Past CLF Washington DC Events

This CLF BC webinar features Discover Montessori, the Large Buildings category winner at the 2023 BC Embodied Carbon Awards. You can learn more about this award-winning project that used embodied carbon as a key decision-making tool for building design. Jeremy Field and Sharon McGeorge from Introba, and Ben Checkwitch from Checkwitch Poiron Architects outline how they were able to avoid significant amounts of embodied carbon emissions and give recommendations for future projects. They also discuss how to balance embodied carbon with various other considerations such as affordability, energy efficiency, and more. Slide Resources: https://clfbritishcolumbia.com/discover-montessori-hear-how-we-became-a-2023-bc-embodied-carbon-awards-winner/ Speakers: Jeremy Field - Senior Sustainability Advisor, Introba Passionate and thoughtful, Jeremy specializes in finding alignment between a project's goals and available solutions. With a background in energy modelling, Jeremy has led many building life cycle assessments (LCA) to identify cost-effective embodied carbon reduction opportunities. He works to advance embodied carbon analysis beyond structural and enclosure systems, having led the analysis of the impacts of refrigerants, mechanical and electrical systems, product finishes, and more. Jeremy is an advocate for resilient, low-carbon buildings that marry the ideas of passive design and fundamental sustainability and stays at the forefront of policy conversations on embodied carbon through his involvement in CaGBC’s Embodied Carbon Technical Advisory Group. Jeremy advised on the embodied carbon requirements for Version 3 of the CaGBC’s Zero Carbon Standard and is past Co-Chair of CLF Vancouver (now CLF BC). Sharon McGeorge - Senior Mechanical and BIM Designer, Introba Sharon has been with Introba since 2015 and brings unique hands-on experience to the mechanical engineer team. She has an excellent track record of navigating complicated renovation projects through the design and construction administration process. Sharon has developed her BIM and 3D modelling skills to become an exceptional resource for our team (and those who work with us) bringing diligent design coordination and excellent presentation of building systems to our drawings. Sharon’s interests in energy efficiency, healthy spaces, usability, and affordability inform her design values and make her an invaluable member of Introba’s mechanical team. Sharon also leads a team in the design of rainwater, and well water treatment for potable water systems serving homes and small commercial sites. Ben Checkwitch - Principal, Checkwitch Poiron Architects Ben’s fascination with architecture began while working on construction sites and as a draftsman for a naval architect, which led him to pursue degrees in Architecture from the University of Manitoba and Dalhousie University. He then further honed his construction skills while building an off-grid home on an isolated Gulf Island before completing his apprenticeship at the Oslo-based firm of Narud Stokke Wiig. Ben then relocated to New York to practice with renowned architectural firms Rafael Viñoly Architects and Gluckman Mayner Architects before founding Ben Checkwitch Design, a Manhattan-based design firm that earned distinction in I.D. Magazine’s Annual Design Review and recognition from the Architectural League of New York, where he has lectured and exhibited as a winner of the Young Architects Forum. In 2008 he began collaborating with David Poiron on various projects which led to the formation of Checkwitch Poiron Architects in 2012. Since then, Ben has led the firm through many projects including single-family homes, masterplans and terminal building designs for multiple BC Ferry terminals, an Indigenous artist’s studio, multi-family and mixed-use projects of various scales, the development and implementation of a volumetric modular building system, and a low-carbon Montessori school.

Recorded at the CLF BC Fifth Year Anniversary event which took place on Oct 16, 2024. Video credit Quinn Kelly: www.quinnkellyfilm.com

Recorded at the CLF BC Fifth Year Anniversary event which took place on Oct 16, 2024. Video credit Quinn Kelly: www.quinnkellyfilm.com

Recorded at the CLF BC Fifth Year Anniversary event which took place on Oct 16, 2024. Video credit Quinn Kelly: www.quinnkellyfilm.com

Recorded at the CLF BC Fifth Year Anniversary event which took place on Oct 16, 2024. Video credit Quinn Kelly: www.quinnkellyfilm.com

Recorded at the CLF BC Fifth Year Anniversary event which took place on Oct 16, 2024. Video credit Quinn Kelly: www.quinnkellyfilm.com

