April 22, 2019 is the 49th annual Earth Day, and with reports of climate change?s accelerating pace, we have all the more reasons to pay head to the environment?s state of health. We?ve rounded up eight must-read stories about sustainability in Canadian architecture to mark Earth Day 2019.
The OAA is leading by example in taking on a net-zero energy retrofit for its headquarters.
Architecture?s Climate Crisis
Last fall, the IPCC issued a special report detailing what needs to happen for the globe to reach a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming?the threshold beyond which catastrophic effects (such as sea level rises that obliterate island nations and coastal cities) are considered inevitable. Here?s what Canadian architects need to know about the report and its recommendations.
The Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre by DIALOG is a certified “Living Building.” Photo by Cindy Blazavic.
2.      The Heat is On
Improving energy efficiency in new and existing buildings is essential in Canada?s efforts to counter the effects of climate change. Douglas Macleod reports on how to move forward ? including why national energy benchmarking and the ?unsexy, hard, grunt work? of deep energy retrofits are mission critical.
A concept design for Sidewalk Toronto’s mass timber buildings. Rendering by Snohetta.
3. This is the Future (and so is this)
One of the most promising technologies towards reducing the carbon footprint of buildings is ma...