Resource Library

The provincial government has developed a stretch code with higher energy performance requirements than the B.C. Building Code (BCBC), to ensure that advances in energy efficient building design and technology continue within this new policy context. In anticipation of this new regulatory framework, this report assesses the supports available for the implementation of a stretch code in B.C. In order to do this, existing supports in B.C. are compared with those in five other leading beyond-base energy code jurisdictions across North America.

Partner: BC Ministry of Energy and Mines
Keywords: green buildings, sustainable development & green economy

This report presents an overview of a project to assist the City of Surrey’s application of FCM’s Partners for Climate Protection Community Milestone 5: Monitor Progress and Report Results. The project included populating Surrey’s community greenhouse gas accounting tool with data, providing feedback, reports and briefings on the community GHG accounting tool, and preparing briefing documents summarizing four notable Surrey GHG reduction projects.

Partner: City of Surrey
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy

This report describes research intended to inform Metro Vancouver and BC Hydro about potential incentive models which could lower the barriers to obtaining an EnerGuide evaluation and label. Such an incentive program would assist in increasing the affordability, accessibility, and acceptability of labelling as an informational tool, leading to a greater understanding of this landscape by homeowners and builders and further normalizing home energy labelling in the region.

Partner: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: green buildings, sustainable development & green economy

The goal of this project is to improve implementation of energy requirements of the British Columbia Building Code and investigate the relationship of code requirements with the energy credits associated with the UBC Residential Environmental Assessment Program certification, for UBC multi-family buildings. 

Partner: UBC Sustainability & Engineering
Keywords: green buildings, sustainable development & green economy

Integrating sustainable practices into health care is a complex process, due in part to the fast-paced nature of health care, the limited resources available to devote to issues seen as “outside patient care,” and biomedical cross-contamination in recycling. This project was developed to support an ongoing engagement strategy, keeping experienced leaders engaged, and looking at more systemic changes including culture change.

Partner: Fraser Health Authority 
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy

To support the Circular Economy Working Group of the National Zero Waste Council, this report aimed to clarify the concept of the circular economy in relation to the upstream waste prevention values of the council and identify the advantages of this congruency. Through a literature review and informational interviews with multiple council members, current practices were analyzed to explore how the concept of the circular economy is being applied in Canada and where opportunities exist to advance the concept further.

Partner: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, waste management & recycling

This study examines a number of external forces that have the potential to affect the industry uses and the demands of industrial lands in the Metro Vancouver region. Overall, the literature highlights that industrial uses are rapidly changing globally, and without a deliberate policy in place, industrial lands will likely be converted to other uses. The topics explored in this study shed light on a number of these emerging issues, as well as potential opportunities and challenges.

Partner: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, transportation

The objective of this study is to review the literature on improved fuels for transportation, and their impact on transportation emissions, as well as explore policy and regulation that could be used to motivate a transition to improved fuels. The focus is on fuels that could replace conventional gasoline and diesel, with particular emphasis on on‐road vehicle applications.

Partner: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, transportation

Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC) and Lower Mainland Facilities Management (LMFM) are partnering on a multi-phased project to develop adaptation action plans at the facility-level to holistically strengthen the climate resilience of health care facilities in the Lower Mainland. This report summarizes the first of multiple phases of this project, which aims to provide a first glance at the current state of our facilities’ resilience to extreme events in order to identify priority areas before conducting more detailed assessments that will shape the site-specific adaptation plans.

Partner: Fraser Health
Keywords: social sustainability