A summary of recent advances

Glazing considerations such as window area, elevation and orientation, thermal performance and solar shading to optimize natural daylighting and passive solar heat gain are very important to the envelope performance and energy consumption of buildings [1]. [BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, IBI Group and Henriquez Partners Architects, Photo: Nic Lehoux]

by Hugh Perry

Many of Canada’s commercial buildings were built over 40 years ago when there were few, if any, worries about energy performance and environmental responsibility. In an era of cheap and abundant energy, heating and cooling loads were of little concern; buildings were often clad entirely in glass with no differentiation between facades having different orientations. (more…)

The basics start with environmental loads

Building envelopes must be designed to perform under all weather conditions. The BC Cancer Agency Research Centre in Vancouver by IBI Group ans Henriquez Architects.

Modern building systems consist of structural, service and envelope components that can be respectively compared to the bones, organs and skin of the human body. The skin protects the body from harmful exterior environments and maintains comfortable body conditions. In the same manner, the building envelope aims to regulate indoor environmental conditions for human use or occupancy. (more…)

New rating systems will change our ways

Green roof of the Burnside Gorge community Centre controls stormwater runoff as part of a landscaping strategy that contributes points to LEED Gold certification.

We think of the landscape as green by default. In reality, it is challenging to achieve this goal in urban areas where requirements are imposed by market expectations, municipal requirements, and a range of other factors.
At the same time, green building rating systems are beginning to demonstrate their power to transform both the market and the regulatory context, and are offering opportunities for landscape architects, engineers, and other designers to apply a variety of new approaches to site development. (more…)

An installed sound masking system is almost indiscernible to occupants.

Just as with light, temperature and humidity, there is a comfort zone for the volume of sound in an occupied space. It is determined by the noise floor, or the level of continuous background sound. If the noise floor is too high, the environment is irritating and tiring. If it is too low, other occupants’ conversations are easily overheard and noises cause distractions.
Acoustically, green buildings present additional challenges because the strategies that help with daylighting, natural ventilation and temperature regulation also tend to lower their acoustic performance. (more…)

Rendering of the Richmond Olympic Oal. The proprietary pre-fab “woodwave” panel system was designed, fabricated and installed by Structurecraft Builders Inc., and spans between the glulam arches.

The increasing concern for energy efficiency and other green building strategies, as codified in the LEED Rating System [as well as other rating systems], considers many aspects of indoor environmental quality but does not explicitly provide credits for good acoustical design. (more…)

for high performance buildings

The Earth Rangers Centre uses earth tubes and a double foundation wall. The energy recovery in winter and summer is sufficient to temper the air about 5º C on average and up to 10º C on cold days.

It has become increasingly common to provide heat recovery on ventilation systems in buildings. In fact, it is difficult to achieve the minimum energy performance requirements for a LEED or other high performance building without it. (more…)

A variety of modular floor coverings have traditionally been used in conjunction with access floors including carpet tiles, high pressure laminates, cork, wood, resilient materials of various kinds and speciality flooring for low static or sterile environments. As in other sectors of the construction industry, manufacturers are striving to improve the environmental performance of their products. (more…)

Design flexibility, energy efficiency and healthy environments

by Bill Reynolds

A sustainable approach to building design brings with it demands for flexibility, energy efficiency and healthy work environments. Interior spaces need to respond rapidly and cost effectively to organizational and technological changes. Meanwhile, steadily increasing energy costs require building systems that operate with improved efficiencies while ensuring a healthy, comfortable environment for building occupants. (more…)

Net Zero Water

Sustainability performance at the building, neighbourhood and city scale

Emerging storm water management methods represent a key approach to sustainability of integrating ecosystems within our infrastructure. [NE Siskiyou Green Street, Portland, OR; Kevin Robert Perry, ASLA]

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How water and waste infrastructure strategies at different scales, from the building to the city, can respond to sustainability and other challenges. (more…)

CMHC’s EQuilibrium initiative sets new course

The 12 EQuilibrium houses will be “Net zero” energy: producing as much energy as they use over the course of a year, and could well set the course for the design and construction of future housing in Canada. [Photo: Will Bruder Architects, Ltd.]

The Canadian housing industry has seen several green design initiatives in the past number of years, ranging from R2000 to Super E. To a greater or lesser degree, each of these programs has had the effect of leveraging our newer housing stock to higher levels of performance. (more…)