1908 to Net-Zero
Canada’s First Net-Zero Character (re)Construction
In Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant, this three-dwelling strata by Deep Green Developments includes the reconstruction of a 117-year-old character house, an expanded 2-bedroom garden suite, and a new 3-bedroom infill home. The award-winning project brings together Net-Zero performance with heritage retention, gentle densification and lower-carbon construction, serving as an educational case study on sustainable building practices.
VIDEO SERIES
Watch the 1908 to Net-Zero video series, created in partnership with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, sharing the process, materials, and decisions behind the build.
EPISODE 1: THE PROJECT VISION
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Meet the team and see how heritage preservation will be balanced with low-embodied and operational carbon goals.
EPISODE 2: INTEGRATED DESIGN & HOUSE LIFT
The project starts with integrated design, energy testing and deconstruction, before lifting the 117-year-old house.
EPISODE 3: FOUNDATIONS & LOW-CARBON CONCRETE
A high-performance foundation system is built using insulated concrete forms and low-carbon concrete.
EPISODE 4: (RE)FRAMED
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COMING SOON
EPISODE 5: NET-ZERO ENVELOPES
MEDIA COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS
- HAVAN Podcast Measure Twice, Cut Once, Nov 2025 | Episode 86: 1908 to Net Zero – Deconstruction
- The Globe and Mail, Sep 2025 | Vancouver builders embrace multiplex construction as city plans to increase density
- Canadian Architect, May 2025 | Embodied Carbon Awards Recognize Six Champions Slashing Emissions in B.C. Construction Projects
- Canadian Contractor, Oct 2024 | Canada’s first character home conversion breaks ground in Vancouver
- Business in Vancouver, Oct 2024 | How this Vancouver heritage home is setting a benchmark for sustainable construction
This project offers a valuable case study for the industry, showing how net-zero targets can be achieved across a variety of building situations… – Lynne J Strickland, CHBA
GALLERY
IT TAKES A TEAM
Innovation and collaboration are essential to advancing sustainable construction. This project brings together leaders in design, construction, materials, and education.
Design & Build
Architect: Smithcraft Architecture
Helping to create a project design that meets ambitious sustainability targets, structural requirements and city restrictions in a compact urban footprint. Vancouver-based with 30+ years’ experience. | Episode 1
Homebuilder: Best Builders
Custom homebuilders leading construction and overseeing deconstruction, house lift and offsite fabrication. Award-winning full-service team with a Red Seal-certified carpenters. Episode 1
Energy Advisor: Capture Energy
Energy advisors focused on operational and embodied carbon – including materials, ratings, testing and program guidance. Award-winning with over 5,000 evaluations conducted since 2006. | Episode 1
Interior Design: Form Collective
Interior designers supporting sustainable material selection and integration of reclaimed materials, balancing heritage charm with a clean, modern aesthetic. | Episode 1
Structural Engineer: Continuity Structural Engineering
Providing structural oversight for the project design and lift of the 117-year old character home. Residential and small commercial focus.
Deconstruction: VEMA Deconstruction
Leading the deconstruction to recover valuable materials and old growth lumber, diverting waste and reducing embodied carbon. Materials will be recycled, donated and reused for wall panels and finishes. | Episode 4 – coming soon
House Lift: Nickel Bros
Specialists in structural relocation, raising the 117-year-old character home for a new energy-efficient foundation and expanded garden suite. 60+ years’ experience saving thousands of buildings from demolition. | Episode 2
Smart Technology: AI Tech & Design
Smart design leveraging end-to-end technology and programming to optimize comfort and energy use.
Mechanical: McKim Mechanical
Red Seal Certified Technicians, installing four air to air heat pumps and one air to water domestic water heat pump for 1908 to Net-Zero. Serving Vancouver since 2008.
Electrical: Castle Electric
Based in Metro Vancouver, Castle Electric brings 30+ years of combined experience in high-end residential and commercial electrical systems.
Material Partners
Low-Carbon Concrete: RMC Ready-Mix
RMC ICF200 is a high-performing concrete blend for ICF foundations with 50% less carbon than the BC average, engineered for 35 MPa strength in 28 days. Produced 9 km from site on Mitchell Island. | Episode 3
Insulated Concrete Forms: Airfoam
The new foundations use Quadlock Insulated concrete forms (ICF) with values of R-51 to lower heating and cooling loads, contributing to the homes’ target of Net-Zero operational carbon. | Episode 3
Lumber & Building Supplies: Dick’s Lumber
Providing high-quality lumber and building supplies. Founded in Burnaby in 1964, serving BC, Alberta and beyond for residential and commercial construction, Dick’s Lumber is Where the Builders Buy.
