Decoupling really works

In Sweden, emissions decreased by 25% between 1990 and 2015 as the economy grew. Data shows that decoupling is working in the Swedish building sector. Sweden has adopted one of the most demanding building regulations in the world as one of the many steps in the Government’s promise to release the dependence on fossil fuels by 2045.

At Canada Green Building Council’s conference Architecture Durable: Objectif 2030 in Montreal, Marie-Claude Dubois and Marie-France Stendahl of White Arkitekter will speak about how the regulation can be applied in a private practice in engineering and architecture. Focusing on recent climate positive Scandinavian projects – including Lindeborg’s Eco Retreat, the world’s first climate positive hotel – they will discuss the technical challenges of building envelope, natural lighting and energy sources.

In a second keynote, Marie-Claude and Marie-France are joined by White’s collaboration partner Mr. William Gagnon of Ecology North. Together they will reveal the details of The Northern Centre for Sustainability, a pilot project in Yellowknife, which will be the first climate and energy positive project in Canada. It also aims for full Living Building Challenge Certification, which is the most stringent building certification in the world. The project will be made possible by the collaboration of Ecology North, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, local architects and White’s unique combination of practice-based research, international collaboration, and traditional and scientific knowledge in a community-based approach.

The presentations start at 15:30 on November 7 at Édifice Wilder – Espace danse, Montréal.