City of Vancouver’s support for West House
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Lyn Bartram, 778.782.7439, 604.908.9954 (cell); lyn@sfu.ca
The City of Vancouver is recognized as a North American leader in green building policy.
As part of its goal to become the world’s greenest city by 2020, the city has set two green building targets: a 20-per-cent reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in existing buildings, and carbon neutral operations in all new buildings.
The City’s building code for single-family homes is already the greenest in North America with high levels of insulation, special piping for solar hot water, and efficient appliances among the requirements.
The City’s laneway housing initiative supports small secondary homes on residential properties to create more rental opportunities in neighbourhoods.
West House was featured as an example of sustainable future urban living during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games after being championed by David Ramslie, the city’s sustainable development program manager, along with Simon Fraser University professors.
West House is now taking on a second life and location as a living lab to test the home performance and sustainability features as well as how the home functions for its occupants. After a year’s worth of research with the first occupants, SFU, the owner of West House, will sell the home and have it moved to a permanent laneway site in Vancouver.
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