Sustainability Commitment | Ignithral Venquinth Architecture

Our Impact So Far

These aren't projections or estimates - this is what we've actually achieved across our completed projects since 2018. We track everything obsessively because if you can't measure it, you can't improve it.

Energy Reduction

62%

Compared to conventional builds in BC

Water Conservation

48%

Average reduction across all projects

Recycled Materials

71%

By weight in our 2024 projects

Carbon Offset

3,240 tons

CO2 equivalent saved annually

Why This Matters To Us

I'll be honest - when we started back in 2015, sustainability was more of a checkbox item for clients. But after working on a project in Squamish where the client's energy bills were basically nothing compared to their neighbors? That changed everything for us.

We realized sustainable design isn't just about saving the planet (though that's huge). It's about creating buildings that actually work better, cost less to operate, and make people feel good when they're inside them. Natural light, proper ventilation, materials that don't off-gas weird chemicals - turns out that's just better design, period.

Now it's not something we offer as an add-on. It's baked into everything we do. Can't imagine working any other way anymore.

Our Certifications & Partnerships

We don't just talk the talk - here's the proof we're actually certified and recognized for this work.

LEED Accredited

Gold & Platinum certified projects across residential and commercial sectors

Passive House

Certified Passive House designers - 8 completed projects in Metro Vancouver

Net Zero Ready

CaGBC Net Zero Carbon Building certified design team

Living Building

Registered Living Building Challenge professionals

What We Actually Do Different

Yeah, everyone talks about passive solar, but there's more to it than slapping south-facing windows on a building. We use detailed solar modeling software to figure out exactly where the sun hits throughout the year - not just in summer.

For Vancouver's climate, that means strategic overhangs that block harsh summer sun but let winter light deep into the space. We've also gotten really into thermal mass placement - putting the right materials in the right spots so your building stores heat when you need it and releases it when you don't.

Living in Vancouver means we've got rain figured out pretty well. We design integrated rainwater harvesting that goes beyond just collecting it - we're talking full treatment systems for greywater reuse, green roofs that slow runoff, and bioswales that filter everything naturally.

One of our commercial projects in Richmond basically doesn't use municipal water for landscaping or toilets anymore. The client was skeptical at first, but their water bills dropped by about 70%. That's real money saved every month.

This is where a lot of firms lose interest because it's not sexy - but material choice is huge. We maintain relationships with suppliers who can verify chain of custody for lumber, source low-VOC everything, and provide Environmental Product Declarations.

We're also big on using reclaimed materials when it makes sense. Not in a trendy barnwood-accent-wall way, but actual structural elements. Reclaimed steel, salvaged brick, recycled concrete aggregate - stuff that performs just as well but doesn't require new extraction and manufacturing.

Plus, we've started specifying way more regional materials. Shipping marble from Italy might look nice, but BC has amazing stone quarries. Why not use what's already here?

The building envelope is literally what keeps the outside out and the inside in. Get this wrong and nothing else matters - you'll be bleeding energy forever. We do blower door tests on everything, use thermal imaging to find weak spots, and obsess over air barrier continuity.

Our standard wall assemblies now hit R-40 or better, which is way beyond code. Yeah, it costs a bit more upfront, but the payback period is usually under 5 years with BC's energy prices. After that, it's just free money staying in the client's pocket instead of going to the utility company.

We're not gonna throw smart tech at a project just because it exists. But when it makes sense? Yeah, we'll integrate building management systems that actually learn and adapt. Occupancy sensors that aren't annoying, HVAC controls that respond to actual conditions, lighting that follows daylight levels.

The key is making sure it's intuitive enough that people actually use it. We've all seen those fancy control panels that everyone ignores because they're too complicated. We design systems that basically run themselves but give users control when they want it.

The Honest Reality Check

Let's talk about what doesn't always work perfectly. Solar panels? Great in theory, but in Vancouver's climate, the payback can be long. We'll tell you that upfront. Sometimes a well-designed envelope beats fancy renewable energy systems.

Green roofs look amazing and have real benefits, but they require maintenance commitment. If a client isn't ready for that, we'll suggest alternatives that achieve similar stormwater and insulation goals without the upkeep.

And yeah, sustainable design sometimes costs more initially. We're not gonna pretend it doesn't. But we're really good at running the numbers to show actual lifecycle costs and payback periods. Usually, the math works out in your favor within a few years.

The thing we won't compromise on? Building it right the first time. Fixing poor design decisions later is way more expensive than doing it properly from the start.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Our 2030 Commitments

We signed onto the Architecture 2030 Challenge. Here's what we're actually committing to do:

100% Net Zero

All our new projects will be designed to net-zero carbon by 2030. Not carbon-neutral with offsets - actually producing as much energy as they consume.

Zero Waste Goal

Diverting 90% of construction waste from landfills on all projects. We're at 78% now - getting to 90% is tough but doable.

Education & Advocacy

We're hosting quarterly workshops for other firms and clients about what we've learned. No gatekeeping - the more people doing this work well, the better.

Transparent Reporting

Publishing our actual energy performance data annually - not just what we predicted, but what's really happening in our completed buildings.