Building and construction professionals
Those in the building design and construction sector can have the most significant impact on building efficiencies. Here are some resources available to these professionals.
BuildSmart Program by Metro Vancouver
The BuildSmart Program is a local resource for sustainable design and construction information.
Information is available in five areas - design strategies, construction, operations and maintenance, retrofit and tenant improvements, renovations, and demolition and deconstruction. This innovative program encourages the use of green building strategies and technologies, supports green building efforts by offering tools and technical resources and educates the industry about sustainable design and building practices.
Light House Sustainable Building Centre
Light House Sustainable Building Centre welcomes industry professionals, building owners, government representatives and homeowners to explore and discuss the latest eco-friendly resources. There is a lot of detailed information about how to make buildings more sustainable. Visit their centre to learn all about sustainable buildings - practices, policies, products, projects and service providers. They offer a range of programs and services out of the Granville Island resource and display centre.
Light House is an enterprising non-profit organization. Their business services include:
- providing technical assistance appropriate for the market
- providing research, facilitation and referral services
- supporting green building industry through training and education
Cascadia Region Green Building Council and
Canada Green Building Council
These are the leading national and regional organizations advancing green building practices for liveable communities. They are working to change industry standards and develop best-design practices and guidelines. They advocate for green buildings locally and across the country. These groups also develop educational tools and support their membership in the implementation of sustainable design and construction practices.
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
Go Green Program
BOMA Go Green is a national environmental recognition and certification program for existing commercial buildings, created by and tailored to the commercial real estate industry.
Fortis BC for building professionals and trades
Visit the Fortis BC website for the latest offers for natural gas efficiency for buildling professionals and trades.
City of Vancouver Green Building Strategy
The City of Vancouver is in the process of developing a green building strategy (GBS). The GBS contains specific changes to by-law and zoning guidelines that set an environmental performance baseline to ensure relevant buildings achieve the equivalent of a LEED™ Certified level of performance. The GBS will be implemented in phases and will affect how new developments in Vancouver will be built.
Professional development opportunities
Check out the Cascadia Green Building Council's professional development calendar and the Light House Sustainable Building Centre's calendar for events, workshops and learning opportunities specific to building and construction professionals.
Green realtors
The Green Tool Kit for Realtors provides a foundation of information, references and links as a set of tools to help realtors learn more about the environmental and sustainability perspective of real estate.
Get inspired
Seek inspiration from the sea-to-sky green guide. In this interactive online compendium, you can find, share, edit and add leading-edge information on "green" buildings, neighbourhoods, infrastructure, open spaces, programs and technologies that are part of the evolving sustainability story of the Sea-to-Sky region in BC.
