Sustainable Building by Of Houses and Trees | To mark Canada's 150th birthday, here's a list of five green buildings - because our growing sustainable building industry is worth celebrating too.Happy 150th birthday Canada! To celebrate my country’s milestone, I’ve put together a list of a few of its most eco-friendly buildings. As far as green countries go, Canada certainly isn’t at the top of the list.

But with our government’s shifting priorities and increased public awareness about the impact of unsustainable choices, architects are now designing buildings with the environment in mind. Interestingly, the current trend in sustainable building isn’t designing structures filled with fancy green technology. 

Instead, it’s about creating smart buildings that don’t need all the bells and whistles. Orientation, amount and quality of windows, square footage and types of materials are all current focuses in sustainable building. So here is a sampling of some of the greenest buildings in Canada. May they be an inspiration to us all!


Note that this post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click on a link and make a purchase a small percentage of the sale goes to yours truly. Please know that I only link to products that are good for the earth, good for the soul, or both!


BC Passive House Factory, Pemberton, British Columbia

An eco-friendly building where eco-friendly buildings are constructed? It doesn’t get much greener than that! Made entirely of wood, the building’s construction used 971 tonnes of carbon dioxide less than if it were built using concrete. A double-walled system and high performance wood windows allow sunshine and body heat from the occupants to provide the majority of the factory’s heating needs. I’m so impressed I may have to look into this company for Our House in the Trees.

Canadian sustainable building BC Passive House Factory in Pemberton, British Columbia.
(Image Credit: Hemsworth Architecture)

 Bibliotheque du Boise, Montreal, Quebec

Doesn’t it feel great to not only meet your goals, but surpass them? That’s what this Montreal library did when it set out to achieve LEED Silver certification, but wound up achieving LEED Platinum instead. Built primarily out of certified wood, the library also features a vegetative roof. Plus, the architects designed the building to minimally impact its natural surroundings, disturbing very few trees and ensuring 100 more were planted to offset construction.

Canadian sustainable building Bibliotheque du Boise in Montreal, Quebec.
(Image Credit: Wikimedia)

De Waal Net Zero House, Edmonton, Alberta

Well you just know I had to include an Edmonton building. Especially considering I’ve lived either in or near the city my whole life. Aside from its location catching my attention, the De Waal house also gets props for its green design. For example, it uses passive solar orientation, has an airtight envelope and conserves water like a boss. Built by the owners, the home features locally available materials installed by local tradespeople.

Canadian sustainable building De Waal Net Zero House in Edmonton, Alberta.
(Image Credit: SAB Magazine)


 

MEC Head Office, Vancouver, British Columbia

Mountain Equipment Co-op’s head office consists of pieces that can be taken apart at the end of the building’s useful life. How cool is that? It’s like a giant lego building! Yet it doesn’t look anything like lego. Other green features include enough natural light that artificial lighting only needs to be used for a few hours per workday and a passive ventilation system.

Canadian sustainable building MEC Head Office in Vancouver, British Columbia.
(Image Credit: Changing City)

Mona Campbell Building, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

The first university building in Atlantic Canada to become LEED Gold certified illustrates that sometimes fancy eco-friendly technology is just plain old awesome. This university was built using Bubbledeck, meaning its concrete slabs are filled with hollow plastic balls reinforced with steel to help reduce the amount of concrete used. Plus, 90 percent of the construction’s waste materials were diverted from landfills. This of course harkens back to the environmental motto we are all familiar with – reduce, reuse, recycle!

Canadian sustainable building Mona Campbell Building in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
(Image Credit: Dalhousie University)

If you’re interested in learning more about sustainable architecture, check your local library for these titles. They can also be ordered through Amazon Books.

Want to learn more about sustainable building practices? Check out Design Like You Give a Damn [2] by Architecture for Humanity.





Design Like You Give a Damn [2]: Building Change from the Ground Up by Architecture for Humanity

Want to learn more about sustainable building practices? Check out Sustainable Architecture by The Plan.





Sustainable Architecture: Details in Contemporary Architecture by The Plan

Want to learn more about sustainable building practices? Check out Sustainable Design by David Bergman.Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide for Architects and Interior, Lighting, and Environmental Designers by David Bergman






LET’S BE TREEHUGGERS TOGETHER!

Subscribe to have weekly treehugger tips + the latest Of Houses and Trees posts delivered directly to your inbox!

Of Houses and Trees Subscribe

OH, AND LET’S BE FRIENDS TOO…

Larissa Swayze Facebook Larissa Swayze Instagram Larissa Swayze Twitter Larissa Swayze Pinterest Larissa Swayze YouTube


PIN ME!

Sustainable Building | To mark Canada's 150th birthday, here's a list of five green buildings - because our growing sustainable building industry is worth celebrating too.

Posted on July 1, 2017 (Last Updated on November 29, 2018)

Former architectural technologist. Current treehugger.

I’m here to help you green your home – and your life.

LET’S BE TREEHUGGERS TOGETHER!

Subscribe to the Of Houses and Trees monthly newsletter and I’ll send you my FREE list of “The 8 Best Places to Buy Eco-Conscious Decor Online.”

What on earth is sustainable design? Learn all about this eco-focused design method and read the latest posts about green architecture, interior design and decor.

Sustainable living is more than just a thing treehuggers talk about. It’s about making conscious choices everyday. Read the latest posts on living with the planet’s wellbeing always in mind. 

Visit the Of Houses and Trees sustainable product directory and support brands trying to make a difference in the world.

Find out more about our 40 acres of land in Parkland County, Alberta and the sustainable home we built amongst the trees.

Need help creating the home of your dreams? Care about the planet? You’ve come to the right place! check out my affordable, sustainable e-design services.

Having a had time choosing paint colours? I’ve got you – and your walls – covered with an interior paint palette sure to compliment your home.

Have questions about creating an eco-conscious home? Go ahead – ask me! Sign up for one of my free online interior design consultations and ask me anything you want. 

A living room decorated in a mix of vintage and modern pieces.
5 of Canada’s Most Sustainable Buildings

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.