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Building with dollars and sense

RMOW Policy and Program Development

By Kevin Damaskie

RMOW Policy and Program Development

In the future, our built environment will be energy neutral, emit zero waste and result in a very limited footprint on ecosystems through sustainable design and development. This future is needed now.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a group of forward thinking architects has designed a home which actually “grows” itself from native seeds, with the trees forming the structural components of the home. Here in Whistler, the RMOW is working to make our built environment more sustainable through Whistler Green — a comprehensive suite of guidelines for residential construction, renovation and retrofitting. The seeds of these guidelines have been planted and the community is being invited to review and comment on the program. Together we can grow our own “Made in Whistler” high performance buildings.

As well, the British Columbia government, as part of their new energy plan, will be developing a newer, greener Provincial Building Code by 2010, establishing as law many of the components used in Whistler Green . The sum of these parts is simple; formerly “alternative” building design and techniques are now the mainstream, “going green” is no longer a movement, it’s a reality and many of Whistler’s planners, architects, builders and homeowners are taking steps toward our shared vision of sustainability outlined in Whistler2020. Not only do these guidelines help us limit greenhouse gas emissions, they also give us tools to build a “green house” and that’s cool.

Relative to conventional methods, homes built to the Whistler Green standard will have significant environmental, long-term economic and human health benefits. They incorporate sensitive site work and landscape planning; use energy, water and materials efficiently; and create healthy, comfortable living environments.

Whistler Green has implications well beyond the development of single family homes,” says Guy Patterson, RMOW Housing Planner. “The guidelines can apply to renovations, energy retrofits or simply upgrades such as replacing your windows.”

According to Patterson, green building is both technical and philosophical. It encompasses simple choices such as changing the design of your kitchen storage area to better accommodate composting, re-use and recycling and larger decisions such as re-using building materials in new homes or installing Energy Star appliances. All have a net positive effect on the environment we call home. Many will also have a long-term positive effect on your wallet as energy prices increase in the future.

“These are not just standards, they imply green living,” Patterson says. “Small or large, any decision to create a healthy home that minimizes our environmental impact is positive.”

We also have to respect the fact that most people’s single largest investment is in their home, and that making smart building and design investments now will pay off over the life of the building. It’s also clear that the notion that building green costs more, is not true when accounted for over the long run.

It’s the difference between dollars and cents and dollars and sense.

“The more we look at green building design and techniques, the more it looks more affordable than doing whatever you can for the least amount of money. Every decision we make has a cost for the environment,” says Joanna Johnstone who moved to Whistler from the United Kingdom nine years ago. “We are using up resources and polluting our little planet. There is information and technology out there which will inspire to make change.”

By sourcing salvaged and re-used building materials, building their home to R2000 standards, investing in geothermal and solar systems and buying Energy Star appliances, Johnstone and her husband, who hails from North Vancouver, have in their mind’s eye a picture of a “well-built home which represents B.C. and nature” and already contains many components proposed in Whistler Green .

Whistler Council received the Whistler Green program and guidelines as information and has supported them in principle. Whistler Green is available for public review until April 20, 2007. Homeowners, designers, builders and interested citizens are encouraged to review Whistler Green and share their comments with municipal staff. The program will then be revised for formal council endorsement, and implemented with a phased approach that includes an application checklist, a certification process and potential regulatory changes.

Thanks to everyone who is helping to make Whistler an increasingly sustainable and successful community. To KNOW MORE about other actions that are moving our community toward Whistler2020, or to find out how we’re performing visit www.whistler2020.ca. To suggest a story idea, get involved with Whistler2020, or to suggest actions for task force consideration, email whistler2020@whistler.ca .