The 2010 Vancouver Olympics has yet another feather to add to their cap – they now have the greenest neighborhood in the world. Yesterday, Millennium Waters, the Olympic Athlete’s Village located on Southeast False Creek across from the BC Place Stadium, received LEED Platinum Certification for the entire neighborhood as well as LEED Gold status for all of the buildings included. Millennium Water is only the second neighborhood to receive LEED Platinum status, with the first being Dockside Green in Victoria, British Columbia. With super energy efficient residential units, close proximity to the city center, a renewable energy heating system and a net zero energy building, this village is sure make other eco-developments green with envy.
During the Olympics, the neighborhood, which was formerly an industrial site, houses about 2,600 athletes and coaches. After the Olympics end, the neighborhood becomes Millennium Water, a mixed-used residential and commercial neighborhood. Individuals will be able to buy condos in the passively designed buildings, most of which will be high end real estate, but the project does include some affordable housing. Natural and non-toxic building materials were used inside each condo, and residents can monitor their energy and water use.
Rainwater is used to help flush the toilets and the entire complex is heated by sewage. Renewable energy systems, like solar panels and solar hot water systems generate power for the households and there is even a net-zero energy building on the site. The neighborhood is a true mixed-use complex with both residential as well as commercial and plenty of common use spaces and gardens. Learn more about the design and construction process of this impressive neighborhood at the Challenge Series which documents the entire process as a way to educate and inspire communities, professionals, owners and builders seeking to create meaningful opportunities out of the challenges of climate change.
+ The Challenge Series
+ Millennium Water
Via CTV British Columbia
It is with great honour to acknowledge that our son, Jody L. Andrews P.N.G. for the city of Vancouver created his professional dream to make this a world class showcase for future generations to follow by example. Could his past employer’s,humble themselves to give credit where credit is certainly due????
SE False Creek is an important project and I think the city should get a lot of credit for what they did there.
But what criteria is the “greenest neighbourhood on earth” claim based on. Is there some objective measurement this is based on? What about other neighbourhoods?
Take for example Vauban, Freiburg, Germany…
Vauban is completely car-free. SE FC is not.
Vauban has 100 units that meet Passivhaus standards. SE FC has zero (Passivhaus is a much higher standard than LEED).
All units in Vauban meet the low energy standard of 65 kWh/m2. SE FC ?? (probably not that low).
Vauban has municipal composting of food waste. SE FC – not yet.
Vauban has an organic food coop. SE FC – you might find some in Urban Fare.
Vauban has a working urban farm. SE FC has planned for a “demonstration” community garden.
Vauban has a efficient district heating system using bio-fuels. SE FC also has a highly efficient district heating system but still uses some natural gas (probably a higher ghg footprint).
Vanuban has onsite electrical generation (co-gen plants and photovoltaics). SE FC has none.
[...] precut homes. He went on to develop a booming kit home business first based out of Toronto, then Vancouver and now Seattle, where his children now hold the reigns of the company. An inventor at heart, [...]