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44 | J UNE 2018 Sustainable Design Strategies to 51 percent by 2030. The CaGBC this year released a follow-up report called A Roadmap for Retrofits in Canada II, which sets out a series of comprehensive actions for industry, non-profit organizations, and governments to build a world- leading retrofit economy by 2030 that not only improves the performance of existing buildings, but also creates new economic opportunities for Canadians." Bessoudo adds that the CaGBC's Zero Carbon Building Standard, Canada's first green building program to make carbon the key indicator for building perfor- mance, is having a far-reaching impact. "Here in Toronto, the latest version of the Toronto Green Standard began using carbon as a measure of building performance with specific targets for greenhouse gas intensity. Ultimately, the Toronto Green Standard will require near zero emis- sions buildings by 2030," says Bessoudo. In terms of low- or zero-carbon buildings, WSP is working on a wide range of exciting projects, from new builds to retrofits to entire portfolios. The net-zero retrofit of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Headquarters in Toronto aims to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving a cost-effective deep energy retrofit of an existing building. Then there's East Harbour, located on a 60-acre site east of Toronto's downtown core, which is currently the largest commercial development project planned in Canada. "The project is pursuing EcoDistricts certification – a neighbourhood-scale sustainability certification program – through a commitment towards improving social equity, resilience, and climate protection," says Bessoudo. He adds that regulations, targets, rating systems and strategies related to carbon reductions will continue to have an impact on the market and the focus on carbon (as opposed to just energy) is helping to improve building performance across the spectrum. BC Hydro has supported a showcase Passive House project, the six-storey rental retail/residential building The Heights in Vancouver, which is among the largest Passive House buildings in Canada, One passive option used on the project is the use of sun shades, which control light and heat that comes from the sun. The project also uses small electric baseboard heaters in each suite which means the building owners benefit from a virtually maintenance-free heating system, while tenants have control over their own comfort. In addition to insulation, triple-glazed windows help create a building with a tight seal, and high-efficiency heat recovery ventilation (HRVs) ensure that as much of the heat energy is transferred to fresh air coming in. An additional benefit of the air transfer system that is key to Passive House is the improved air quality and dramatic reduction of condensation. "The Heights project team engaged the BC Hydro New Construction program in 2014 to work on advancing the design of the building. Through this collabora- tion it came up with the estimated energy savings of 205,000 KWh a year," says Oscar Ceron. True to its Passive House pedigree, the building exceeds the requirements of Step 4 under the new BC Energy Step Code and also meets many of the City's future goals for low-rise buildings under the Zero Emissions Building Plan. When it comes to architects and sustainable design, most will agree they play an important role in its evolution. "The impetus for futureproofing our buildings, cities and communities has never been more critical," says Lisa Bate, regional managing principal, North America at B+H Architects. "Aging facility or operating systems, underutilized urban spaces, skyrocketing energy costs, indoor environment health, and hyper- competitive real estate markets are all powerful catalysts for urban renewal." B+H understands that retrofitting and renewing aging buildings presents a tremendous opportunity to significantly drive sustainable urban development at a global scale. An example of this is Toronto's TD Centre Revitalization, the first existing building in North America to achieve the WELL Building Standard. "New, advanced technologies and data-driven design have made once uncharted territory in sustainable design today's reality. Many post-secondary institutions across Canada are leading new sustainability drivers, such as Humber College and the University of Toronto, with their commitment to Passive House building envelope and mechanical systems building projects," says Bate. While the current focus on renewable energy and mobility solutions has done much to progress the industry forward, Bate adds that the time has come to amplify our impact by taking a much more strategic approach to being green, "one that optimizes and exponentially accelerates our planning around people, nature, and essential needs." A RJC has been delivering engineering excellence, value and outstanding results to our clients for 70 years. Hill and Dale Residences | Toronto, ON RJC Engineers Seton Recreation Facility | Calgary, AB

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