UBC has been recognized as a provincial leader for its sustainable building practices, receiving the Community Energy Association’s Climate & Energy Action Award for its mandatory green building rating system for new residential construction.
Over 16,000 residents live in UBC’s Vancouver campus neighborhoods and since 2006 UBC’s Residential Environmental Assessment Program (REAP) has required all new residential buildings in the neighbourhoods to meet sustainability standards exceeding the BC Building Code.
Approved by the UBC Board of Governors in June 2025, REAP version 4.0 aligns with UBC’s sustainability policies and supports the Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan’s pathway to a net-zero and climate resilient community. New building requirements in REAP include:
- Adopting the BC Zero Carbon Step Code’s Zero Carbon target, which will reduce operational emissions in new buildings by more than 95%
- Reducing energy used for cooling
- Requiring 10% embodied carbon reduction, making UBC the first jurisdiction in BC to adopt a mandatory embodied carbon target
- Designing for wildfire resilience
- Aligning with UBC’s Integrated Rainwater Management Plan, which plans for future climate
- Enhancing soil quality and volume to support long-term plant health
What makes REAP unique is its flexible, performance-based system. In addition to mandatory preconditions, developers earn points from a menu of optional credits - allowing creative, cost-effective solutions to achieve sustainability goals.
About the Climate & Energy Action Awards
Administered by the Community Energy Association with utility and provincial partners, the awards have been presented at Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention for more than 25 years to recognize local governments leading in climate action and energy management. This year saw a record 29 nominations, spanning plans and strategies, transportation, buildings, energy projects, and engagement initiatives.
Top photo: Exterior shot of the Evolve building on the UBC Vancouver campus, one of Canada’s largest Passive House certified residential buildings.