Green Building

August 27, 2008

Vancouver architect extolls the virtues of wood for sustainable building

Vancouver architect Larry McFarland is a wood advocate, and proud of it.

August 25, 2008

Victoria’s Dockside Green community achieves LEED Platinum certification

The first phase of Dockside Green, a 1.3-million-square-foot community built on a former brownfield site in the heart of Victoria, has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the Canada Green Building Council.

August 13, 2008

British Columbia government announces $5-million investment in SolarBC program

The British Columbia government announced last month that it will invest $5 million in the SolarBC program to encourage the installation of solar hot water heaters.

August 11, 2008

Korky Koroluk: Prospects for concentrated solar power burn bright

Advocates are calling a new concept called “concentrating solar power” — the use of mirrors to increase the amount of power sunlight generates — the most important form of carbon-free power in the 21st Century, writes Daily Commercial News columnist Korky Koroluk.

August 4, 2008

Fort Edmonton Park’s Welcome Centre aims for LEED Gold

Long known for its view of the past, Edmonton’s historic Fort Edmonton Park now has its eyes set on the future, as it prepares to greet visitors with a new, green Welcome Centre.

July 9, 2008

CCA committee urges LEED education for contractors

The Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) chief operating officers’ committee would like to see owners step up to the plate and ensure contractors are up to speed on LEED.

July 7, 2008

Contractors need to be up to speed on LEED, says expert

So you think “green buildings” are something only architects and engineers have to really understand? Dan Roberts begs to differ and he explained why during an intensive four-hour introductory course at the Vancouver Regional Construction Association.

July 2, 2008

Canadian Low Rises Go Green

Construction began earlier this month on Canada’s largest green low-rise residential development.

June 23, 2008

Design, construction industries prove quick to adapt to climate change

With their embrace of green principles, the design and construction industries have proven to be more adaptable in responding to climate change than governments and auto manufacturers, says Canada Green Building Council chair Peter Busby.

June 18, 2008

Light House Sustainable Building Centre becomes beacon for green-building practices

The green-building movement is coming on fast, pushed by government regulations and financial realities.

April 16, 2007

Vancouver Island projects strive for LEED certification

One LEED project on southern Vancouver Island has belatedly received the highest certification from the Canada Green Building Council but another in downtown Victoria is having a financial hiccup in the early construction stage.

April 16, 2007

World Sustainable Building Conference showcases Canadian design

Canadian applications are invited for the prestigious Sustainable Building Challenge (SBC) which is to be held in Melbourne, Australia in September 2008.

April 16, 2007

Ten years to clean up Sydney Tar Ponds

It’s taken more than 100 years to create the toxic stew of the Tar Ponds in Sydney, N.S. The federal and Nova Scotia governments hope to have it cleaned up in 10, at a cost of $400 million.

April 16, 2007

Houston adopts new energy efficient plan

Speaking green is de rigeur. Making practical use of green technology especially as a small municipality remains less fashionable.