Resource Library

This report aims to address the challenges involved in establishing a Green Enterprise Zone in the False Creek Flats industrial area by outlining a number of tactical, on-the-ground actions that can be taken by the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC). It demonstrates ways in which the tools employed by the VEC can be leveraged to ground pieces of the greater economic development vision for the False Creek Flats and support local planning initiatives as VEC works towards a complementary Eastern Core Local Area Plan.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green economy, sustainable development & green economy

Urban wildlife animates our green spaces and birds bring our city to life with their songs and flight, creating excellent opportunities to experience biodiversity in the city. Birds also provide ecosystem services in the form of pest control, pollination and seed-dispersal The “Bird-Friendly Landscape Design Guidelines” will support the development of bird habitat throughout the City of Vancouver. The document is intended for policy makers, developers, planners, landscape architects, operations staff and residential gardeners. When used in conjunction with the “Bird-Friendly Building Guidelines,” urban design throughout our city can become more bird-friendly.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, biodiversity, ecological systems

This report explores how daylighting be integrated into the City's plans for the restoration of Trout Lake waterway between Trout Lake and False Creek Flats. It includes a context map and background, key policy linkages, design principles, and a concept plan.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, water

This report identifies the challenges and opportunities of returning the 800-block of Robson Street to its pedestrian roots on a permanent basis. Using case studies from around the world, this report provides examples of how streets can contribute to, rather than detract from the pedestrian experience on Robson Square. This study provides a variety of options and inspirations that can be used to create a truly vibrant public space in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: healthy city, social sustainability

The purpose of this literature review is to create an understanding of water use feedback strategies and their effectiveness in reducing water consumption. Due to the lack of academic literature, particularly for Institutional, Commercial and Industrial (ICI) water users, information was integrated from the energy sector and energy conservation literature. The summary identifies key points of reference from various fields spanning behavioral economics, conservation psychology, business operations and human-computer interactions from computer science.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: lighter footprint, water

This project provides a description of research methods for studying the health impacts of active transportation projects. It details study types, challenges, measures of health and measurement tools. 

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green transportation, social sustainability

The diversion of organics from multi-family homes in the City of Vancouver is a critical component of meeting the Greenest City Action Plan target of reducing the amount of landfilled or incinerated solid waste by 50% compared to 2008 levels. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the environmental impacts of a centralized composting program versus the use of garburators (herein referred to as food waste disposers, FWDs) as organic waste management strategies for multi-family residences in the City of Vancouver.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: zero waste, food systems, waste management & recycling

Chinese residents in Vancouver have a high awareness of and interest in sustainability, but have a lower level of participation in the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. This project aims to understand this gap in participation by addressing how the City of Vancouver can better engage the broader Chinese community in taking action towards meeting the Greenest City goals and supporting a one-planet ecological footprint. Recommendations for planning a multicultural engagement strategy include: building connections, employing eco-champions, parallel Greenest City multi-cultural branding, and developing a targetted program.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: social sustainability, sustainability in education

This research project focuses on an urban water body in Vancouver that has the potential to optimize ecological, recreational and cultural uses while decreasing the use of potable water. The question posed is: Can Trout Lake be a natural swimming lake, reducing the amount of potable water used and improving water quality through approaches such as a constructed wetland? And, are there comparable examples world wide that can be used as a precedent for future works at Trout Lake?

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: clean water, ecological systems, water