The Builder’s Perspective… and what the homeowner should know about
the new green home rating system

Andrew Oding and Chris Higgins

In Issue 1 of SABHomes, we provided an overview of the new LEED Canada for Homes rating system for single family homes and multifamily homes up to three stories. In this article we will describe what builders and homeowners can expect when embarking on a LEED Canada for Homes project.

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An architect’s answer to “What would you design for your parents?”

by Christine Lolley

A sustainable home should first and foremost be built to last using high-quality materials. Its design must take into account site conditions and take advantage of passive solar design strategies.

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Low-tech design makes a sustainable home.

This project began with a suburban infill site in an established downtown west end neighbourhood of Moncton characterized by generic production houses. The intention was to create a custom-designed family home that responded to the opportunities of the site and neighbourhood context, while using “low-tech’ methods to maximize the benefits of passive solar design, natural lighting and natural ventilation.

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A Sustainable Campus

The north elevation. By using passive solar design, indigenous materials, geothermal energy, enhanced air quality, energy and water efficiency, and sustainable landscape design, the project stands for the idea that resources are finite and that building design should respond to this fact. The College conducts tours for students, professionals, and the community to explain the sustainable features of the building

Library/classroom building combines sustainable architectural and landscape practices

The goal of Langara College is to create a sustainable campus that demonstrates environmental responsibility and stewardship for the student body and the community. (more…)

Human-earth relationship guides Canada’s first LEED Gold church

The creation of a liturgical environment

The stairwell connecting the narthex to the underground parking.

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St-Gabriel’s Passionist Church has been designed to reflect the eco-theology of Passionist Father Thomas Berry and his belief that we must work towards a mutually-enhancing, human-earth relationship. When asked to suggest an appropriate response to this imperative, Berry replied simply: “How will you address the sun?” (more…)

State-of-the-art training centre balances active and passive technologies

The East elevation where vehicle bays and bermed earth act as thermal buffers and reduce perimeter wall exposure

When the Greater Toronto Airport Authority [GTAA] chose to pursue LEED™ Silver certification for the first time on its new Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute [FESTI], it signified a new sense of commitment to sustainable building technology and a willingness to be held accountable to the rigorous design guidelines and third-party certification of the LEED™ process. (more…)