Building Green Isn't Optional Anymore

It's just how we do things around here. No greenwashing, no BS - just honest sustainable design that actually works.

Sustainable design process
Our Philosophy

Why We're Obsessed With This Stuff

Look, I'll be honest - when I started out fifteen years ago, "sustainable architecture" was mostly a marketing gimmick. Slap some solar panels on the roof, call it a day, right? But after seeing how buildings actually perform over time, watching energy bills, talking to people living in these spaces... it changed everything for us.

We're based in Vancouver, and if you've been here, you know we've got this incredible natural environment. Mountains, ocean, forests - it's kinda hard to ignore when you're designing buildings that'll be here for the next hundred years. So yeah, we take this seriously.

Every project we touch now has sustainability baked in from day one. Not as an add-on, not as a "premium option" - it's just part of the DNA. Because honestly, building anything else in 2024 feels irresponsible.

LEED Accredited Professionals
On staff since 2012

The Numbers Don't Lie

Here's what we've actually accomplished - not promises, real data

38%

Average energy reduction vs. standard builds

2.4M

Liters of water saved annually across our projects

890

Tonnes of CO2 offset since 2018

76%

Construction waste diverted from landfills

How We Actually Do It

Forget the technical jargon - here's what happens on our projects

Passive Solar Design

We obsess over window placement. Sounds simple, but getting natural light and heat right means your building does half the work without any tech. South-facing glazing in Vancouver? It's a game-changer for winter heating bills.

Envelope Performance

Your building's skin is everything. We spec insulation that actually works in BC's climate - not just what meets code. Air sealing gets tested, not assumed. Had one client drop their heating costs by 60% just from proper envelope design.

Rainwater Management

Living in one of the rainiest cities means we'd be idiots not to capture it. Rainwater harvesting for irrigation, greywater systems for toilets - it's not rocket science, just smart plumbing. Plus green roofs that handle stormwater naturally.

Material Selection

Local sourcing whenever possible - BC's got amazing timber, why ship it from overseas? Low-VOC everything because indoor air quality matters. And yeah, we calculate embodied carbon now. That concrete choice? It matters more than you'd think.

Smart Systems Integration

Heat pumps are standard for us now - BC Hydro's mostly renewable anyway. We integrate smart controls that actually learn how you use the space. No complicated dashboards, just systems that quietly optimize themselves.

Performance Monitoring

We don't just hand over the keys and disappear. Post-occupancy monitoring tells us if our designs actually perform. Sometimes we're wrong - and that data makes the next project better. It's how we keep improving.

Certifications & Partnerships

We Walk the Walk

Certifications aren't everything, but they do show we're serious about staying current. Our team maintains these credentials because the training actually helps us design better buildings.

LEED Certified

Multiple team members with LEED AP credentials

Passive House

Trained in ultra-low energy building standards

CaGBC Member

Canada Green Building Council active participants

Living Building

Pursuing the most rigorous green standard

Green building certifications

Real Talk: The Challenges

Because it's not all sunshine and solar panels

Budget Realities

Yeah, sometimes sustainable features cost more upfront. We're not gonna lie about that. But we've gotten good at showing clients the payback period. Usually it's 5-8 years for residential, faster for commercial. And some stuff - like smart orientation - costs literally nothing extra.

Technology Evolution

What's cutting-edge today might be outdated in five years. We've learned to design flexibility into systems. Heat pump tech is improving fast - we make sure there's room to upgrade without ripping apart walls. It's about thinking ahead.

Code Complexity

BC's building codes are getting stricter - which is good! But navigating them while pushing beyond minimum standards takes experience. We've built relationships with city planners who get what we're trying to do, which helps smooth the approval process.

Trade Coordination

Not every contractor's used to working with advanced sustainable systems. We've developed a network of trades who actually understand air barriers, proper insulation installation, all that detail work that matters. Finding the right team is half the battle.

Looking Forward

Climate change isn't slowing down, and neither are we. We're constantly pushing to reduce embodied carbon, exploring new materials, testing smarter systems. Got a mass timber project in the works that's gonna be pretty special.

The building industry's responsible for about 40% of global carbon emissions. That's... not great. But it also means we've got massive potential to make a difference. Every project's a chance to do better than the last one.

If you're thinking about building something and want it done right - not just green-washed, but actually sustainable - let's talk. We'll shoot straight about what's possible, what'll cost extra, and what the real benefits are.

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