First LEED Gold Home in West Vancouver
West Vancouver is proud to be home to British Columbia's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standard home. the home also received Built Green Certification and qualifies for r2000 certification for energy efficiency.
The municipality encourages homebuilders to create homes of the highest standards and specifications whilst ensuring sustainability, healthiest environments and significant energy efficiencies. Staff work with developers to discuss possibilities and look for opportunities to collaborate to ensure that homes are built with the highest performance standards possible.
Builder Simon Basten developed this landmark project in the Altamont neighbourhood of West Vancouver.
Some of the features of the features home are:
- 100% rain water harvesting
- drought tolerant plants/organic vegetable garden
- 85% reduction in carbon fuel dependency
- extensive use of flyash in concrete
- Low-E energy star rated windows and energy start rated appliances
- All walls and floor finishes water based
- Salt water, solar heated pool
- FSC cabinetry and flooring
- extensive use of LED lighting with dimmers
- Formaldehyde free moulding/cabinetry
In an interview, Simon Basten responded to the following questions:
Why did you build in West Van?
West Vancouver, naturally, is one of the most beautiful places in the world to live , has an abundance of natural resources, predominantly faces South and a quality of life that is unsurpassed.
What was the process like?
As this was the first high performance home ever to built to these certified levels, at first it was a challenge. The design team needed to be totally integrated, step up a few gears and think out of the 'box'. In fairness all of them were very ambitious to be the 'first' in their respective professions and really wanted to embrace change
Will you do it again?
Absolutely, next will be a LEED Platinum and then onto a net-zero high performance/specification home. We are now in the midst of a cultural/social revolution as to how we live and the face of construction/development is changing rapidly. it is very important to be at the 'cutting-edge'.