Sustainability - Cendryal Forge Quint Architecture

Why This Actually Matters to Us

Look, I'll be straight with you - when we started out fifteen years ago, "sustainable architecture" was basically a fancy marketing term. But after seeing what thoughtful design can actually do for energy bills, indoor air quality, and yeah, the environment... we're pretty hooked. Every project we take on now has sustainability baked in from day one, not slapped on as an afterthought.

Our Green Journey - The Timeline

Here's how we've grown (and sometimes stumbled) along the way

2010

First Steps

Started incorporating basic energy-efficient practices. Nothing fancy yet, but we were learning. Completed our first project with solar panels - felt like rocket science back then.

3 Projects 15% Energy Reduction

2013

Getting Certified

Got our LEED AP certification. Honestly, the exam was brutal, but it changed how we think about every material choice and building system. Delivered our first LEED Gold project that year.

LEED AP Certified First Gold Project

2016

Passive House Breakthrough

Dove into Passive House design. This was a game-changer - we're talking buildings so well-insulated you barely need heating systems. Our first certified Passive House was in North Van, and the homeowners' energy bills are still making us look good.

Passive House Certified 90% Heating Reduction 12 Projects

2019

Net-Zero Focus

Shifted our entire practice toward net-zero ready buildings. Started using a ton more reclaimed materials and local suppliers. Also partnered with BC Hydro on an energy monitoring program that actually taught us a lot about real-world performance vs. our models.

3 Net-Zero Projects 45% Local Materials Zero Carbon Ready

2022

Embodied Carbon Reckoning

Started really digging into embodied carbon - that's all the emissions from manufacturing and transporting materials. Began using mass timber way more often. Also launched our material reuse program where we salvage stuff from demo projects.

8 Mass Timber Projects 35% Carbon Reduction Material Reuse Program

2025

Where We Are Now

All our projects now target net-zero operational carbon. We've got a whole lifecycle assessment process that runs before we even sketch the first design. Currently working on two LEED Platinum projects and one that we think could hit Living Building Challenge status (fingers crossed).

100% Net-Zero Ready 2 Platinum Projects 1 Living Building 28 Active Projects

The Numbers That Matter

67

LEED Certified Projects

Including 12 Gold and 2 Platinum ratings since 2013

8.2M

kWh Saved Annually

Across all completed projects - that's enough to power about 750 homes

42%

Avg. Energy Reduction

Compared to conventional buildings in our portfolio

3,400

Tonnes CO2 Offset

Through material choices and energy performance yearly

Our Current Commitments

Materials First

We run lifecycle assessments on every major material choice. It takes extra time upfront, but we've found some surprising swaps that are both cheaper and greener. Also working with three local timber suppliers who get forest stewardship.

Energy Performance Guarantee

For residential clients, we now offer a performance guarantee. If the building doesn't hit our energy targets in the first year, we come back and figure out what went wrong - on our dime. Keeps us honest.

Water Management

Rainwater harvesting and greywater systems are pretty much standard in our designs now. Vancouver gets enough rain that it'd be silly not to capture some of it. We've also gotten really good at managing stormwater on-site.

Post-Occupancy Follow-Up

We check in at 6 months and 2 years post-completion to see how buildings are actually performing. Sometimes our models were off, sometimes users need help optimizing systems. Either way, we learn something every time.

Certifications & Memberships

LEED Accredited Professional

Building Design + Construction specialty

Passive House Designer

Certified by Passive House Institute

Canada Green Building Council

Corporate member since 2014

Living Future Institute

Affiliate member pursuing LBC projects

Built Green Canada

Recognized builder and renovator

Zero Carbon Building Program

BC Hydro partner since 2020

What's Next for Us

We're not gonna pretend we've got it all figured out. Climate-responsive design keeps evolving, and honestly, that's what makes it interesting. Right now we're experimenting with bio-based materials, getting better at circular design principles, and trying to make net-zero accessible for more budgets.

If you're thinking about a project and sustainability matters to you (or you're just curious about what's possible), let's talk. We love this stuff and we're always up for sharing what we've learned.

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