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Beyond the financial and climate benefits, the new homes and offices will be quieter, less drafty, and more comfortable. And requirements for better air circulation will give occupants cleaner air to breathe. It is these benefits that helped organizations such as the Urban Development Institute, the Condominium Home Owners Association, and the Pembina Institute support the new standards when they were approved by city council last November.

Vancouver isn’t alone in realizing the benefits that better buildings have to offer. Similar building codes exist across Europe, and many North American cities, states and provinces are moving in this direction. B.C. recently introduced a province-wide standard for energy efficiency in new construction called the B.C. Energy Step Code. The Step Code is similar to Vancouver’s new rezoning policy, and it can now be adopted by municipalities throughout the province.

The changes are good news for our local trades, builders and developers who are already doing this work. Aligning energy efficiency requirements across the province will offer the construction and development industry a welcome consistency when working in multiple municipalities. The better we get at designing and building homes and offices that are very energy efficient, the better positioned we will be to export those skills and technologies to jurisdictions with similar objectives.

While the near-term benefits are a big deal, it’s important to applaud the many designers and developers who are already several steps ahead. For example, Passive House is a super-energy-efficient building standard that needs so little energy, the heat from a blowdryer would be enough to keep it warm. There are currently more than 300 passive house units built or currently in development in Vancouver alone, with new proposals popping up across the region. Later this year, the Heights will be completed and become Canada’s largest passive housing complex with 85 market rental suites.