We spend 90% of our time indoors. Our homes, places of work, places for play connect us to supplies of water, heat and electricity as well as waste water and garbage disposal services. Not surprisingly, throughout their life, buildings consume massive amounts of natural resources and make a significant impact on the environment. In BC, building and operating buildings account for:

• 40 percent of the municipal solid waste destined for our landfills
• 35 per cent of our CO2 emissions the chief pollutant blamed for climate change
  accelerated ecosystem degradation, both at the building site and in remote places where energy is generated, waste disposed of and where raw materials are extracted
• Increasing exposure to toxins, lack of daylight, and poor indoor air quality.

Sustainable buildings are good for everyone

Existing technologies and design features allow buildings today to be designed and constructed to the highest environmental standards and still be within the budget. Whatever the precise name and definition, sustainable design is not just about preserving the natural environment, it is about applying good design practices and good business principles.