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On Nov. 4, Canadian Contractor editor Patrick Flannery and Building Knowledge president, Gord Cooke, will take the Building Futures Stage at The Buildings Show’s Homebuilder and Renovator Expo to record a special live episode of The Hammer podcast: “Rethinking Building Regulations: Could a Single Carbon Metric Work?”
Register for The Buildings Show here.
Pat Flannery
It’s about how our governments and code authorities regulate sustainable building and whether there’s a better way. Here in Canada, we are trying to get builders to build Net Zero homes by telling them exactly what energy efficiency numbers each component needs to meet. Soon, embodied carbon will be added to the mix, forcing builders to record and control how much carbon was released in the manufacture, transport and use of their materials. Related to that will be future requirements for durability and resiliency, asking builders to make buildings that last longer so they need to be repaired or replaced less often. Some of these requirements conflict with one another and we risk taking on an enormous burden of red tape without actually pursuing the goal of releasing the minimum amount of carbon over the life of a building.
Other countries do it differently. Denmark, for instance, mandates a carbon budget of seven kilograms of CO2 per year, from all sources, over the expected lifespan of the building. Builders can build whatever they want, however they want, as long as they stay below that number.
Would that work here? Would it make your life better or worse if that were the rule?
Gord Cooke
Gord and Pat are going to hash this out in front of you, and take your questions and comments. Gord is a highly respected professional engineer, educator, and consultant with over 35 years of experience in the residential construction industry. As president of Building Knowledge Canada and Partner at Construction Instruction, he specializes in applied building science, energy-efficient housing, HVAC innovation, and indoor air quality. Gord is dedicated to improving the health, safety, comfort, durability, and energy efficiency of both new and existing homes, training builders, renovators, HVAC contractors and energy advisors on high-performance building techniques that contribute to more sustainable living environments.
A founding member of several industry organizations, including the Net Zero Energy Housing Council, Gord is a recognized leader in advancing energy-efficient housing initiatives. He has worked extensively on forensic investigations, building code compliance, and consulting for prominent programs such as Energy Star for New Homes, LEED for Homes, and Net Zero Energy Homes. Gord and his team have recently been focused on helping the industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions tied to construction and home operations.
Honoured with numerous accolades, including the EEBA Legend Award and the Clean50 Lifetime Achievement Award, Gord continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of sustainable homebuilding and improving construction practices across North America.
The recording of this discussion will become an episode of The Hammer podcast. Join us!