Our approach isn't just about slapping some solar panels on a roof and calling it green. We've spent years figuring out what actually works in Vancouver's climate.
Look, I'll be honest - when I started out, sustainability was just another checkbox. But after my third project dealing with moisture issues from poor design, something clicked. Buildings don't exist in a vacuum, y'know?
Now we're neck-deep in thermal bridging calculations, passive solar orientation, and arguing with contractors about proper air sealing. Because that's what makes the difference between a building that performs and one that just looks good in photos.
Rainwater harvesting that actually works in BC's wet seasons
Cutting heating bills without freezing your butt off
These aren't made-up stats - this is real data from our completed projects since 2018
kg CO2 offset annually
Average energy reduction
Liters water saved yearly
LEED certified projects
Locally sourced materials
Recycled content used
Construction waste diverted
FSC-certified wood
Real talk: Finding quality recycled steel in Vancouver took us 3 years to nail down reliable suppliers. Worth it though.
There's a ton of green badges out there. Here's the ones that mean something to us and why we chase 'em.
Been working with LEED since the v3 days. Yeah, the paperwork's brutal, but it forces you to think through every detail. Got 17 projects certified so far.
Gold & Platinum SpecialistThis one's tough. Like, really tough. But when a client opens their first winter heating bill and it's $40, that's when you know the extra effort paid off.
Certified DesignerA BC-specific program that gets our regional climate challenges. Plus, they're not afraid to update their standards when new tech becomes available.
Platinum BuilderOkay, we've only got one of these so far, and honestly? It nearly killed us. But it pushed our thinking way beyond what we thought was possible.
Petal CertifiedDesigning buildings that can hit net zero once they add renewables later. Gives clients flexibility without compromising the envelope performance.
Verified DesignerNewer to us, but focuses on human health, which honestly should've been prioritized all along. Air quality monitoring isn't just for hospitals anymore.
Accredited ProfessionalEvery project's different, but these are the things that keep us up at night - in a good way.
"Had a client call me last month, two years after we finished their place. Their heating bill for January was $67. In a 2,400 sq ft house. They thought something was broken."
- That's the kind of callback I don't mind getting
Sustainability isn't a destination - it's more like an ongoing experiment where the variables keep changing.
BC's got world-class timber, and CLT technology is finally hitting its stride. We're currently designing our third mass timber project and the carbon storage potential is genuinely exciting.
Every new project gets proper EV infrastructure now, not just a basic outlet. Load management, solar integration, battery storage - the whole package. It's gonna be standard in 5 years anyway.
Vancouver's weather patterns are shifting. We're designing for more extreme rainfall events, longer dry spells, and hotter summers than what the old climate data shows. Better to overprepare than deal with retrofits later.
Designing buildings that can be easily disassembled and their components reused. Sounds futuristic, but we're already specifying reversible connections and documenting material passports.