Canada's First "Passive House" Fire Hall: Vancouver’s Fire Hall #17

The existing fire Hall #17 in Southeast Vancouver has reached the end of its life. As such, the City will demolish it and build a new Net Zero Energy (NZE) hall that will be Passive House (PH) and LEED Gold (v4) certified. The project aligns with the City’s Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, its Renewable City Strategy, and its Zero Emission Buildings Plan. In order to achieve this certification, the build will consist of building envelope efficiencies and a closed loop geo-exchange system. Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels will largely bring the building to net zero. Permanent energy monitoring systems and real time energy analysis will evaluate the performance of the building, and will be checked against BC Hydro metered data and information collected by the building’s electrical, IT, mechanical, lighting and plug load systems. The city has an ongoing tracking system for waste production and diversion from construction projects and ongoing operations, and water meters will confirm any potable and non-potable water use at the hall. The project will result in a reduction of 33 tonnes of C02e/year, and will also include water consumption reduction features and Green Demolition measures. Most of the environmental benefit will come from the solar panels, with the remainder resulting from the energy efficiency measures. The hall will also act as a city-wide emergency hub in the event of an Information Technology (IT) network breakdown. In this regard, the building will be fitted with IT, radio, Scada, and traffic control equipment. The project may provide a relatively strong example of sound project and risk management practices, as well as a model for other communities looking to retrofit or rebuild their fire halls. (Project description from original funding application)