In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Vancouver and Calgary studios of Perkins and Will announced that they will begin offering clients a Carbon Impact Statement with every project at no additional cost to help identify carbon reduction measures.
The statement will build upon best practices to limit “operational” carbon—greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted during the project’s operations phase—through the integration of passive design measures, minimization of energy loads, optimization of systems, and integration of energy renewables. It will also include recommendations on the use of low-embodied-carbon materials, striving to limit GHGs emitted during the materials’ life cycle.
The new offering represents the next chapter in the studios’ long-standing commitment to reduce GHG emissions, and will be integrated into the early design stage of every project. Led by their research and sustainability team, this initiative will be applied to projects located in Western Canada.
“Building upon our legacy of designing great places for people and our planet, we are committed to helping our clients create buildings and spaces that are climate-positive,” says Susan Gushe, managing director at Perkins and Will’s Vancouver and Calgary studios. “We are at a critical juncture to make meaningful change, and are pleased to offer our clients a Carbon Impact Statement as a means to help reduce each project’s GHG emissions.”
Contributing 39 per cent of the world’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (according to the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction), the building and construction industry faces increasingly aggressive regulatory performance requirements, like the BC Energy Step Code and City of Vancouver’s Zero Emissions Building policy. The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) also recently released version two of its Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Standard, further illustrating the motivation to raise the bar on carbon reductions in the industry.
Designed to help clients address these requirements, the Carbon Impact Statement provides carbon reduction strategies for all project types—from interiors and retrofits to new builds and community planning.
“Our aim is to help our clients get ahead of the curve in delivering sustainable buildings and spaces that meet or exceed progressively demanding energy codes within their budget,” says Kathy Wardle, associate principal and director of sustainability in the Vancouver and Calgary studios of Perkins and Will. “We will not only provide clients with proven design measures for reducing operational carbon, but we will also future-proof their projects for emerging embodied carbon policies.”
In support of this effort, the studios’ research and sustainability team is releasing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment—A Primer that summarizes emerging knowledge on embodied carbon targets, conservation strategies, tools, and timelines for action.
