Vancouver, B.C., to require zero emissions on new buildings by 2030

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.

The head of the city’s 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. 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.

The new elements of the facility now include: efficient lighting with day-lighting controls and occupancy sensors, a high-efficiency HVAC system used in conjunction with a newly constructed thermal envelope to help reduce energy consumption, and the installation of low-flow fixtures to reduce water consumption.

The building is 27% more energy efficient than similar buildings, uses 21% less

| Feb 22, 2012

Siemens earns LEED certification for Maryland office

The Beltsville facility, which also earned the ENERGY STAR Label for energy performance, implemented a range of energy efficiency, water conservation and sustainable operations measures as part of the certification process.

| Feb 22, 2012

Suffolk awarded Boston post office renovation project

Renovation of art deco landmark will add 21,000 square feet of retail and 110 new parking spaces.

| Feb 20, 2012

Comment period for update to USGBC's LEED Green Building Program now open

This third draft of LEED has been refined to address technical stringency and rigor, measurement and performance tools, and an enhanced user experience.

Four types of sustainable roofing systems from Tremco Roofing and Building Maint

| Feb 17, 2012

Tremco Inc. headquarters achieves LEED Gold certification

Changes were so extensive that the certification is for new construction and not for renovation; officially, the building is LEED-NC.

| Feb 15, 2012

Code allowance offers retailers and commercial building owners increased energy savings and reduced construction costs

Specifying air curtains as energy-saving, cost-cutting alternatives to vestibules in 3,000-square-foot buildings and larger has been a recent trend among consulting engineers and architects.