energy efficient land use practices

Energy Efficient Land Use Practices Supporting the Sunshine Coast Regional District Community Energy and Emissions Plan April 14, 2011 Cheeying Ho

Outline of presentation

• Brief introduction of Centre • Relationship of energy planning to land use • Actions from CEEP • Supporting energy efficient land use and

design practices • Reducing dependence on single occupancy

vehicles • Community sustainability planning • Tools and best practices

•

MISSION: • To lead communities and

tourism toward a sustainable future

A mission-based, enterprising non-profit society

WHISTLER CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Energy Planning + Land Use

SCRD Emissions Profile 2007

Emissions from transportation

Fuels and efficiency, manufacturing, disposal Distance driven! Land use patterns Compactness and proximity Design and connectivity

Land Use

• How we use the land • What kinds of buildings we can build • Where we put buildings, parks, roads, etc • Affects

– How we move around – Infrastructure required – Systems for servicing (e.g. energy systems)

Not just land use....it’s about design too!

CEEP Actions

CEEP Actions

1. Foster a culture of conservation in the community 2. Support energy efficient land use practices 3. Enhance the green building sector 4. Reduce dependence on single occupant vehicles 5. Expand local renewable energy opportunities 6. Strengthen the local economy 7. Manage brownfield sites 8. Reduce and reuse solid waste as a resource

and design!

Support energy efficient land use and design practices

1. Build compact,

walkable communities and neighbourhoods

Density bad design!

Density?

Density =

• More housing options for all life stages • Compact, mixed-use • More efficient use of land • Opportunities for energy efficiencies

(e.g. district energy systems) • Pedestrian, bike, transit accessible

Housing Choice

Density and Housing Type

Detached houses

Attached houses Low-rise, high density

Stacked, shared walls

Apartment towers

100 6 Units per acre

Units per hectare 15 250

Size matters!

So does construction!

• EquilibriumTM : Riverdale NetZero

• Two-unit semi-detached • 1844 ft2 3BR

Eco-Sense home (Living Building Challenge) in Highlands – cob house

Retrofit

Austria Passiv Haus

• Building envelope design and components achieve dramatic reductions in energy consumption 90%

• Energy consumption < 50% LEED Platinum house

2. Mix land uses

Support energy efficient land use and design practices

3. Create unique, vibrant village centres and neighbourhoods

Support energy efficient land use and design practices

4. Develop in existing developed areas.

Protect rural feel Protect working lands (farmlands,

forests) Protect and enhance ESAs and

natural areas Use infrastructure more efficiently

Support energy efficient land use and design practices

Per capita service cost

Residential density

Prioritize infill, brownfield development before greenfield

Support energy efficient land use and design practices

Support energy efficient land use and design practices

5. Encourage transit-oriented development (pilot project?)

Reducing Dependence on Single Occupancy Vehicles

Reducing Dependence on Single Occupancy Vehicles

1. Build compact, walkable communities and neighbourhoods.

2. Mix land uses. 3. Create unique, vibrant downtowns and

neighbourhoods. 4. Develop in existing developed areas. 5. Encourage transit-oriented development.

1. Provide transportation choices

Reducing Dependence on Single Occupancy Vehicles

Dr. Lawrence Frank, UBC

2. Design for Connectivity, Walkability

2 km 0.8 km

Reducing Dependence on Single Occupancy Vehicles

1. Provide facilities.

Reducing Dependence on Single Occupancy Vehicles

Reducing Dependence on Single Occupancy Vehicles

1. Provide facilities.

Pedestrian-oriented (only?) areas

Community Sustainability Planning

Community Sustainability Planning

Creating a long-term shared vision, goals and strategies to get there Addresses what’s important to the community

by looking at integrated systems A process as much as a plan Continuous monitoring and reporting

Community Sustainability Planning

Buildings and Sites

Community + Individual

Health

Economy + Work

Education + Leisure

Energy

Food

Land Use + Natural

Areas

Transportation

Water and

Waste

Review Current Reality

Analyze sustainability

gap

Action planning Indicators

Monitoring and reporting

Descriptions of Success

Community Partners

Descriptions of Success

= VISION • Describe a desired community future framed

by agreed upon sustainability objectives • Are statements of the highest aspirations and

purposes • Outcome oriented • Used to determine actions and decisions • Created by the community

Descriptions of Success - Invermere • Energy systems within buildings are flexible and adaptable and use locally

generated energy sources. • Economic systems, businesses and industries have transitioned to

sustainable use of energy and materials, and incorporate conservation and efficiency.

• The downtown is vibrant, pedestrian-oriented, has a diversity of buildings and functions, and supports social interaction.

• The majority of Invermere residents’ needs are met without having to travel outside of the community.

