What Vancouver's Sustainability Goals Mean for Homeowners

Carbon Zero Homes in Vancouver

Chris believes that for new homeowners, the carbon zero goal is relatively easy to adapt because there is very little difference in terms of the livability and the operation of the home itself. More energy-efficient insulation and windows will certainly improve the energy performance of a home, but to the everyday homeowner, windows are still windows and insulation is still something you rarely deal with. 

According to Chris, most of the implications of the sustainability goals as they pertain to new buildings rest on the shoulders of builders. “For new homes,” he explains, “it is easier because you´re working with an architect or builder, and you can address greenhouse gas usage before they even begin to build. The process of adapting is opaque because people just move in (to the new home) and have to accept (the carbon zero standards).” 

Another central tenet of the carbon zero goals for Vancouver homes is helping transform homes to rely 100% on electricity, moving away from using natural gas, oil, and other fossil fuels for energy needs. “Around 92% of natural gas usage in Vancouver is for space heating and hot water,” Chris clarifies, “so we have some strategies for new buildings that are based on greenhouse gas intensities. Many newly built large homes go all-electric and use their greenhouse gas limits for cooking or fireplaces.”

Since almost half of homes in the Vancouver area will be newly built by the year 2050, these new building codes, along with energy reporting and benchmarking requirements, making for a relatively easy transition towards a carbon zero future. Chris reminds us that “with new construction, if the builders don’t comply with the city's codes and policies, they simply don't get a permit, just like a home that builds stairs that don’t follow the code for acceptable tread and riser measurements.”

The Challenges to Retrofit Existing Homes in Vancouver

Unlike codes and regulations for new homes, implementing retrofit strategies that lead towards higher energy efficiency standards for existing buildings is a bit trickier. “With existing buildings, it's a bit more difficult,” Chris admits. For example, “homeowners can switch from oil or natural gas to an electric heat pump to heat their homes, and there is a dollar value increase program to help people with that transition.” However, it can be a challenge to get existing homeowners to upgrade their heating systems to more sustainable and energy-efficient models—most people only address these issues when there is a crisis caused by a mechanical failure. “If a furnace goes out in the fall time,” Chris details, “it's not a great time to start talking about putting in an electric heat pump, because people just want to get heat into their home.” 

In terms of regulation, “it has all been very voluntary up till now,” Chris admits. “However, we could in the future have stricter regulations on replacing existing mechanics like hot water heaters or furnaces.” For example, Chris imagines future regulation that could require replacement mechanics to follow rigorous energy factors, which are metrics used to compare the energy conversion efficiency of residential appliances and equipment. Since the ideal 1:1 energy factor can only be obtained through electricity (and not with fossil fuels), this policy or code would influence homeowners to make energy-efficient upgrades that would save them money in the long run while also cutting back on the carbon footprint of their home. 

Chris wants homeowners across the city to know how easy it is to convert from fossil-fuel based heating systems to a heat pump. “The common citizen just wants to adjust the thermostat in order to heat up their home…and it doesn’t matter to them where that heat comes from. If they knew how easy and cost-effective it is to make the conversion to heat pumps, for example, it would make for an easier transition,” he explains.

The City of Vancouver's Green Building webpage also admits that “we’ll continue to use a combination of incentives and regulations to meet our green building targets.” One of those proposed regulations is to “update the retrofit requirement options in Vancouver’s Building By‐Law to further reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Sustainable Home Professionals in Vancouver

The initial research will most likely begin on the web unless you have a referral from a friend. Key things to look for on a home professional’s website:

• Does the website say the word “sustainable” somewhere? This is probably a good indication that they are at least headed in the right direction and would be able to answer your questions.
• Does the website showcase past renovation projects that talk about green home features and benefits? Projects that also talk about cost savings are a plus, but that’s a lot harder to find.
• Do they have a home care program? Homebuilders that have a homecare program know a lot about how a home operates, so that tends to make these builders more aware of durable products and long-lasting materials. 
• Do they know anything about rebates and incentives available to Vancouver residents, either through federal tax credits, utility programs, or the City of Vancouver’s plans? This will help lower upfront costs and save energy.
• Are you prepared for the initial interview? Make sure you have a list of questions. 

Rise took a look at a few home professionals in the Vancouver area (or at least those that have websites) to see which ones stood out in terms of knowledge and experience with more sustainable building materials and technologies. While we are not picking favorites (nor knowledge of the quality of their workmanship or personalities of their owners), these are the companies we would call to interview for the job, if we were lucky enough to live in one of the most sustainable cities in the world. (If we are missing someone, please contact us!)

Lanefab Design/Build

Winner of the 2011 Excellence in Corporate Responsibility Awards, Lanefab Design/Build has worked with the City of Vancouver to help develop Laneway Homes to better utilize the land. They also have a Certified Passive House Consultant on their team, so it’s a safe bet that they know a lot about energy-efficient design.

Clay Construction

Clay Construction Inc. has been recognized in the Greater Vancouver area as a highly acclaimed custom home builder with a proven track record of creating exceptionally crafted luxury homes. Larry and Candice Clay founded Clay Construction, Inc. in 2004. The Clays believe that a positive custom home building experience requires many elements: a realistic budget, schedule tracking and detailed reporting systems, high-quality work, and a commitment to after-sales service.

Naikoon

Naikoon Contracting Ltd. is one of the most experienced and accredited high-performance home builders in the country. They build quality, well-built homes using sustainable construction practices. They build every home as if it was their own.

Cast Sustainable Construction

We chose this one for obvious reasons; it says “sustainable” right in the name. Going further, though, the website addresses Passive House, LEED, Net Zero, and Solar Energy, so they seem to be on top of it. Cast is one of the few firms that also talk about healthy homes, so that’s another plus. 

Ritchie Construction

Focusing on custom home building and major renovations, Ritchie’s skilled tradespeople hold Passive House building certifications and focus on high-performance homes. Ritchie Construction has long-standing partnerships with architects and designers to ensure your project is seamless.

Marken Design and Consult

Not a builder or remodeler, we would call Marken Design and Consult for their Passive House consultation and certification services. Passive House Design has not yet become common practice, but the building community is calling for buildings to get to net-zero energy. We have the technology to do so; we just need to implement it, and Passive House (ideally getting to Net Zero) is one way to accomplish that.

Want more? There are dozens of home remodelers in the Vancouver area. Don’t live in Vancouver? Rise can help: click here and enter your zip code for a list of green home builders in your area.