In May 2024, CLF BC held a workshop with the City of Vancouver in which they requested input on the proposed 2025 Vancouver Building Bylaw amendments that will limit embodied carbon in new Part 3 developments. The workshop included presentations from industry leaders (i.e., consultants, designers, developers, contractors, and suppliers) on the potential impacts of the proposed requirements in terms of cost, schedule, and supply implications. Chapters and speakers: 0:00 Zahra Teshnizi, City of Vancouver - Senior Planner, Embodied Carbon 8:22 Chad Cranswick, BC Building Science - Director, New Construction 17:13 Iain MacFayden, RGS Consultant - Principals & Ayme Sharma, ZGF Architects- Associate (co-presenters) 26:16 Phoebe Cullingham, EllisDon - Manager, Climate and Sustainability 39:27 Shane Mulligan, Heidelberg Material - Sustainability and Technical Marketing Manager 47:47 Matt Dalkie, Lafarge - Senior Sustainability Manager 55:02 Tom Place, Equilibrium - Senior Structural Designer 1:07:48 Nathan Shuttleworth, Third Space - Director, Development Resources: Workshop slides: https://clfbritishcolumbia.com/embodied-carbon-in-vancouver-building-bylaw-2025/

0:00:00 - CLF BC Intro (Roberto) 0:08:33 - Context (Zahra) 0:15:59 - Embodied Carbon Guidelines Overview (Zahra) 0:31:50 - Q&A Part 1 0:37:52 - Baseline Definition, Modelling Assumptions, Data Collection (Anthony) 1:05:48 - Next Steps (Zahra) 1:11:15 - Key Developments Beyond the City of Vancouver (Anthony) 1:14:23 - Q&A Part 2 Slide Resources: https://clfbritishcolumbia.com/the-city-of-vancouvers-embodied-carbon-guidelines/ As of Oct 1, 2023, the City of Vancouver’s Building Bylaws include an embodied carbon requirement for large (Part 3) buildings. To comply with the requirement, two pathways are possible: the absolute and baseline paths. If choosing the absolute path, the project cannot exceed 800 kg CO2e/m2 (double the benchmark intensity of 400 kgCO2e/m2). If pursuing a baseline path, projects can define a project-specific, functionally equivalent baseline to measure against, and cannot be more than double the baseline. In this webinar, the City of Vancouver and Priopta will present the new VBBL requirement, as well as the guidance provided in the new Vancouver Embodied Carbon Guidelines. The Guidelines cover compliance paths, mandatory and optional element scopes, quantifying embodied carbon, creating a baseline and documentation and reporting requirements. Speakers: Anthony Pak, Principal at Priopta and CLF Global Hub Director Anthony is the Principal at Priopta, a firm with deep expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for buildings. Priopta supports design teams in reducing embodied carbon on construction projects and works with leading organizations and jurisdictions to develop effective embodied carbon policies. Anthony is also the founder of CLF Vancouver—the first local hub of the Carbon Leadership Forum—which organizes local events that empower industry professionals to radically reduce embodied carbon from buildings and infrastructure. Since 2019, CLF Vancouver has inspired over 30 other cities to start CLF local hubs. He now also serves as the CLF Global Hub Director, working to support the growth and impact of CLF hubs around the world. Zahra Teshnizi, Senior Embodied Carbon Planner Zahra is a Senior Green Building Planner at the City of Vancouver, where she leads the development and implementation of the City's embodied carbon policies and initiatives. With over a decade of experience in sustainable and zero-carbon development, Zahra is highly knowledgeable in embodied carbon design, policy, and life cycle assessment (LCA). In 2017, Zahra led the creation of Vancouver's embodied carbon requirements under the Green Building Policy for Rezoning, which was the first of its kind in North America. Additionally, she developed a conceptual roadmap for future steps based on the early submissions' analysis. Prior to rejoining the City of Vancouver in 2023, Zahra worked as a Senior Advisor at Mantle Developments. During this time, she collaborated with various stakeholders, including developers, governments, and financial institutions, to assess, disclose, and reduce carbon emissions at the building scale. She also played a key role in developing zero-carbon strategies and plans at a portfolio scale.