Sustainability & Environmental Impact | Zephyr at Quintale Architecture

Why We're Obsessed With This Stuff

Look, I'm not gonna pretend buildings don't leave a mark on the planet. They do - a pretty hefty one. Construction accounts for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, and that number keeps me up at night sometimes.

When we started Zephyr at Quintale, we made a promise to ourselves: every project would push the needle on sustainability, even if just a little bit. Not because it's trendy or looks good in a marketing brochure, but because honestly, what's the point otherwise?

We've spent years figuring out what actually works beyond the greenwashing. Some attempts have been home runs. Others? Well, let's just say we learned what NOT to do. But that's the process, and we're always refining it.

Let's Talk Green Building

Our Certifications & Street Cred

The acronyms matter, but what they represent matters more

LEED

LEED Accredited

We've got certified professionals who know LEED inside and out. Completed 12+ LEED projects ranging from Silver to Platinum.

PHI

Passive House

Passive House is the real deal for energy efficiency. We're trained designers and have two certified projects under our belt.

LBC

Living Building

Working towards Living Building Challenge certification. It's ambitious, tough, but represents where we believe the industry should head.

CaGBC

CaGBC Members

Active members of Canada Green Building Council. We stay plugged into the latest in sustainable design practices and policy.

Our Approach in Action

Here's what we actually focus on when designing - the stuff that moves the needle

Energy Performance First

Orientation, thermal envelope, passive strategies - we nail these before even thinking about mechanical systems. Then we right-size equipment because there's no point in buying a bigger HVAC than you need.

Material Choices That Matter

Embodied carbon is huge. We're specifying local materials when possible, reclaimed where it makes sense, and low-carbon alternatives like mass timber. It's a balancing act between performance, budget, and availability.

Water Management

Rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, drought-resistant landscaping - Vancouver gets rain but that doesn't mean we should waste it. Plus, managing stormwater on-site reduces strain on municipal systems.

Designing for Longevity

The greenest building is one that lasts. We design flexible spaces that can adapt over time, use durable materials, and make everything accessible for maintenance. Demolition waste is a massive problem we can help avoid.

Case Studies: What We've Learned

Real projects with real numbers and honest reflections

LEED Platinum | Passive House

Kitsilano Net-Zero Residence

This single-family home was our first certified Passive House project and man, the learning curve was steep. The client wanted net-zero energy, which meant getting the envelope absolutely perfect.

Energy Use: 87% reduction vs. typical Vancouver home
Solar Array: 8.2 kW - produces more than the home uses annually
Airtightness: 0.4 ACH50 (that's really good)
What Surprised Us: The clients' heating bills are under $200/year

Completed 2021 | Residential | 2,400 sq ft

LEED Gold

East Vancouver Commercial Office

Three-story commercial building on a tight urban lot. Budget was tighter than we'd like, but we managed to hit LEED Gold by being strategic about where we invested.

Mass Timber: CLT construction reduced embodied carbon by 35%
Daylighting: 95% of occupied spaces have natural light
Green Roof: 60% coverage manages stormwater & reduces heat island
Bike Facilities: Parking for 40 bikes, showers, lockers

Completed 2022 | Commercial | 12,000 sq ft

LEED Silver | Step Code 4

Strathcona Townhouse Development

Six-unit townhouse project where we had to balance affordability with performance. Not every project can be Platinum, and that's okay - we still made significant improvements over code minimum.

Energy Efficiency: 45% better than BC Building Code
Shared Systems: Centralized heat pump system reduced costs
Permeable Surfaces: 70% of hardscaping allows water infiltration
Honest Take: We wanted Step 5 but hit budget constraints

Completed 2023 | Multi-Residential | 8,500 sq ft total

By The Numbers: Our Environmental Impact

These are cumulative numbers from projects completed between 2018-2023. Not perfect, but we're proud of the trajectory.

2.4M

kWh annual energy savings across all projects

890

Tonnes CO2 equivalent emissions avoided yearly

18

Green building certifications achieved

65%

Average diversion of construction waste from landfills

340K

Gallons of water conserved annually through efficient fixtures

100%

Of projects include some level of renewable energy

What We're Working On Next

Sustainability isn't a destination - it's something we keep pushing forward on. Here's what we're currently diving into:

Carbon Accounting: We're implementing whole-life carbon assessments for every project now. Upfront embodied carbon is just as important as operational.
Biophilic Design: Beyond just adding plants. We're researching how connection to nature impacts occupant wellbeing and productivity.
Circular Economy: Designing for disassembly so materials can have multiple lives. It's complicated but necessary.
Climate Adaptation: Buildings need to handle more extreme weather. We're integrating resilience planning into every design.

Want to geek out about any of this? We love talking shop with people who care about this stuff.

Resources We Actually Use

These are tools, databases, and organizations that inform our work. If you're getting into sustainable design, these are worth checking out:

CaGBC

Canada Green Building Council - the folks behind LEED in Canada. Great resources and case studies.

Passive House Canada

Technical support and training for Passive House. Their conferences are worth attending.

EC3 Tool

Free database for embodied carbon calculations. Game-changer for material selection.

Architecture 2030

Research and advocacy for carbon-neutral buildings. Their data is eye-opening.

Let's Build Something That Matters

Whether you're planning a new build, renovation, or just curious about what's possible with sustainable design - we'd love to chat. No pressure, just real conversation about what makes sense for your project.

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