Vancouver, B.C., recently adopted a new policy requiring zero greenhouse gas emissions on new buildings by 2030.
All new buildings will have to be heated, cooled, and powered without any net emissions. Starting now, all new city-owned and Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency projects must meet the high standard.Ā
The head of the cityās green buildings program said new city projects will be a testing ground for techniques that will later be codified into the building standards. By 2025, all rezoned residential developments will have to achieve net-zero.Ā All other new buildings must reach the standard by 2030.
The city council will fund a non-governmental Zero Emissions Building Centre of Excellence to dispense information and advice on how to reach net zero. It is expected that much of what will need to be done reach the ambitious goal involves tightening the building envelope.
Related Stories
Green | Apr 20, 2015
USGBC opens public comment period for LEED for existing multifamily buildings
The new LEED Operations and Maintenance:Ā Multifamily program will offerĀ solutions for existing multifamily projects with at least 20 units.
Cultural Facilities | Apr 16, 2015
Milwaukeeās Lakeshore State Park visitor center will be āoff the gridā
The plans also include a built-in wastewater treatment system and rainwater collection.
Green | Apr 16, 2015
Passive House Institute introduces new categories for building certification
The new evaluation procedure considers the building in an environment where only renewable energy is used. Sun and wind provide the primary electricity.
Green | Apr 16, 2015
New version of Building Energy Data Exchange Specification launched
BEDES is a dictionary that facilitates consistent exchange of building characteristics and energy use data between tools and databases in the building energy efficiency sector.
Green | Apr 14, 2015
USGBC will recognize energy and water standards for the Living Building Challenge
This move means that projects achieving the energy and water requirements in Living Building Challenge will be considered as technically equivalent to LEED.
Green | Apr 7, 2015
USGBC survey shows Fortune 200 companies prioritize green building
The worldās top-performing companies are prioritizing sustainability as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, and a majority of them are using LEEDĀ to achieve their goals, according to the new survey.
Codes and Standards | Apr 6, 2015
DOE releases Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines
The guidelines are aimed at strengthening and streamlining commercial building workforce training and certification programs for workers in energy auditing, building commissioning, building operations, and energy management.
Green | Apr 3, 2015
Georgia may ban use of LEED on state buildings
Georgia's state legislature is considering a measure to require all state buildings to only use green building standards that permit the use of Georgia's lumber.
Green | Apr 3, 2015
Energy benchmarking law helps make D.C. top ranked Energy Star city
First-in-the-nation law requires public reporting of annual energy performance
Green | Apr 1, 2015
Global wind power installations expected to slow through 2019
After a 20% falloff in 2013, the global wind power industry made a strong comeback in 2014, with a record 51.2 gigawatts installed. But a new report from Navigant Research forecasts a curtailment in growth.
