Guest Post: Green condos being developed in Vancouver

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Contributed by MJ Ankermann, Urbanista, a vancouver realtor.

After watching Live Earth and thoroughly enjoying it, I started thinking about the changes I have been seeing in the condo market in Vancouver in the past year. While condo dwelling in itself is green living, as we take less of a footprint on the land, it has been hard to participate as far as function and design.

That has been changing as we are seeing condo developments being built with ‘green” concepts. To name a few there is: The Donavan in Yaletown that is being built with a geothermal heat pump system that is considered by Natural Resources Canada, to be the most energy efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning system available.

There is also the huge Southeast False Creek Sustainability Community Plan, which includes private developers such as Polygon with The Foundry, building according to LEED Green Building Standards. These standards include green roofs and the implementation of car sharing programs, something which The Capitol in downtown Vancouver is also doing.

There is also the extensive Eco-density Plan put forth by The City of Vancouver and spearheaded by our mayor Sam Sullivan. These are policies and designs that are going to shape our future and help us keep the pledges from yesterday’s world concert.

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5 Comments

Heidi

And if you’re looking for a “green” condo, you’re going to want the “green” mortgage to go with it!

Both Citizens Bank of Canada and Vancity offer a “Climate Change Mortgage” check out their website for more info:

http://www.climatechangemortgage.com

And if you happen to live in Ontario, Citizens Bank is also offering a “Green Mortgage”. For more info click here:

https://www.citizensbank.ca/Personal/GreenMortgage

[Reply]

Jul 12, 2007
isabella

hey MJ – nice to see you here! you’re one wonderful example of realtors who DO care about the environment.

[Reply]

Jul 13, 2007
tinfoiling

So has Polygon moved into this area? My history with them has not been good.

[Reply]

Jul 14, 2007
MJ Ankenman

The Southeast False Creek Sustainability Community Plan
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/southeast/ requires that all developers who are building in the area meet certain “green” sustainable requirements to get the necessary permits through City Hall.

[Reply]

Jul 16, 2007