Tag Archives: British Columbia

Modular Building: An inherently greener construction process

The benefits of modular construction are becoming more widely known. The reduced time spent onsite leads to fewer health and safety issues for construction workers, quality building, accelerated construction schedules, and a faster return on investment (ROI). The momentum of various green rating programs and standards is now drawing attention to the advantages of offsite construction in terms of sustainable building.

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The evolution of glazing in Vancouver

When looking at its skyline, it is no wonder why Vancouver is known as the “City of Glass.” Glass high-rise buildings, each one taller than the next, have been the architectural vision developed over many years (Figure 1). In fact, the relationship between West Coast architecture and glazing systems is symbiotic; their evolution would not have been possible without one another.

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The advantages of designing for IAQ

There are many advantages to having an effective indoor air quality (IAQ) strategy, which may not always include the obvious––breathing clean air. After all, most people now spend an average of 90 per cent of time indoors. One needs to look at the technologies that improve IAQ and address specific problems.

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Jet-grouting: A soil improvement technology

Jet-grouting is a soil improvement technique used in many parts of the world. It involves mixing in-situ soil with water-cement grout, which is then injected into the soil with the aid of special tools at high speeds of over 200 m/s (656 ft/s) and under high pressures ranging from 30 to 60 MPa (4500 to 9000 psi). Jet-grouting was introduced to British Columbia in 2004; since then, several applications for soil improvement––both temporary and permanent––have been successfully carried out in the Lower Mainland.

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Is ‘buying local’ always better?

Placing special emphasis on the use of local materials is a popular approach to reducing the many environmental impacts of construction projects. The Canada Green Building Council’s (CaGBC’s) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating program offers points under Materials and Resources (MR) Credit 5, Regional Materials, for sourcing building materials from within 800 km (500 mi) of the site. However, the reality is more complex and one should not assume the pursuit of this credit will actually reduce the project’s environmental impact.

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