Going Green in Vancouver with Passively Cooled Buildings

As the world progresses, it's important that we find more sustainable ways to living. That's why Vancouver is on the forefront of innovation when it comes to design, architecture, and construction. In fact, Vancouver was the first city in North America to require all new buildings to be "green" by law!

Vancouver's building code standards are some of the most stringent in the world. The city has a goal of all new buildings being "zero carbon" by 2030. That means that they produce no net greenhouse gas emissions over the course of a year. And Vancouver is well on its way to meeting that goal. In 2017, only 3% of new buildings met the zero-carbon standard. But in 2018, that number rose to 20%. And it's only going to continue to increase as more and more developers begin to build to these higher standards.

So how are developers building such green buildings? There are a few different ways. One common way is by using passive cooling strategies. That means that the building is designed in such a way that it doesn't require mechanical systems (like air conditioners) to cool the space. Instead, the building itself helps regulate temperature using things like thermal mass, insulation, and natural ventilation.

Another way that developers are reducing emissions is by utilizing green construction materials. These materials have a lower embodied carbon than traditional construction materials like concrete and steel. And they can often be sourced locally, which further reduces their environmental impact. Some common green construction materials include bamboo, cross-laminated timber, and rammed earth.

It's clear that Vancouver is leading the charge when it comes to sustainable development. By setting high standards for new buildings and investing in innovative green technologies, Vancouver is paving the way for other cities to follow suit. And this is good news for both the environment and the economy! With more and more people wanting to live in sustainable communities, investing in green infrastructure now will only pay off in the future.