• Transportation infrastructure uses more efficient patterns, is more sustainable in design, and does not encroach onto critical habitat.

• The production of local food has increased significantly, is economically viable for both producers and consumers, and has contributed to the local economy.

Descriptions of Success – Osoyoos

• Higher density buildings and sites compatible with Osoyoos’ existing buildings and natural context help reduce sprawl, support for local business, and provide animation in the Downtown. Higher density locations are attractive, centrally-located, and near transportation alternatives, services, parks, open spaces and community gardens.

• Osoyoos is a regional centre of culinary and viticultural arts, attracting visitors from within BC and beyond.

• The Downtown is pedestrian-oriented, integrated with the Lake, and the focus of Osoyoos for business, with a unique architectural theme, diverse and vibrant public spaces, and a wide range of services that attract many new residents. Main Street is the heart of the community and Town’s commercial district.

Descriptions of Success–Kimberley • Kimberley’s energy needs are mostly met by conservation, efficiency and

use local and regional renewable energy sources with minimal physical impact on natural systems.

• Community gardens, composting and home-based food production are increasingly prevalent through the community and are supported by local government.

• Kimberley consists of a series of distinct, moderately-dense residential neighbourhoods supporting a diversity of housing types and sizes linked by pedestrian, cycling and transit routes with easy access to surrounding natural areas, public spaces and nearby commercial services.

• Kimberley is a walking and accessible community with good opportunities for year round self-propelled movement and the infrastructure to support these activities.

Descriptions of Success - Whistler

• The energy system is continuously moving towards a state whereby a build up of emissions and waste into air, land and water is eliminated.

• Whistler policy, planning and development prioritizes preferred methods of transportation in the following order: 1. pedestrian, bicycle and other-non-motorized means, 2. transit and movement of goods, 3. private automobile (HOV, and leading low-impact technologies), 4. private automobile (SOV, traditional technology).

• Residents live, work and play in relatively compact, mixed-use neighborhoods that reflect Whistler’s character and are close to appropriate green space, transit, trails, amenities and services.

• The new and renovated built environment has transitioned towards sustainable management of energy and materials.

Tools + Best Practices

Affordable Housing

• Inclusionary zoning • Density bonusing • Price restrictions • Secondary suites; laneway housing

Whistler Housing Authority

• Partnership with developer – density bonuses • Covenant on title

– Limit occupancy and use – Limit resale price

Vancouver – Laneway Housing

Land Use

• Regional growth strategies • Urban containment boundary • Infrastructure servicing limits • Development cost charges • Zoning • Development Permit Areas

Zoning

Local governments may regulate: • Use of land, buildings and other structures • Density of the use • Siting and size and dimensions • Location of uses on the land and within

buildings and other structures • Shape, dimension and areas of parcels of land *** negotiations upon rezoning

Development Permit Areas

Bill 27 enables the designation of development permit areas for the:

Establishment of objectives to promote energy conservation; Establishment of objectives to promote water conservation; Establishment of objectives to promote the reduction of

greenhouse gas emissions.

Site-specific decisions to regulate form and character of development before construction or alteration of the land*

* Cannot regulate energy performance of buildings; only provide guidance on all aspects of development outside exterior walls.

RMOW

OCP: “In all DPAs, apply objectives and guidelines for energy and water conservation as well as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

DPA: “Buildings are to be located, oriented and designed to take advantage of opportunities for passive solar heating and natural ventilation.”

Dawson Creek

• Vision: Dawson Creek will be a visionary community that works together for innovative social, cultural, economic and environmental vitality.

Arts & Culture Community Planning Economic Development Energy Governance Green Space

Social Well-Being Transportation Waste Water

Dawson Creek - Energy

Goal: To promote green building practices to increase livability and reduce energy and resource consumption.

• Local improvement charges (additional to property taxes to pay for improvements/community benefits) for renewable energy / energy efficiency projects

• Solar-ready by-law – requires new homes to be solar ready • Solar hot water heaters on City Hall, Fire Hall, RCMP Building,

Public Works, airport

Dawson Creek

Emissions targets • 14% below 2006 levels by 2012

33% below 2006 levels by 2020 85% below 2006 levels by 2050

Conclusion

Fuels, technology, efficiency are crucial for reducing energy consumption and emissions Land use (and design) + transportation are

key factors in reducing energy consumption Energy planning and management needs to

be part of a larger sustainability planning vision and process that involves the community

Resources on land use and energy

• http://wcel.org/resources/publication/smart-growth-guide-local-government-law-and-advocacy

• http://wcel.org/sites/default/files/publications/Smart%20Bylaws%20-%20Summary.pdf

• http://greenbylaws.ca/images/greenbylaws_web1207.pdf

• http://www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/Portals/0/Downloads/SGBC_Affordable_Housing_Toolkit.pdf

Questions?