Institutional Component Areas

Download full details about the Energy component from the GBAP here. 

Buildings are the greatest sources of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) on campus. Reducing building energy use will lower costs for the University and reduce GHG emissions. Institutional energy targets in kwh/m2/year will be developed for all new buildings and major renovations.  

Component Area Goals

1. UBC buildings and landscapes will advance the campus towards net positive energy and greenhouse gas neutrality by reducing energy demand and focusing on site-specific passive design approaches.
2. UBC buildings will have indoor thermal environments that are comfortable and enhance health and wellbeing.
3. UBC will integrate lessons learned to improve building energy performance

Institutional Energy Policies

• UBC Energy Modeling guidelines
• Institutional energy targets
• Technical Guidelines
• LEED v4.1 Implementation Guide

External Energy Policies & Initiatives

• City of Vancouver Zero Emissions Building Plan 
• British Columbia (BC) Energy Step Code
• Carbon Neutral Government Regulation
• BC Climate Leadership Plan
• GHG Reduction Targets Act

Download full details on the institutional Water component area in the Green Building Action Plan.

In the Lower Mainland of BC there exists a relative abundance of water. However, there are still times when water supplies are low or deficient. UBC will be a leader in conserving water and will improve rainwater management by managing this valuable resource and supporting the regional water balance between water use and rainfall.

1. UBC will practise responsible water management and use at the building and site scale by advancing water conservation and efficiency, exploring alternative water supply and treatment solutions and building water supply resiliency.
2. UBC will use a low-impact development approach to rainwater management at the site scale to mitigate risk and respect the natural hydrology of the campus.

Institutional Water Policies and Plans

Institutional Water Policies

• Water Action Plan 
• Technical Guidelines- Division 22
• UBC LEED 4.1 Implementation Guide 
• Integrated Stormwater Management Plan

External Water Policies and Initiatives

• Water Sustainability Act (2016)
• Metro Vancouver Drinking Water Conservation Plan

Download full details on the institutional Materials & Resources component area in the Green Building Action Plan.

In the Materials & Resources component area, UBC will incrementally reduce the environmental impact of buildings through building materials choices, construction techniques and the diversion of waste from landfill during construction and occupancy.

1. UBC will prioritize the use of building materials that have net positive environmental impacts.
2. UBC will support marketplace transformation by designing buildings with materials that are not harmful to human and ecological health.
3. UBC will support the development of the circular economy by promoting the adaptation, reuse and recycling of materials and products during a building’s lifetime.

Institutional Materials & Resources Policies

• LEED 4.1 Implementation Guide
• Technical Guidelines- Division 9 (Concrete)
• Waste Requirements for Green Buildings
• Zero Waste Action Plan 

Other Materials and Resources Policy and Programs

• Policy for Embodied Carbon in Buildings

Download full details on the institutional Biodiversity component area in the Green Building Action Plan.

The natural systems of UBC are a critical component of the University’s identity and support community health and wellbeing. Ecological processes cross scales, beyond the boundary of a building site.

1. UBC will develop highly functioning landscapes at the building and site scale to contribute to biodiversity and natural ecosystem processes.
2. UBC will engage campus teaching and research opportunities to enhance biodiversity management capacity.

Institutional Biodiversity Policies

• Public Realm Plan
• Bird Friendly Design Guidelines
• UBC Vancouver Campus Plan- Design Guidelines

External Biodiversity Policies and Initiatives

• Metro Vancouver Biodiversity Strategy
• Species at Risk Act
• Canadian Biodiversity Act  

Download full details on the institutional Health & Wellbeing component area in the Green Building Action Plan.

UBC’s campus environments, both built and natural, play a vital role in the physical, mental and social wellbeing of all students, staff and faculty.

1. UBC will enhance the mental, physical social dimensions of wellbeing by making them integral to building and landscape design decisions.
2. UBC researchers, community stakeholders and building occupants will be engaged in a meaningful and ongoing way to inform building and landscape design decisions around health and wellbeing.
3. UBC will become a leader in enhancing wellbeing through the built environment within the context of higher education in Canada.

Download full details on the institutional Quality component area in the Green Building Action Plan.

Quality is defined as that which makes a building reliable, durable, resilient, comfortable, dependable, and a contributor to the UBC brand.

1. UBC buildings and landscapes will be durable, reliable and resilient.

Institutional Quality Policies

• Technical Guidelines
• LEED v4.1 Implementation Guide
• Tier System for Building Classification

Download full details on the institutional Climate Adaptation component area in the Green Building Action Plan.

Through historical evidence and future modelling we know that temperatures will continue to rise as a result of climate change.

1. UBC buildings and landscapes will have the resilience to respond to both anticipated and unpredictable changes in climate.
2. UBC will engage with researchers in a meaningful and ongoing way to inform building policy and guidelines around climate adaptability.

Institutional Climate Adaptation Policies

• UBC Climate Ready Requirements
• Climate Action Plan
• Technical Guidelines-Indoor Thermal Comfort
• LEED v4 Implementation Guide

Emerging Climate Adaptation Policy

• Resiliency Initiative
• Campus Plan Update

External Climate Adaptation Policies and Initiatives

• Climate 2050 Metro Vancouver
• British Columbia Climate Leadership Plan
• Pan Canadian Framework Clean Growth and Climate Change

Download full details on the institutional Place & Experience component area in the Green Building Action Plan.

UBC already has ambitious and successful place-making policy and is looking for improvements and synergies with other green building component areas to carry through to new developments.

1. UBC buildings and landscapes will provide opportunities for collaboration, innovation and community development to reflect the social and environmental sustainability aspirations of the University.

Download full details on the institutional Process changes in the Green Building Action Plan.

Effective and efficient process is a foundational aspect of planning at UBC.

1. UBC policies and processes will support the achievement of the GBAP component goals and targets.
2. GBAP component goals and targets and will be communicated and easily accessible to internal and external stakeholders.
3. UBC will integrate lessons learned from each project to improve building designs.
4. UBC buildings will be evaluated as opportunities for research, innovation and continuous improvement.
5. UBC will commit to monitoring and benchmarking building performance to encourage continuous improvement on campus and in relation to industry standards.