How We Actually Do Sustainability

Look, we're not gonna pretend there's some magic formula here. Just honest work, smart choices, and a lot of testing what actually works in the field.

Sustainable industrial building

The Reality Check

After fifteen years working on industrial buildings and heritage restorations across BC, I've learned that sustainability isn't about checking boxes or slapping solar panels on everything. It's about understanding what a building actually needs and what it can realistically deliver.

Sometimes that means keeping a 100-year-old concrete foundation instead of pouring a new one. Sometimes it's convincing a client that triple-pane windows aren't overkill in Vancouver's climate. And yeah, sometimes it means saying no to ideas that look great on paper but won't survive their first winter.

We've screwed up, learned from it, and built our approach from those lessons. That's the honest truth of it.

Our Framework (That Actually Gets Used)

These aren't theoretical principles we dreamed up in a conference room. They're what we genuinely apply on every project because they work.

Reuse What's Already There

The most sustainable material is the one that's already on site. We've salvaged everything from old-growth timber beams to original brick facades. Costs less, builds faster, and honestly? Usually looks better than new stuff trying to fake character.

Performance Over Paperwork

We do the modeling and the thermal imaging and all that technical stuff because it matters. But we're measuring real energy consumption, actual water use, genuine indoor air quality. If it doesn't perform in the real world, what's the point?

Built for Real People

A building that people hate using isn't sustainable, period. We design spaces that work for the folks who'll actually spend 40+ hours a week there. Good daylighting, proper ventilation, spaces that make sense. Not rocket science, but you'd be surprised how often it gets forgotten.

Local Materials, Local Labour

We source BC timber when we can, work with Vancouver trades we trust, and use materials that don't need to be shipped from halfway around the world. Supports the local economy and cuts down on the carbon footprint from transportation. Win-win.

Built to Last

The least sustainable building is one that needs replacing in 20 years. We design for a minimum 75-year lifespan, with systems that can be upgraded without gutting the whole place. Simple concept, harder to execute than you'd think.

Economics That Make Sense

If the payback period is 30 years, we're honest about it. We run the numbers on energy savings, maintenance costs, tax incentives. Sometimes green costs more upfront. Sometimes it saves money from day one. Either way, you'll know what you're getting into.

Green building certification

Certifications & Standards

We've done LEED Gold, Passive House, BOMA BEST, and Living Building Challenge projects. The certifications can be valuable - they push you to consider stuff you might've missed and give clients third-party validation.

But here's the thing: the certificate isn't the goal. The goal is a building that performs well, costs less to operate, and makes people want to be there. Sometimes those align perfectly with certification requirements. Sometimes they don't.

LEED AP

Accredited professionals on staff

Passive House

Certified consultants

Net Zero

Ready buildings designed

BC Energy Step

Code compliance experts

Some Real Numbers

We're not huge on bragging, but these are measurable outcomes from projects we've completed. Your mileage may vary, obviously.

42%

Average energy reduction in our industrial retrofits

68%

Material reuse rate on heritage projects

8.3yr

Average payback period for efficiency upgrades

94%

Construction waste diverted from landfills

Sustainable design process

What We're Working On Now

Sustainability isn't static. We're constantly testing new approaches, materials, and technologies. Here's what's currently on our radar:

Mass Timber in Industrial Applications

We're working with BC mass timber suppliers to see where CLT and glulam can replace steel and concrete in warehouse and manufacturing spaces. Early results are promising, but there's still work to do on fire ratings and long-span applications.

Heritage Building Energy Modeling

Standard energy modeling software doesn't handle old buildings well. We're developing custom approaches that account for thermal mass, air infiltration patterns, and heritage material properties. It's tedious work, but it leads to better retrofit strategies.

Rainwater Systems for Industrial Sites

Vancouver gets plenty of rain - might as well use it. We're designing rainwater capture and treatment systems sized for industrial process water needs. Not drinking water quality, but good enough for cooling systems, washdown, and landscaping.

Want to Talk Specifics?

Every project's different. If you've got a building that needs work and you're wondering what's actually possible versus what's just greenwashing, let's talk. We'll give you straight answers based on what we've seen work in the field.

Get in Touch

Resources We Actually Use

No point reinventing the wheel. Here are organizations and resources that've helped us figure stuff out over the years.

Canada Green Building Council

LEED certifications and green building education. They host decent workshops in Vancouver a few times a year.

Passive House Canada

Technical resources and training for high-performance building envelopes. Their detailing guides have saved us countless headaches.

BC Hydro Power Smart

Energy modeling tools and incentive programs. Worth checking before any major retrofit project.

FPInnovations

Research on Canadian wood products and mass timber applications. Good data on structural performance and carbon sequestration.

Embodied Carbon Network

Lifecycle assessment tools and material databases. Helps quantify the carbon impact of material choices.

Heritage BC

Technical guidance on heritage building conservation and sustainable retrofit strategies that respect original character.