For anyone planning to build a new home or upgrade an existing one, sustainability is an unavoidable buzzword, but for many, it raises more questions than it answers. How can you ensure that your project’s environmental footprint is as small as possible? Where can you find eco-friendly building materials in Vancouver? And what the heck does sustainability mean, anyway?

Those are precisely the questions that Light House Sustainable Building Centre on Granville Island (www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com/) hopes to answer. After working as an architect both locally and in her native Britain—not to mention a stint managing Metro Vancouver’s BuildSmart Green Building program—Helen Goodland founded the nonprofit Light House in 2005 with several goals in mind. These include increasing awareness of sustainable building practices and providing both the public and construction professionals with access to information and services.

As for the essence of a sustainable building, Light House’s introductory pamphlet probably says it best: “Simply put: sustainable buildings protect, enhance and restore natural ecosystems. They use and produce resources such as materials, energy and water wisely and efficiently. They contribute to the health and well-being of their occupants and their community. They support diverse, thriving regional economies and embody and promote excellence in integrated systems, adaptability and accessibility. Above all, they are beautiful. We think all this is attainable if we each take small yet steady incremental steps.”

The Gulf Islands' Operations Centre, which is showcased by Light House's own resource centre

Light House, which employs a staff of 10 green-building experts and some 50 volunteers, operates out of a 1,300-square-foot office. Unsurprisingly, the space, which includes a resource centre complete with a library and samples of building materials, is a model of what can be done to implement green principles within existing structures. The countertops, for example, are Glascrete, which is made up largely of recycled glass, and the flooring is composed of old tires. Many people would like to incorporate similar materials into their own projects, but find that sourcing them is something of a roadblock.

“That’s kind of why we’re here, because although there are these products out there, it is a challenge to find them,” says Helen Carruthers, manager of Light House’s public outreach and volunteer programs. “Up until about six months ago, there wasn’t really one place where you could just go and get a whole bunch of green building products. But then GreenWorks Building Supply [386 West 8th Avenue] opened last year, and they’re Vancouver’s first all-green building-supply store. So they’re a great resource, but other than that, we’re here to be a first stop for people to find out where they can get all these products. For example, Home Depot carries FSC [Forest Stewardship Council–certified] wood, but you probably wouldn’t know that just by walking in there.”

The Sustainable Building Centre assesses materials according to guidelines set out by BuildingGreen Inc., the publisher of the GreenSpec Canada directory (www.buildinggreen.com/). BuildingGreen’s criteria include products made with salvaged, recycled, or agricultural waste content; products that conserve natural resources; products that avoid toxic or other emissions; products that save energy or water; and products that contribute to a safe, healthy indoor environment.

For those taking their first baby steps toward making their living spaces more green, Light House offers what it calls HomeSpa services, starting with a basic checkup. For a $200 fee, the centre’s experts will evaluate a home’s energy and water efficiency and offer tips on waste reduction and environmentally friendly cleaning products. Other HomeSpa packages address topics such as appliance upgrades, green landscaping, and—for buildings that are still in the planning stages—optimal site selection, alternative energy sources, and minimizing construction waste.

The West Vancouver Aquatic Centre is a stunningly dramatic example of just how beautiful sustainability can be.

If cost is an issue (and when is it not?), Carruthers notes that doing things the eco-sensitive way is worth it in the long run. “Although some of the individual components may be more expensive, a lot of them are better-made and more durable and will last longer, and by using some of these materials you may be able to eliminate other costs as well, so overall, the project as a whole—especially if it’s a new project rather than a renovation—can be basically the same price,” she says.

The centre’s goal is to make every residence a net-zero-energy home, one that can produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. Toward that end, Light House has partnered with the Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition to present a forum at SFU’s Harbour Centre campus on February 26. Although that event is geared toward architects, engineers, and others involved in the building industry, but the centre also hosts weekly guest lecturers, who speak on topics ranging from cohousing to green offices. These talks, held at Light House’s Granville Island HQ, are open to the public, with admission by donation.

For the schedule, visit www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com/events_home. You might find a few answers to your most puzzling sustainability questions.