Here's how people are making buildings more climate resilient
CBC
It's time to build for the future, according to Penny Martyn.
"[It's] really important that our buildings become more climate-friendly," said Martyn, a green building manager for University of British Columbia Campus and Community Planning.
"Our buildings need to be able to adapt to climate change, so we need to design them differently."
UBC is just one of the many organizations across Canada that are looking for ways to better adapt to the changing climate, as forest fires, heat, and extreme weather become more prevalent, whether that's while designing new buildings, or retrofitting old ones.
According to a report released by Natural Resources Canada in January, buildings make up 13 per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.
And some of the solutions may seem boring, but it's the boring changes that can have a long-term positive impact.
Martyn says UBC is committed to making sure all its new buildings meet LEED gold standard, which is an internationally recognized certification that looks at carbon emissions, the conservation of resources, and operating costs.
And more developers are looking at ways to start off on the right foot.
In Calgary, the planning and construction of the new Central Library cost $245 million. In addition to more than 30 free meeting rooms, a 330-seat performance hall, and of course, books, it boasts a long list of climate-friendly features.
Kate Thompson, CEO of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, which served as the development manager for the project, said it started with location. The library is right along Calgary's light rail transit, making it easy for people to get there. Plus, there are plenty of places to lock up a bike.
A large cistern on the outside of the library captures rainwater, and inside there is low-flow plumbing.
The building has lots of natural light, but is also equipped with solar shades and windows with ceramic dots that prevent the building from overheating on a sunny day. And those are just some of the features added to the building to make it sustainable over the long term.
"You have to say collectively, what are we aspiring to do here?" said Thompson. "Sustainability was foundational."
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