Resource Library

This project explores the City of North Vancouver's building inventory and retrofit strategies, aiming to streamline their emissions reduction and fortify climate resilience. The focus is on bridging gaps in building stock analysis by classifying major structures by use and size, refreshing the multi-family building database, and investigating retrofit practices from foremost municipalities in Canada. The insights garnered will guide the City's strategy for retrofitting its prominent structures.

Partner: City of North Vancouver
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: green buildings 

The objective of this project is to conduct research and summarize opportunities for local governments to promote food-growing in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs). The project utilizes a literature review, policy scans, and interviews with communities and governments to identify successes, challenges, and suggestions for food cultivation initiatives. Includes recommendations for the Township of Langley to enhance food security and address the climate crisis through the implementation and practice of residential food cultivation

Partner: Township of Langley
Funder: Township of Langley
Keywords: food systems, green buildings, social sustainability 

The project aimed to enhance biodiversity conservation messaging in the Fraser Estuary, effectively communicating conservation efforts amidst ongoing biodiversity threats. Its objective is to raise awareness, shape attitudes, and prompt action toward biodiversity conservation in the region. The project outlined a six-step approach to crafting and delivering tailored conservation messages, emphasizing credibility, framing, storytelling, visuals, connections, and co-benefits for diverse audiences.

Partner: Garden City Conservation Society
Funder: UBC
Keywords: biodiversity, ecological systems, leadership & behaviour change 

Energy upgrades and retrofits have been identified as key measures to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector in Canada. This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness and environmental impacts of energy-efficient new build construction on the Musqueam Indian Reserve. The findings can help the indigenous community select economical building energy upgrade measures to reduce building energy use and associated GHG emissions.

Partner: Musqueam Indian Band
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: green buildings, sustainable development & green economy 

Energy upgrades and retrofits have been identified as key measures to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector in Canada. This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness and environmental impacts of energy-efficient new build construction on the Musqueam Indian Reserve. The findings can help the indigenous community select economical building energy upgrade measures to reduce building energy use and associated GHG emissions.

Partner: Musqueam Indian Band
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: green buildings, sustainable development, green economy 

This project reviews passive solutions for addressing overheating and potential barriers for cooling retrofits. Existing multi-family buildings contribute significantly to emissions and exacerbate the impact of extreme weather. To meet 2030 climate goals, prompt retrofitting is vital. The study evaluated options such as behavior change, natural ventilation, green roofs, white roofs, green walls, exterior shading, and window treatments based on effectiveness, ease of retrofit, and cost.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver & UBC
Keywords: climate action, low carbon buildings, climate resilience, biodiversity, green buildings 

This project provides recommendations to develop a zero emissions municipal buildings policy for the City of Port Moody through the study and research of similar policies from other municipalities and reports by other public organizations. The project suggests carbon balance calculation as the key framework of the policy, including operational, embodied, construction and avoided carbon emissions in an attempt to record emissions from the whole building life cycle of the municipal buildings.  

Partner: City of Port Moody
Funder: BC Hydro  
Keywords: green buildings, municipal buildings, zero carbon 

The Township of Langley is exploring a shared micromobility pilot program in support of its sustainability and transportation objectives. This report examines the experience of municipal staff involved in similar work in other jurisdictions, explains the perspective of private shared micromobility operators, and profiles some potential pilot program areas. It then makes key recommendations for the design and scoping of any potential shared micromobility pilot program in the Township.

Partner: Township of Langley
Funder: Township of Langley
Keywords: transportation, micromobility, active transportation, e-bike, e-scooter

This study aims to provide a roadmap for retrofitting existing mid-rise building retrofits in order to understand the required capital investment, energy savings, corresponding energy cost savings, and carbon footprint. The findings can assist policy-makers and other stakeholders in gaining a holistic view of energy retrofits and making better decisions on implementing energy retrofit measures to reduce utility bills and carbon emissions.  

Partner: City of Richmond
Funder: City of Richmond
Keywords: green buildings, sustainable development & green economy