High-Performance Windows: Vinyltek Windows
Ultra efficient uPVC windows made right here in Metro Vancouver since 1986. Triple‑pane Cardinal Glass with multi‑chamber frames to trap air and reduce thermal exchange. Achieves ENERGY STAR ratings and Built Green Canada criteria. | Episode Spring 2026
High-Performance Membranes & Tapes: SIGA North America
The homes use high-performance SIGA membranes and tapes for the envelope, improving the airtightness and moisture control, reducing energy loss, and contributing to achieving Net-Zero targets. | Episode coming soon
Thermal Clips: Cascadia Clips
Cascadia provides its Cascadia Clip®, a fiberglass thermal spacer that reduces thermal bridging between the structure and cladding and significantly improves overall envelope performance. Red List approved by the Living Building Challenge. Cascadia partners with the supply of Clips and installation of the envelope system. | Episode coming soon
Plumbing & Fire Protection Supply: Andrew Sheret Limited
Plumbing and fire protection rough-ins for the character house (re)construction and new infill, both designed to reach Net-Zero operational standards. Canadian, family owned & operated since 1892. With 32 branches, serving the project from Broadway, just 4 blocks away! | Episode 6 – coming soon
Bathroom and Kitchen Fixtures: Splashes Bath & Kitchen
Dedicated showrooms with high-end bathroom and kitchen fixtures, established in 1987. A family-owned Canadian business with 29 locations across the country and 70+ leading brands to choose from including Kohler, Moen, and Toto.
Canadian Hardwood Floors: Lauzon Collection
Canadian, Red Oak hardwood floors sustainably harvested in Quebec using a zero-waste production process from forest to sawmill. Family-owned and established in 1985.
Education
Canadian Home Builders’ Association
CHBA leads national programs advancing Net-Zero and sustainable construction practices. The 1908 to Net-Zero video series is created in partnership with their Towards Net-Zero Renovations program, sharing key learnings from this first-in-Canada character Net-Zero reconstruction.
Homebuilders Association Vancouver
Founded in 1974, HAVAN represents 1,100+ Metro Vancouver home builders and suppliers. HAVAN has featured the project in the Home Builders Expo and on the Measure Twice, Cut Once podcast.
Zero Emissions Innovation Centre
ZEIC supports low-carbon construction innovation in BC. 1908 to Net-Zero is part of their NearZero Stream 2 research program and was recognized with their 2025 BC Embodied Carbon Award (Small Buildings). ZEIC is also a supporting partner on Episode 4: (re)Framed.
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About Deep Green Developments
WE DEMYSTIFY SUSTAINABLE BUILDING METHODS AND BRING CONSTRUCTIBLE KNOW-HOW TO SINGLE-FAMILY, MULTI-FAMILY, AND MIXED-USE RENOVATIONS & NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Drawing on over fifteen years of complex commercial construction experience, Deep Green Developments offers full project lifecycle construction management services. We will distill your dream into a crisp project charter, assemble and lead an expert team who is prepared and equipped to bring it to life, and see you to occupancy in your new space.
Through direct experience with the Living Building Challenge, CHBA Certified Net-Zero, Passivhaus (Passive House Canada), Vancouver Building By-Law, and the BC Energy Step Code, we help you navigate the rapidly evolving sustainable construction landscape to establish your performance and building use objectives, and bring your environmentally conscious project to life.
With collaboration and proper planning, deeply sustainable and ruggedly durable projects are achievable within a traditional construction budget.
Philosophy
TO BE EFFECTIVE STEWARDS OF OUR PLANET WE MUST THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.
According to the World Green Building Council, building and construction are responsible for 39% of all global carbon emissions, with 28% coming from operational emissions (from energy to heat, cool, and light) and 11% from the embodied carbon emissions associated with materials used in the construction process itself.
Designing and building homes or commercial spaces that are climate friendly is not rocket science, but it is building science!
Carefully considering a building’s use and performance characteristics, the site’s natural energy generation potential, the locally available building materials, a structure’s resiliency to climate change and time, as well as the build strategy to bring it to life are all critical aspects that must work in harmony to ensure a successful project delivery.
At Deep Green Developments, our objective is simple: deliver ruggedly resilient sustainable buildings to last generations, within a traditional construction budget.
Services
IN SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION, EXPERTISE AND KNOW-HOW MATTER.
Deep Green Developments offers a suite of services tailored to your project’s needs. Designed to smooth your path to occupancy, we create a collaborative and thoroughly planned design and construction process, delivering an exceptional result.
DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR PROJECT CHARTER
- Setting building performance benchmarks
- Review of onsite energy generation potential
- Selecting appropriate sustainability targets or certifications (ie: LEED, Passivhaus, CHBA Net-Zero)
- Material selection guidelines for reduced embodied carbon emissions
PROJECT TEAM ASSEMBLY
- RFQ Development
- Contractor / Consultant / Service provider evaluation
- Team onboarding and project kickoff for assured direction, alignment, & commitment
BUILD-STRATEGY CONSULTATION
- Scope review and offsite fabrication feasibility
- Pre-fabrication (manufacturing) implementation management
- Owner and build team training
- Integrated project management
OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES
- Act on the Owner’s behalf to direct & manage Architectural/ Design, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Envelope, Solar, Interior Design, Energy Advisors, 3rd Party Certification Administrators, and Building Professionals
SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT
- Feasibility, scoping, program selection
- Vendor enrollment & management
- Owner’s representation (LEED/Passivhaus)
- Renewable generation & green spaces
PROJECT TYPES
