Attention Builders and Developers

		The term "sustainability" used to strike a chord with only the most "green" of consumers. Now a host of issues related to sustainability have become mainstream concerns to masses of consumers. Local governments throughout the province of BC are changing regulations and policy to support green building design and sustainable growth management solutions. The BC provincial government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by the year 2020. All sectors of the economy are expected to help achieve this reduction, including construction. New BC Building Code standards are being enacted to enable the Province to meets its energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction targets, and to reduce energy costs for B.C. homeowners and residents over the longer term.

Green design and practice is the standard of the future. Navigating through this sea change presents numerous challenges and exciting opportunities for builders and property developers. Coast Architectural Group (Coast) is responding to its clients needs with GREEN SOLUTIONS - GREEN DESIGN STRATEGIES, ADVISORY & ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - sustainable solutions that are economically viable, tailored to the climatic, political and cultural conditions and constraints of the region and a building development’s site.

• Green Design Strategies
• Green Rating Systems - Administration
• Green Rating Systems - Product Selection & Systems Design
• Green Building Guidelines
• Green Incentive Programs for New & Retrofit of Existing Buildings
• Environmental Qualifications and Considerations

Green Design Strategies
GHG, LEED, LCA, Built Green, Energuide, iiSBE, WWHR, greywater, Net-Zero, green roofs, SRI, Green Globes, geoexchange, Agriboard, EcoCement ... huh? What does it all mean? How do the energy and environmental performance rating systems compare? What are the premiums to build to these new standards? What REALLY works? Is the investment worth it? What programs can I draw on for financial assistance? What is the best suite of green solutions for my site? How do I keep on top of all the latest information? How do I administer all these rating programs? How do I signature my project green? Optimizing your project’s opportunity to be green and sustainable is our passion.

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Green Rating Systems - Administration
Coast will work with you to determine which rating system is optimal for your development’s needs. If the project is large enough it may be warranted to have Coast design your own rating system tailored specifically for your requirements. Coast building professionals have the knowledge and skills to successfully steward your project through any of the
following certification processes:

LEED for NC, CI, Housing - Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum.
Built Green BC for Housing - Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum.

• Green Globes for Buildings of any size - 1,2,3,4,5 Globes rankings

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Green Rating Systems - Product Selection & Systems Design
Checklist headings and some sub-headings for a typical Energy and Environmental Performance Rating:

1. Energy & Atmosphere - green power and renewable energy, commissioning
2. Water Efficiency - wastewater innovation, efficient landscaping
3. Indoor Environmental Quality - daylight and views, system controllability, low-emitting materials
4. Materials & Resources - recycled content, building reuse, construction waste management
5. Location, Linkages & Sustainable Sites - heat island effect, stormwater management

New products and system solutions in these areas are rapidly evolving. How well they integrate into your project can make a significant difference in their degree of success. Coast can work through these checklists with you and provide design assistance.

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Green Building Guidelines
You may be developing a subdivision and are looking to have Green Guidelines developed to ensure purchasers conform to your vision of a green community. It may be appropriate for Coast to customize a rating system tailored to your development depending on unique conditions and infrastructure capabilities.

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Green Incentive Programs for New & Retrofit of Existing Buildings
Numerous programs can be tapped to help you and your customers. Coast can help identify those program and assist in securing that funding. Programs underway currently e.g.

• Natural Resources Canada ecoENERGY Retrofit Incentive for Buildings and Houses
• Energy rebate programs (e.g. Energy Star, ENERGUIDE) from Terasen Gas, BC Hydro & Fortis

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Environmental Qualifications & Considerations

Currently the office is designing one LEED silver and four Built Green multi-family projects, and while many others may not fit into a specific program, they adhere to environmental sensitivities and objectives. These principles are fundamental to the firm and are evident in the attitudes of all staff members.

Current Green Projects: Ministry of Forests Office Building LEED Silver Springhill Condominiums Built Green Silver La BaiaBeach Resort Built Green Silver Lee Ave. Apartments Built Green Gold Blackstone Apartments Built Green Gold All of our resort and-multi family projects currently under design or construction as well as the above projects use geo-exchange heating and cooling.