Volume 3 - Program & Project Ideas (PDF - 4.5 - Natural Life Network

Natural Resources Canada – Community Energy Systems
BUILDING PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES
(See also diverse and compact housing, water, and solid waste)
Buildings use 25 per cent of all the world’s raw materials, 25 per cent of the water and
account for 35 to 40 per cent of municipal solid waste (28 per cent of this coming form
construction) and demolition debris. In addition, buildings are a major source of
pollution; they cause urban air quality problems, and the pollutants that many scientists
believe cause climate change.
B.1 Sustainable development guidelines for building and site development
(See also water, transportation, and land use.)
Resources:
Sheltair Scientific. Methods and Tools for Creating Effective Sustainable Development
Guidelines for Buildings at the Community Level.
http://www.sheltair.com/library/Communities/CIB%20Paper%20on%20Methods%20and
%20Tools.pdf
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/buildings/gbcodtoc.shtml. See this site for a reference
listing of green building codes/ordinances from the US.
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/GreenBuilding/CaseStudies/ See many green building case
studies from the US.
- Case study: Santa Monica, CA, USA
The City of Santa Monica developed Sustainable Development Guidelines for building
and site development that directly address environmental issues related to energy, water,
materials, occupant health and land use. Two performance-based ordinances improve the
environmental and resource performance of buildings by requiring reduced energy
consumption and reduced runoff.
For additional information see http://greenbuildings.santa-monica.org/
- Case study, Vancouver, BC
The City of Vancouver created a context for building green buildings that go beyond the
scale of individual buildings and specify building energy performance at a broader
community level. The performance criteria were established to guide the redevelopment
of Southeast False Creek, a sustainable, high-density residential neighbourhood, on the
Vancouver waterfront. The performance criteria identify results that the development
must meet. These criteria deal with solid waste, transport, energy, air emissions, soil,
water, green spaces and buildings.
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