Sustainable architecture

Real Talk About Building Green

No greenwashing here - just honest metrics and what we're actually doing

Why We Care (And You Should Too)

Look, we've been in this game since 2012, and honestly? The building industry's got a pretty massive carbon footprint. We're talking about 40% of global emissions - that's not something you can just ignore while calling yourself an architect with a conscience.

When we started out, "sustainable" was mostly a marketing buzzword. Slap some solar panels on a roof, call it a day. But we've learned the hard way that real sustainability goes way deeper than that. It's in every decision - from how we orient a building to catch winter sun, to choosing materials that don't travel halfway around the world to get here.

Our Impact Dashboard

These numbers are from our projects completed in 2024 - updated quarterly because we're nerds about this stuff

Energy Efficiency

Average reduction vs. baseline building code

We're hitting an average of 62% better energy performance than standard code. Our Kitsilano townhouse project? That one's pulling 78% less energy than a conventional build.

Water Conservation

Reduction in potable water usage

Rainwater harvesting and greywater systems aren't just for the eco-warriors anymore. We're seeing 45% cuts in municipal water demand across our residential projects.

Embodied Carbon

CO2 reduction in material selection

This one's tough - we're at 38% reduction but aiming higher. Cross-laminated timber instead of concrete, local materials when possible. It adds up.

Material Reuse

Recycled & salvaged materials by volume

We're at 29% and honestly wish it were higher. Vancouver's got some great salvage yards though, and we're using them more every year.

87%

Projects with renewable energy integration

14

LEED certified projects delivered

2.3M

kWh saved annually by our buildings

How We Actually Do It

There's no magic formula, but here's what works for us in Vancouver's climate:

  • Passive design first - let the sun and airflow do the heavy lifting
  • Super-insulated envelopes because BC winters aren't getting any warmer
  • Heat pumps over gas (they've gotten really good lately)
  • Triple-pane windows - yeah they cost more upfront but the payback's solid
  • Green roofs where we can swing it (stormwater management + insulation)
  • Local materials to cut down on shipping emissions
Sustainable design principles

What We're Working On

The Stuff We're Proud Of

  • Every project gets a full lifecycle carbon assessment now
  • We've got Passive House consultants on speed dial
  • Started a material reuse library for clients
  • Partnered with BC Hydro on net-zero pilot programs

Where We're Still Learning

  • Balancing heritage restoration with modern efficiency standards
  • Getting more projects to net-zero (it's tough with budgets)
  • Finding affordable mass timber suppliers locally
  • Convincing clients that upfront costs pay off (working on it!)

The Honest Truth About Costs

Everyone wants to know if sustainable design costs more. Short answer? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Adding solar panels? That's extra upfront. But orienting your building properly to capture passive heat? That's basically free and saves you money forever.

We've seen projects where going green added maybe 5-8% to construction costs, but those same projects are saving 40-60% on energy bills every year. Do the math over 20 years and it's not even close. Plus there's rebates and incentives in BC that can offset a chunk of those initial costs.

The real cost? Not doing it. With climate regs getting stricter and energy prices going up, building inefficient structures now is just leaving money on the table down the road.

Want to Build Something That Lasts?

Let's talk about what sustainable design can actually do for your project - no hype, just real solutions.

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