Looking towards a more sustainable future.
As we embark on a new year, a holistic approach to the homes we are building is predicted for 2024 and beyond.
Recognizing the need to extend our focus beyond operational carbon, the Zero Carbon Step Code, introduced in 2023 with the goal of achieving zero carbon emissions in all new buildings by 2030, highlights this shift.
While operational carbon reduction is pivotal, the emerging buzzword “embodied carbon” emphasizes the need to consider the broader environmental impact of building materials and construction processes, underscoring the importance of a holistic approach to sustainability, and the importance of examining not only the ongoing operational aspects but also the embodied carbon in our construction practices for a more comprehensive and eco-friendly building industry.
MASS TIMBER
Mass timber, a category of engineered wood products, is gaining traction in the construction industry for its ability to sequester carbon and its potential to reduce reliance on environmentally taxing materials like concrete and steel. This move towards timber also aligns with federal and provincial efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of construction.
Proposed mass timber building code changes were unveiled by the province Monday, December 11, 2023, that would allow for taller mass timber buildings, up to 18-storeys for residential and office buildings, vs the current 12-storey limit, and allow more exposed mass timber or fewer layers of encapsulation in buildings, depending on height.
Traditionally, efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the housing sector have primarily centered around transitioning from natural gas to electric-only solutions. While this shift can contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of individual homes, the unanticipated strain on existing electrical grids and systems has become a pressing concern. The increased demand for electricity, driven by the growing number of homes, poses challenges that necessitate a broader, more nuanced approach to sustainability.
Speaking with Joe Geluch of Naikoon Contracting, an industry leader in the mass timber space, Joe says ‘mass timber is critical in life cycle assessments and we now have to factor in embodied carbon, not just operational carbon in the buildings that we construct. We know that locally sourced mass timber holds the potential for significant reductions in embodied carbon, when compared to steel and concrete as a primary structure. As we move away from measuring and regulating solely operation energy usage and focus more holistically around Net Environmental Impact of our buildings, builders and project teams will be expected and required to document, measure, and quantify embodied carbon. Wood is an excellent solution in a broad range of applications including tall hybrid mass Timber structures.’
The current focus on transitioning homes to electric-only solutions, while well-intentioned, inadvertently emphasizes the low-hanging fruit of sustainability. The unforeseen strain on electrical grids highlights the need for a comprehensive re-evaluation of all materials contributing to a carbon neutral construction ecosystem. It’s a call to broaden our perspective, recognizing that sustainable solutions must extend beyond the immediate energy source and encompass the very materials used to build our homes and communities.
DIVERSIFICATION
Diversifying our sustainable practices to include materials, such as mass timber, marks a strategic move toward a more resilient and eco-friendlier built environment. It encourages us to scrutinize not just the energy sources within our homes but the very foundations and walls that encase our daily lives. As we navigate the complex web of environmental challenges, it becomes clear that a comprehensive strategy, considering all building materials, is essential to achieving genuine sustainability.
A recent report from RBC highlights climate-friendly advantages of embracing mass timber construction:
- Carbon Intensity in Construction: The building sector ranks as the third most carbon-intensive industry in Canada, contributing to 13% of all emissions in 2022.
- Embodied Emission Reduction: Mass timber, when used as a substitute or complement to concrete and steel, could reduce embodied emissions in buildings by up to 25%.
- Sector Emission Reduction: The widespread adoption of mass timber in new residential and commercial constructions could potentially cut emissions by at least 9 million tonnes, equivalent to nearly 10% of the sector’s total emissions, by 2030.
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
Technological Advancements in British Columbia have positioned the province at the forefront of the timber movement. In addition to environmental benefits, mass timber offers essential time-saving advantages in the quest to build homes, faster.
One highly regarded example highlighting the benefits of prefabrication and mass timber is the 18 story UBC Brock Commons’ structure built in 2017 that was assembled in 70 days by a crew of nine wood installers—two months faster than planned.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Globally, the engineered-wood market (of which mass timber is a part) is expected to grow by 40% from 2019 to 2027, from $285 billion in 2019 to $400 billion by 2027. Modelling shows potential for the equivalent of up to 10 more mid-sized mass timber manufacturing facilities in B.C. with forecasts projecting that the mass timber sector could be worth $403 million by 2035.
As Canada aims to reduce emissions to 53 million tonnes by 2030, rethinking construction materials becomes imperative as it presents a significant opportunity to make a dent in the carbon footprint of the construction industry.
The proposed changes are currently open for public comment on the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes website, with the anticipated adoption of key changes in spring 2024.
HAVAN continues to work with CHBA BC and CHBA to advocate for all levels of government to work together to address the challenges of the housing industry including zoning restrictions, density limits, and NIMBYism.
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QUICK BITES …
- Ten significant mass-timber buildings that changed the way we think about wood. Some great projects with exposed Mass Timber.
- Stockholm is planning the world’s largest urban wooden city (2,000 homes and 7,000 business spaces across 250,000 sqm) set to break ground in 2025, with a completion date of 2027.
- Back in the Lower Mainland, according to REBGV’s Director of Economics and Data Analytics, Andrew Lis, Metro Vancouver was resilient and finished 2023 in balance, stating the real issue is too few homes.
- BIV shares a report by Deloitte Canada noting the GDP growth forecast for B.C. in 2024 is set for 0.2 per cent, a drop from the estimated 1.1. per cent tallied in 2023 with a swing back to 3.1 per cent in 2025. Consumer confidence and waiting for rates to drop being a pivotal piece of the puzzle.
- Despite economic uncertainties, 87 per cent of B.C. contractors expect 2024 to be as busy – or even busier – compared with last year, according to an annual survey from the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), with labour shortages, supply chain issues and government red tape continuing to being the biggest hurdles.
- Since the new zoning last fall, the City of Vancouver has received applications for 19 multiplexes. It would seem 2024 is off to a good start.
- Other cities should take note as BIV reports the Housing Minister is saying the next naughty list is coming soon!
- Surrey is getting a $95 million share of the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to fast-track the construction of 2,800 housing units over the next three years, with a promise of thousands more over the coming decade.
- BC Housing December New Homes Report. BC Sees Big Drop-Off In New Homes Registered In 2023, But Jump In Rentals.
- On a final note, an ancient city has been found in the Amazon, hidden for thousands of years by lush vegetation. As part of the discovery, scientists believe 6,000 rectangular platforms measuring about 20m by 10m and 2-3m high, arranged in groups of three to six units around a plaza with a central platform were homes. Maybe the multiplex is not such a new idea after all.
