design was pointless.
We prioritize passive strategies over active tech, local materials over exotic imports, and simplicity over complexity. And yeah, we'll tell you when something trendy is actually just greenwashing nonsense.
Sustainability requires good data. Here's some of what's in our toolkit.
We run energy simulations on every project using PHPP, WUFI, and HOT2000. Helps predict actual performance before breaking ground.
Vancouver's wet. We model moisture movement through wall assemblies to prevent mold and rot decades down the line.
Using Radiance and Climate Studio to maximize natural light while controlling glare and heat gain. Less artificial lighting needed.
We calculate embodied carbon using Athena Impact Estimator and EC3. Helps compare material choices based on full environmental impact.