Sustainability | Emberwatch Hollow Architecture

What We Actually Mean By Sustainable

Here's the thing - we've watched sustainability become this massive buzzword where everyone slaps a green label on stuff and calls it a day. That's not what we're about.

When we talk about sustainable design, we're thinking about the whole picture. Yeah, energy efficiency matters, but so does using materials that'll actually last. We've restored enough heritage buildings to know that the greenest building is often the one that's already standing - you just gotta know how to work with it.

We're not gonna pretend every project can be net-zero or LEED Platinum. Sometimes the most sustainable choice is being realistic about what works for your site, your budget, and how you actually live. That's where real impact happens.

How We Approach Green Building

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Material Choices

We source locally when it makes sense, reclaim what we can, and skip the greenwashed stuff that won't last five years.

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Energy Strategy

Passive design first, then we layer in tech that actually pays for itself. Not everything needs to be cutting-edge.

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Water & Site

Vancouver gets plenty of rain, so we work with it. Proper drainage, native plants, and systems that don't fight the climate.

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Adaptive Reuse

Sometimes the most sustainable move is keeping what's there. Heritage buildings have embodied energy that new construction can't match.

Our Performance Track Record

These aren't projections or theoretical numbers - this is what we've actually achieved across our projects over the past few years.

38%

Average Energy Reduction

Compared to standard BC Building Code minimums, across residential projects

67%

Local Materials

Sourced within 500km when possible, supporting regional suppliers and cutting transport emissions

12

Certified Projects

LEED, Built Green, and Passive House certifications completed to date

Certifications We Work With

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LEED (Gold & Platinum)

We've done a few, but honestly? It's a lot of paperwork. Worth it for institutional clients, sometimes overkill for residential.

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Built Green BC

More practical for residential work. Less bureaucracy, still gets you solid performance standards.

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Passive House

The gold standard for energy performance. Tough to hit, but when clients want ultra-low bills, this is the way.

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Step Code Compliance

BC's energy step code is mandatory now anyway. We typically aim for Step 3 or higher on most projects.

The Stuff We Actually Use

After years of testing what works (and watching some stuff fail spectacularly), here's what we keep coming back to:

→ Reclaimed timber - BC's got tons of beautiful old-growth being pulled from demolitions. Why waste it?
→ High-performance windows - Triple-pane is standard now. Costs more upfront, pays back in like 7 years.
→ Mineral wool insulation - Fireproof, doesn't settle, works when it gets wet. Fiberglass can't compete.
→ Heat pumps - Even in Vancouver winters, they're stupid efficient now. Gas furnaces are basically obsolete.
→ Metal roofing - Lasts 50+ years, recyclable, reflects heat. Asphalt shingles are just landfill waiting to happen.
→ Low-VOC everything - Paint, adhesives, finishes. Your lungs will thank you.

The Reality Check

Let's be real for a sec - sustainable design isn't always cheap or easy.

We've had clients come in wanting net-zero everything on a tight budget, and we've gotta have honest conversations. Sometimes you can't afford triple-pane windows right now, but you can get the framing right so you can upgrade later. Sometimes the greenest choice is keeping your existing house and doing a smart renovation instead of tearing down and rebuilding.

Heritage work taught us this - there's no perfect solution, just better decisions. We've restored 100-year-old homes that, with proper upgrades, perform better than new builds. That's the kind of sustainability that actually matters.

The environmental impact assessment stuff we do? That's not just checking boxes for permits. It's actually looking at your site - where the water goes, what'll grow there naturally, how the sun moves - and designing around what's already working.

We're not gonna promise you'll save the planet with one project. But we can promise you'll get a building that's comfortable, efficient, and won't need major work in ten years. That's sustainable design that actually means something.

Wanna Talk About Your Project?

Whether you're thinking about a new build, heritage restoration, or just trying to figure out how to make your existing place more efficient, let's chat about what actually makes sense for your situation.

Get In Touch