Greenest City 2020:

Current Progress and Future Initiatives

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Sean Pander

Director, Sustainability

City of Vancouver

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Outline

Introduction

GC2020 Highlights: Progress and Upcoming Initiatives

1) Climate Leadership

2) Green Buildings

3) Clean Air

4) Zero Waste

1. Questions/Comments

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Greenest City 2020 Introduction

• July 2011

Greenest City Action Plan adopted

following significant public and

stakeholder input

• 10 goal areas with 15 related targets

• Ambitious plan depends upon

partnerships and

community/business leadership

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Greenest City 2020 Introduction

GC2020 goals:

• Green Economy

• Climate Leadership

• Green Buildings

• Green Transportation

• Zero Waste

• Access to Nature

• Lighter Footprint

• Clean Water

• Clean Air

• Local Food

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Greenest City 2020 Progress

Plan Implementation Highlights

Climate Target = 33% reduction below 2007

2012 Status = 4% reduction

Buildings Targets =

New construction carbon neutral by 2020

Reduce emissions from existing buildings 20%

2012 Status = 3% GHG reduction

Waste Target = 50% reduction below 2008

2012 Status =11% reduction

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Climate Leadership:

Climate Change Adaptation

July 2012: Climate Change

Adaptation Strategy Approved

• will guide Vancouver’s response to

impacts of a changing climate

• work underway on all priority

action items identified in the

Strategy

• Coastal Flood Risk Assessment 95%

complete

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Climate Leadership:

Climate Change Adaptation

Next steps in implementation:

• Flood hazard maps and updated

Flood Construction Levels

• coastal flood resilience options

and planning

• back-up power policy development

• extreme heat planning

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Climate Leadership:

District Energy

Strategic approach:

• Focus on Downtown, Central

Broadway, & Cambie Corridor

• Apply a flexible, tailored approach

• Provide City leadership and support

with min. level of regulation required

to achieve low carbon outcomes and

cost competitive rates

• Guidelines for heat plant development

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Climate Leadership:

District Energy

South East False Creek NEU:

• 3.5M ft2 connected floor area

• reliable uninterrupted energy service

• rates 7% lower than BC Hydro

• 2013 - 64% lower GHG emission than

conventional mixed electricity/gas

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Climate Leadership:

District Energy

Up next:

• planning underway on major Downtown

and Cambie initiatives

• continue consultation with UDI and

utility partners on technology and related

City policies

• enhanced regional coordination

Green Buildings:

Rezoning Policy for Sustainable Large Developments

2013 policy revision applies to rezonings that:

– Sites > 8,000 m2 (2 acres); or

– New development floor area > 45,000 m2

(485,000 sq. ft.)

• Provides improved policy clarity on

studies/expectations for:

– sustainable site design

– access to nature

– food systems

– green mobility

– rainwater management

– zero waste planning

– affordable housing

– low carbon energy supply

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Green Buildings:

2013 VBBL

Key updates to 1 and 2 family dwellings:

• improved air tightness

• high efficiency heating

• increased insulation (walls + attic)

• Energy Star windows

• water heating > 78%

• electric vehicle charging

GHG reductions:

• 70% less GHGs than existing homes

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Green Buildings:

2013 VBBL

Updates to all Part 3/large buildings:

• ASHRAE 90.1 2010 (~15% improvement)

• options for NECB 2011 (National Code)

Key updates particular to multi-family:

• HET/dual flush toilets

• stairwell lighting sensors

• variable parkade lighting levels

Green Buildings

Next Up: Retrofit Strategy

Complete the Existing Building

Retrofit Strategy that directs

City efforts to:

• implement VBBL energy

requirements for existing

buildings

• demonstrate government

leadership

• foster awareness and build

capacity

• leverage partnerships with

utilities and associations

• consider new incentives

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Zero Waste

Next Up: Demolition Material Diversion Strategy

The Demolition Waste Strategy under

development looks to:

• introduce a Demolition Material Diversion

Bylaw to improve tracking, direct waste to

licensed facilities, and reduce landfilling

of materials

• update the CoV Deconstruction Permit

• support market development for used

and recycled materials by building

capacity and improving diversion

infrastructure

• Reduce waste by 50,000t per year

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Clean Air:

Electric Vehicles

• 2013 VBBL required EV charging for 10%

of Part 3 building parking stalls

• 51 public charging stations installed;

total of 76 stations by end of Q1

• City of Vancouver operates largest

public electric vehicle fleet in Canada

• working with Telecom companies to

deploy cell antenna poles with

integrated EV charging station

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3. Questions/Comments?