www.rcabc.org  l  13 FEATURE for innovation – a changing climate and evolving building poli- cies have made new technologies a necessity. The challenge now is to create the capacity for industry to easily access and adopt these changes with confidence. Internationally recognized standards, such as Passive House, Living Building and a number of net zero energy and carbon programs have allowed a path for industry leaders to adopt new technologies and innovate towards meeting the ambitious climate policies implemented across the nation. B.C. in partic- ular has experienced a noticeable surge in low-carbon buildings, which comes as no surprise given the region’s abundance of natural forest products, mostly renewable electricity generation, and progressive energy regulation. Airtight and thermally effi- cient building envelopes, energy-efficient mechanical systems and other innovative solutions and products are entering the market at increased rates, putting B.C. on the map as a leader in sustainable building. Recent high-performance projects include Vancouver’s Stock Exchange Tower – a unique project well underway to achieve certification as Vancouver’s first LEED Platinum Heritage Conversion. On the other side of town, Vancouver’s first two large multi-unit Passive House buildings completed construction in early 2018 – The Heights and Brixton Flats. Conceptualized by different project teams, The Heights and Brixton Flats boast modern designs and environmental and economic benefits of Passive House design, such as energy efficiency, increased air quality and sustainably sourced wood materials. The City of Vancouver now has close to two million square feet of near zero emissions projects similar to these in development, between the permitting and occupancy stage. In fact, on September 19, Vancouver City Council approved the construction for the world’s tallest and second tallest Passive House buildings. The adoption of higher performance standards has led to a wealth of knowledge on low-carbon building practices and technologies. Industry leaders have made great strides; however, we have still not optimized for the most time- and cost- effective solutions. The idea of a “holistic” approach, extending beyond design and construction to also include procurement innovations, could be the key to overcoming current barriers, and potentially leading the way to advances in prefabrication, minimizing schedule and costs. Technology and innovative R&D are unavoidable, and their integration is paramount to achieving success and longevity within any design or construction company. A recently published economic study1 explains how innovation is directly linked to economic growth, stating “countries that produce technologically advanced products have the ability to compete internationally.” 1  Begüm Erdil ahin, (2015), The Relationship Between R&D Expenditures and Economic Growth: Panel Data Analysis 1990-2013, No 207, EY International Congress on Economics II (EYC2015), November 5-6, 2015, Ankara, Turkey, Ekonomik Yaklasim Association ON THE JOB EARLY. WORKING LATE. JUST LIKE YOU. WE DELIVER. The construction industry is demanding. The days are long and the competition is fierce. That’s why we keep the same hours as you do, and back you up with a full range of products, accessories and tools. Top brands, experienced, knowledgeable staff and extended hours make us the trusted choice. After all, you work hard to exceed your customers’ expectations, and so do we. ROOFING • INSULATION • WATERPROOFING SURREY, BC Tel: 604.596.3787 fax: 604.596.4559 CHILLIWACK, BC Tel: 604.795.7355 fax: 604.792.2355 MAPLERIDGE, BC Tel: 604.463.4553 fax: 604.463.1298 PENTICTON, BC Tel: 250.770.2270 fax: 250.770.2271 KELOWNA, BC Tel: 250.765.3787 fax: 250.765.2271 VICTORIA, BC Tel: 250.652.8801 fax: 250.652.8803 CALGARY, AB Tel: 403.262.1008 fax: 403.262.1018 EDMONTON, AB Tel: 780.454.1008 fax: 780.454.1018