Building Green, Living Better

Look, we're not perfect - but we're trying our damndest to leave this place better than we found it. Here's what we've learned along the way.

Our Green Journey

Started back in 2015 with some pretty basic ideas about energy efficiency. Now? Well, we've come a long way - made mistakes, learned from 'em, and figured out what actually works in Vancouver's unique climate.

LEED Certified

Gold Status

Net Zero

Ready Designs

85%

Material Reuse

Carbon

Neutral Office

How We Got Here

2015

The Wake-Up Call

Honestly, we were like most studios - talking about sustainability but not really living it. Then we worked on this residential project where the client challenged us to cut energy use by 60%. We thought they were nuts. But that project changed everything for us.

2017

Getting Serious About Materials

Started tracking where our materials came from - and man, was that eye-opening. Found out we were speccing stuff that traveled halfway around the world. Now we've got relationships with local suppliers, reclaimed material yards, and we know the story behind what we're using.

Local sourcing progress
2019

LEED Gold Achievement

Yeah, we're proud of this one. Took us three tries and countless late nights studying building science. The certification process kicked our butts, but it forced us to document and measure everything. Can't argue with data.

Energy efficiency milestone
2021

Net Zero Ready Designs

This was tough. Had to rethink our entire approach to building orientation, envelope design, and mechanical systems. Brought in some amazing consultants who weren't afraid to tell us when our designs were, well, crap from an energy standpoint.

Carbon reduction target
2023

Carbon Neutral Studio

Decided we should probably walk the walk in our own space. Retrofitted our office, switched to renewable energy, and offset what we couldn't eliminate. Also started composting our lunch waste - sounds small, but it adds up.

Office sustainability goal
2025 & Beyond

The Next Chapter

We're diving into regenerative design now - buildings that actually give back to their environment. Sounds ambitious, maybe even a bit crazy. But that's kinda how we felt about net zero five years ago. Stay tuned.

Regenerative design adoption

What We're Doing Right Now

Rainwater Harvesting

Every project now includes systems to capture and reuse rainwater. In Vancouver, we've got plenty of it - might as well use it twice.

Passive House Principles

Super-insulated envelopes and airtight construction. Yeah, it costs more upfront, but the energy savings? They speak for themselves.

Mass Timber Construction

We're big on CLT and glulam these days. Wood sequesters carbon, it's renewable, and honestly - it's just beautiful to work with.

Low-VOC Everything

From paints to adhesives to finishes - if it off-gasses nasty stuff, we're not speccing it. Indoor air quality matters way more than most people realize.

Sustainable construction practices

Real Talk About Sustainability

Here's the thing - sustainable design isn't always easy or cheap. Sometimes clients push back on the budget. Sometimes the perfect green solution just doesn't exist yet.

But we've found that when you explain the long-term benefits, when you show people the math on energy savings and health improvements, they get it. Most people actually want to do the right thing - they just need someone to show 'em how.

We're not preaching perfection here. We're learning as we go, making mistakes, and trying to get better with each project. That's really all anyone can ask for.

Let's Talk About Your Green Project

Want to Dig Deeper?

We're always happy to geek out about sustainable design. Got questions about how we could make your project greener? Just holler.

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