Sustainability | Windareth Quinthos Architecture

Why We're Committed to Green Building

Look, we've been designing homes in Vancouver since 2008, and watching the climate conversation evolve has been... well, it's been intense. Every project we take on now, we're thinking about what it'll mean 50 years from now. Not just for the homeowners, but for their kids, their neighborhood, the whole ecosystem.

Our Certifications & Standards

We don't just talk the talk – we've put in the hours to get certified and stay current with what actually works in green building. Here's what we bring to the table:

LEED Accredited Professional

Both principals hold LEED AP credentials, which means we're up to speed on the latest in sustainable design strategies. We've completed 23 LEED-certified projects since 2012.

Passive House Designer

This one's tough to get, not gonna lie. But it's been a game-changer for how we approach energy efficiency. We've designed 8 certified Passive House residences in BC.

Built Green Canada Partner

Active members since 2010. This program's specifically tailored to Canadian building conditions, which matters more than you'd think.

Living Building Challenge Registered

Yeah, this is the holy grail – the most rigorous green building standard out there. We're currently working on our second LBC project.

Materials We Actually Use (And Why)

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FSC-Certified Timber

We source locally when possible – there's amazing Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar right here in BC. Forest Stewardship Council certification means the trees are responsibly harvested.

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Recycled Steel

Steel's incredibly strong and most of what we spec contains 90%+ recycled content. Plus it's endlessly recyclable at end-of-life.

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Low-Carbon Concrete

Concrete's a tough one environmentally, but we're using blends with fly ash and slag that cut embodied carbon by 30-40%. It's getting better.

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Reclaimed Materials

Old-growth timber from demolished buildings, heritage brick, salvaged fixtures – there's so much character in reclaimed stuff, and zero new extraction required.

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Natural Insulation

Cellulose, sheep's wool, hemp – these perform great and don't off-gas nasty chemicals. We've had excellent results with dense-pack cellulose especially.

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Triple-Glazed Windows

Vancouver's mild, but heat loss through windows is still huge. Triple-glazed units with low-E coatings make a massive difference in energy bills.

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Zero-VOC Finishes

Paints, stains, sealers – we spec low or zero VOC across the board. Indoor air quality matters more than most people realize.

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Living Systems

Green roofs, living walls, integrated planters – they're not just pretty, they handle stormwater, improve air quality, and provide habitat.

Energy Performance That Actually Matters

Let's be real – sustainability isn't just about feeling good, it's about measurable results. Here's what we're consistently achieving across our residential projects:

60-75%

reduction in heating and cooling energy compared to standard BC Building Code homes

85%+

of our projects incorporate on-site renewable energy generation (usually solar PV)

40-50%

reduction in potable water use through rainwater harvesting and greywater systems

Our Environmental Impact (The Numbers)

We started tracking this stuff in 2015 because, honestly, we wanted to know if what we're doing actually makes a difference. Turns out, it does.

2,847

Tonnes of CO₂ Avoided

Across all completed projects since we started measuring. That's roughly equivalent to taking 620 cars off the road for a year.

18.2M

Liters of Water Saved

Annual water conservation from our projects with rainwater and greywater systems. That's a lot of showers.

94%

Construction Waste Diverted

From landfills through careful planning, material reuse, and recycling programs. Industry average is around 40%.

How We Actually Build Sustainably

The design phase is where maybe 80% of a building's environmental impact gets locked in. We're pretty methodical about this:

✓ Site Analysis First: Before we sketch anything, we're studying sun angles, prevailing winds, existing vegetation, drainage patterns – the site tells us a lot about what'll work.
✓ Passive Design Strategies: Orientation, shading, natural ventilation, thermal mass – getting these right means you need way less mechanical heating/cooling.
✓ Energy Modeling: We run detailed energy simulations on every project. It's nerdy but incredibly useful for optimizing performance.
✓ Life Cycle Assessment: Looking at embodied carbon, not just operational energy. A super-efficient house built with terrible materials isn't actually that green.
✓ Local Supply Chains: Sourcing materials regionally when possible. Shipping stuff across the planet kinda defeats the purpose.
✓ Designing for Longevity: Buildings that last longer and can adapt to changing needs are inherently more sustainable than ones that'll be torn down in 30 years.

What We're Working On Next

Sustainable design keeps evolving – here's what we're currently geeking out about and incorporating into new projects:

Mass Timber Construction

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam are incredible – strong, beautiful, and they sequester carbon. We're working on our third CLT project right now.

Battery Storage Integration

Solar's great, but pairing it with batteries means you can actually go off-grid or at least handle power outages. The tech's finally getting affordable.

Biophilic Design

Connecting people with nature isn't just feel-good stuff – there's solid research showing it improves health and wellbeing. We're designing with that in mind.

Net-Zero Ready

Even if clients aren't ready to go full net-zero today, we're designing so they can get there later with minimal retrofitting.

Want to Talk Sustainable Design?

Whether you're thinking about building a new home, renovating an existing one, or just curious about what's possible with green building in Vancouver, we'd love to chat. No pressure, no sales pitch – just honest conversation about sustainable architecture.

We offer free initial consultations where we can walk through your goals, your site, and what approaches might make sense for your project.

Get In Touch