How We're Actually Building Greener

Look, we're not gonna pretend we've got all the answers. But after years on the BC coast, we've learned what works when you're fighting rising tides and trying not to trash the planet at the same time.

Our Impact So Far

Carbon Offset (2024) 847 tonnes
Water Savings 2.3M litres
Energy Reduction 64% avg

Yeah, We've Got the Badges

But more importantly, we know what they mean and when they're actually worth pursuing for your project.

LEED Certified Partner

We've guided 23 projects through LEED certification. Gold's nice, but sometimes Silver makes more financial sense - we'll tell you straight up.

Current Projects:
5
Platinum
11
Gold
7
Silver

Passive House Institute

Honestly? This one's tough to hit on the coast with all our weather. But when clients are serious about energy efficiency, it's doable.

Achievements:
  • 4 Certified Buildings
  • 91% Heating Reduction
  • Premium Consultancy

Living Building Challenge

The ultimate flex. Only attempted this twice - it's not for everyone. But man, when you pull it off, there's nothing quite like it.

Status:
1 Completed (2022)
1 In Progress (2025)
Net-Zero Energy & Water

Why Weather Data Matters Here

West Vancouver isn't exactly known for predictable weather. We track real-time climate data because coastal design means you're constantly adapting to what Mother Nature throws at you.

Every project gets its own microclimate analysis - wind patterns, salt spray exposure, storm surge risks. Sounds nerdy, and yeah it kinda is, but it's also how buildings last 100+ years instead of needing major repairs in 20.

Coastal weather patterns

Live Coastal Conditions - Marine Drive Station

12°C
Temperature
28 km/h
Wind Speed
87%
Humidity
1.2m
Tide Level
Annual Storm Pattern Analysis
Jan-Mar (Storm Season) High Risk
85%
Apr-Jun (Transition) Moderate
45%
Jul-Sep (Dry Season) Low Risk
20%
Oct-Dec (Fall Storms) High Risk
75%
Climate Adaptation Stats
Rain Events 164/yr
That's a lot. Drainage design is critical.
King Tides 12/yr
Elevation planning isn't optional here.
Major Storms 8/yr
Wind loads exceed code minimums regularly.
Clear Days 58/yr
Solar panels? Yeah, they still work surprisingly well.
Real Talk: All this weather monitoring feeds directly into our structural calcs and material selections. We've seen too many coastal projects fail because someone eyeballed the climate data instead of actually measuring it.

Materials That Don't Just Look Green

Sustainable materials

Locally Sourced Timber

BC forests, certified sustainable harvesting. It's right here, so why ship from overseas?

Our Material Philosophy

We're not gonna spec bamboo flooring from halfway around the world and call it sustainable. That's greenwashing nonsense.

Local Sourcing 89% avg
Within 500km radius whenever possible
Recycled Content 43% avg
Steel, concrete aggregates, insulation
FSC Certified Wood 100%
Non-negotiable on every project
Low-VOC Everything Standard
Paints, adhesives, sealants - indoor air quality matters

76%

Construction Waste Diverted

58%

Energy Use Reduction

42%

Water Consumption Cut

$23k

Avg Annual Savings

Proof It Actually Works

Dundarave Residence
Dundarave Net-Zero Residence

Completed 2023

  • Zero net energy consumption
  • Rainwater harvesting system
  • Survived 2023 windstorm (180km/h gusts)
  • LEED Platinum certified
Marine Drive Office
Marine Drive Professional Centre

Completed 2024

  • Green roof reduces runoff by 80%
  • Geothermal heating/cooling
  • Reclaimed brick facade
  • LEED Gold + Passive House
Heritage retrofit
Ambleside Heritage Retrofit

Completed 2022

  • 1920s building brought to modern standards
  • 82% energy reduction achieved
  • Original character maintained
  • Heritage restoration award winner

Let's Be Real for a Second

Sustainable design costs more upfront. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying or doesn't know what they're doing. But here's the thing - over 10-15 years, you're usually money ahead. Plus your building won't fall apart when the next big storm rolls through.

We've turned down projects where clients just wanted the "green" label without doing the actual work. That's not our style. If you're serious about building something that'll last and won't wreck the environment, we should talk.

Let's Talk About Your Project