Award

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 | 37 Green Building Design P H OTO G R A P H Y BY D O U B L E S PAC E /CO U RT E S Y D I A M O N D S C H M I T T A RC H I T EC T S during construction, and therefore relies heavily on the use of carbon-sequester- ing materials. "These goals, coupled with Passive House targets, are a tall order on a limited site located in an extreme Winnipeg climate, and we are just in the beginning stages of the project, so stay tuned!" How we approach green building design has changed rather dramatically over the years, and Oster says "building better than average" will no longer cut it. "As architects, we need to look seriously at designing with mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in mind. With rigorous programs like the LBC, there is a growing focus on developing and incorporating resilience strategies to allow buildings to remain habitable for stretches of time after disasters or energy out- ages, which are a frightening reality of the climate crisis." While challenges remain, especially when it comes to harmful toxins and ingredients in building materials, Oster says that there are plenty of opportuni- ties ahead: "Through advocacy and education, manufacturers will become more transparent with the ingredients in products and move to providing healthier and more ecologically sound options for architects." Over at Diamond Schmitt Architects, the team is seeing reinforced enthu- siasm for mass timber structures and hybrid structural solutions to reduce the embodied carbon, and cost, of buildings. "Comprehensive lifecycle analyses are becoming more commonly requested from clients, allowing us to make informed decisions about balancing additional resiliency measures with reducing construction emissions and energy consumption," says Jeff Mitchell, associate at Diamond Schmitt. This increase in energy and environmental literacy is allowing Diamond Schmitt to be proactive in pursuing design that promotes social well-being, environmental well-being, and healthy communities. Diamond Schmitt approaches each project as an opportunity for research, and as such has established what they refer to as "Diamond Schmitt University"– a valuable platform to consolidate lessons learned that every other team at the office can tap into, as well as be shared with a wider community. Among the many projects Diamond Schmitt have been involved with that are targeting or have reached net-zero energy or emissions are Ādisōke – Ottawa Public Library – Library and Archives Canada's new joint facility, the Toronto Paramedic "Recently, we completed Manitou a bi Bii daziigae at Red River College in Winnipeg, which includes a façade system of Building Integrated Photovoltaic [BIPV] panels that provides more than 75 percent of its operational energy, while also being key to the expression and the identity of the building. It is the first time that this innovative concept has been applied in Canada," says Mitchell. STUDY BUDDY Much has been reported on the need to slash emissions by retrofitting large buildings, and to encourage this further, Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) commissioned a study to evaluate the potential technical pathways to decarbonize building operations. The study consisted of a team of researchers from RDH Building Science, in partnership with Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, who calculated estimated costs of deep carbon retrofits and identified market barriers and solutions. The research team used whole-building energy modelling to evaluate deep carbon retrofit opportunities across 50 different building archetypes and regions. Among its many findings was that Canada can decarbonize existing large buildings by 2050 if we start today and owners of all large buildings can slash energy use by more than 70 percent. "The work we're doing around retrofits is interesting and so necessary to meet Canada's climate targets. We can't get to zero without retrofitting existing buildings," explains CAGBC spokesperson Lesley Sturla. For this to succeed, the CAGBC says it will be necessary to have access to financing that leverages energy efficiency savings to fund retrofits, like the Investor Ready Energy Efficiency (IREE) certification that facilitates retrofit proposal reviews, reduces transaction costs, and streamlines projects. BR ANCHING OUT To succeed with plans to build green, we must incorporate all sectors. A great example of this is WSP that has been awarded the detailed design for two hydrogen production and refuelling facilities in Alberta. The facilities, located in Calgary and Edmonton, are being constructed to support Canada Pacific's (CP) Hydrogen Locomotive Program. Low carbon intensity hydrogen has the potential to be an integral part of Canada's clean energy mix in the decades ahead. "Our team is proud to play an important role in Canada's energy transition, helping companies develop new resources for the transition to a low-emission economy," says Satvinder Flore, executive VP, Energy, Resources and Industry. Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Winnipeg, MB The hydrogen infrastructure at each CP site will include a 1MW electrolyzer, compression, storage, and dispensing for locomotive refuelling. In Calgary, the electrolyzer will be powered in part by renewable electricity from CP's existing 5 MW solar power facility co-located at CP's headquarters. "Alberta presents a real opportunity for the development and execution of significant clean energy generation through hydrogen production, as well as solar, wind, and biofuel resources. This agreement presents an opportunity for our team to continue to demonstrate its expertise in the development of next generation clean energy projects," says Peter Hatcher, executive VP, Western Canada and Territories. Construction of the two facilities is expected to begin in late 2022, with the first hydrogen to be supplied to CP hydrogen locomotive in 2023. UTILIT Y COMPANIES FORGE AHEAD Last year, FortisBC made record investment in its energy conservation and management programs, close to $120 million. While much of the funding supports traditional rebate offerings, FortisBC has also turned its attention to how best to support the much deeper emission reductions needed in existing building stock. A deep energy retrofit is a comprehensive energy conservation upgrade to both the building envelope and energy systems with the aim of decreasing energy use by 50 percent or more. With much of today's buildings expected to still be in active use in 2050, deep energy retrofits are needed to achieve net-zero climate action goals, especially for buildings where the gas system remains the best option. To meet this goal, FortisBC is investing $8.5 million in deep energy retrofit pilots this year and has a request to its regulator, the BC Utilities Commission, for $13.5 million in 2023. It's now working together with key industry stakeholder groups to conduct pilots in 36 single-family homes and four multi-family buildings across the province, including a concrete high-rise in downtown Vancouver. FortisBC is also researching technologies to support deep energy retrofits, such as air sealing advances, AI-enabled energy evaluation software, and ultra-efficient natural gas heat pumps. The information gained from these pilot projects is expected to provide critical information on how best to achieve net-zero targets in gas-heated buildings and help FortisBC determine the next generation of energy conservation programs. A

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