The Canada Green Building Council recently certified the first 10 projects under its Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Standard.
The projects include new and existing offices, schools, and warehouses, with each demonstrating that buildings of all types and age can achieve zero carbon emissions, according to a Council news release. The ZCB Standard was designed to guide the industry in building to zero and help Canada meet its international emissions targets by 2030.
Since its launch, the standard has shifted the green building conversation to focus on carbon as its key performance metric, the Council says. “A carbon metric recognizes the true climatic impact of a building, and brings to light aspects not considered by energy efficiency, including the importance of selecting low-carbon construction materials and energy sources for building operations,” the release says.
One of the first Zero Carbon pilot projects, The Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation at Mohawk College features “an innovative high-performance building envelope that minimizes heating and cooling demand, an all-electric geoexchange system, and a striking rooftop photovoltaic system.”
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Feb 24, 2022
Most owners adapting digital workflows on projects
Owners are more deeply engaged with digital workflows than other project team members, according to a new report released by Trimble and Dodge Data & Analytics.
Codes and Standards | Feb 21, 2022
More bad news on sea level rise for U.S. coastal areas
A new government report predicts sea levels in the U.S. of 10 to 12 inches higher by 2050, with some major cities on the East and Gulf coasts experiencing damaging floods even on sunny days.
Codes and Standards | Feb 21, 2022
New standard for ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recently introduced the standard, ANSI/IES RP-44-21 Recommended Practice: Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation.
Wood | Feb 18, 2022
$2 million mass timber design competition: Building to Net-Zero Carbon (entries due March 30!)
To promote construction of tall mass timber buildings in the U.S., the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) and USDA Forest Service (USDA) have joined forces on a competition to showcase mass timber’s application, commercial viability, and role as a natural climate solution.
Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2022
Proposal would make all new buildings in Los Angeles carbon-neutral
Los Angeles may become the next large city to ban fossil fuels from new construction if legislation recently introduced in the city council becomes law.
Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2022
U.S. Army outlines ambitious renewable energy and decarbonization goals
Net-zero emissions in all procurements and a microgrid at every base among aims.
Codes and Standards | Feb 17, 2022
Pandemic won’t alter urban planning
City planners focused on returning to ‘old normal’.
Codes and Standards | Feb 16, 2022
California court rules affordable housing developers exempt from local zoning
Case could set precedent on state law that overrides local rules.
Codes and Standards | Feb 15, 2022
FORTIFIED resiliency standard expanded to include multifamily sector
Voluntary, beyond-code program aims to protect buildings from severe weather.
Codes and Standards | Feb 10, 2022
Number of Americans at risk of flooding to double in 30 years
Most new risk from new development, not climate change.
