energy efficient land use practices
TRANSCRIPT
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?