Sustainability Attributes of Venues, Villages and Facilities

• Provincial (BC EAO) and federal (CEAA) environmental assessment review for core competition venue and legacy recreation trails 
• Smart site selection — previously harvested forest, adjacent to a former mine, signifi cant commercial and public recreational use 
• Minimized site disturbance and overall footprint: 
  • approximate 30 per cent reduction of overall venue footprint compared to initial design 
  • design changes to avoid disturbing old-growth forest and wetlands core competition venue 
  • reduced stream crossings 
  • maximized riparian area protection 
  • site designed to reduce vegetation clearing required (such as tree islands and soft edging) 
• Development of the WNCV has affected approximately 1.8 hectares of in-stream and riparian habitat. With a goal of no net loss, VANOC has mitigated this impact by protecting extended riparian setbacks (i.e. beyond the requird 15m and 30m setbacks) totalling 32 hectares in the core competition area. This represents impact mitigation through habitat protection at a 16:1 ratio (i.e. for every hectare impacted, 16 hectares were protected)
• Venue layout designed to favour natural land contouring and minimize site grading and clearing requirements
• Targeting LEED Silver certification for Day Lodge. Additional site buildings follow LEED design principles
• Waste wood re-use: 
  • On-site re-use of vegetation debris for temporary operations compounds 
  • Innovative on-site composting for site green-up material. Indigenous wildflower seed mixture added to composted wood waste and applied to disturbed soils at the WNCV for sediment and erosion control and revegetation
• Avoidance of surface detention ponds through construction of overlay compounds facilitating natural detention functions 
• On-site wastewater treatment plant to use leading technology (tertiary membrane fi ltration and ultraviolet disinfection) for high-quality discharge to local surface water, built to accommodate pre-Games and post-Games user numbers. During Games-time, as with other outdoor venues, temporary wastewater collection infrastructure will be in place to accommodate high user numbers. 
• Thoughtful design efforts for trails resulted in maintaining a cut and fill balance of materials, minimizing import/export of fill and related environmental impacts (such as transportation) 
• Assured economic opportunities for Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation (Shared Legacies Agreement) 
• Squamish Nation- and Lil’wat Nation-owned companies awarded contracts for site preparation, building construction and construction of recreational trail network 
• Naming, recognition and artwork opportunities are being pursued for the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation at venue site 
• Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations involved throughout EA process including Recreational trails. Recreational trail design incorporated First Nations interests, land use and cultural considerations 
• As members of the Whistler Legacy Society, which will own and operate the NCV post 2010, the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations will be participating in ongoing decision-making in their traditional territories

• Federal environmental assessment review (CEAA) 
• Smart site selection — adjacent to disturbed areas within major ski area (such as ski trails, parking lots) 
• Site designed to minimize required vegetation clearing and to reduce facility footprint (such as soft edging and tree islands) 
• Targeting LEED Silver certification for the refrigeration plant building. Additional site buildings follow LEED design principles. 
• Energy efficiency initiatives to minimize energy use by the refrigeration plant include:
  • ammonia refrigeration system — ammonia is one of the most energy-efficient refrigerants and it also produces no chlorofluorocarbons (which contribute to ozone-layer depletion and global climate change) 
  • refrigeration plant includes various energy saving mechanisms (such as economizer loop, auto-purger and computer software programmed for energy conservation management) 
  • track shading and weather protection system 
  • tree retention to cast shade 
  • track painted white to minimize heat absorption 
  • capture and reuse of waste heat from refrigeration plant
• Re-use of vegetation debris — all waste wood chipped and composted 
• Long-term operations and revenue-generation opportunities through athlete training facility and visitor use 
• First construction contract (2005) awarded to local Whistler company (Coastal Mountain Excavations Ltd.) 
• Naming, recognition and artwork opportunities are being pursued for the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation at venue site

• Federal (CEAA) environmental assessment review process 
• Smart site selection - venue located on existing ski trails within major ski area 
• Use of existing ski hill infrastructure (such as buildings, chairlifts, gondolas) 
• All wood waste chipped and reused on site 
• Leading-edge high energy-effi cient snowmaking system for race courses 
• Proactive construction management to avoid and minimize potential impacts to wildlife and aquatic and terrestrial habitat (such as tailed frog management plan, including survey, hand-salvage and relocation plans, which have been implemented throughout the construction phase) 
• Significant reductions achieved in terms of the total amount of riparian vegetation removed for the training and race courses, as compared to the initial amount proposed/approved for clearing in the initial design plans and EA approval. Example: 20 per cent reduction in clearing of old-growth trees; 95 per cent reduction in vegetation clearing in previously disturbed areas; and 78 per cent reduction in vegetation clearing of
  previously undisturbed areas 
• Better permanent alignment secured for Boyd Creek in Timing Flats area, which will provide for a protected riparian area post-Games, potentially improving capacity for proper stream functions and improved habitat for tailed frogs 
• Emphasis on local employment, purchasing and contracting opportunities during construction phase 
• Post-Games legacy of enhanced training, racing and recreational ski trails 
• Aboriginal artwork showcasing opportunities

• Federal (CEAA) environmental assessment review process 
• Smart site selection — adjacent to disturbed area (former municipal landfill) 
• Development of a community/district energy system; primary heat source will be waste heat recovered from municipal wastewater treatment system and will also include reuse of captured methane gas from former municipal landfill 
• Wetland creation for stormwater retention, treatment and habitat enhancement. Stormwater management initiatives also include net-zero drainage impact upon the Cheakamus River 
• Pilot project with Canada Green Building Council to test LEED Neighbourhood Development (ND) standard 
• Community legacy of affordable resident housing units and sport training centre 
• Aboriginal artwork showcasing opportunities

• Federal (CEAA) environmental assessment review process· Smart site selection — adjacent to disturbed area (former municipal landfill)
• Smart site selection — new facilities to replace aging existing community complex and new complex sited primarily on former gravel parking area 
• Targeting LEED Gold certification 
• Overall consolidation of venue footprint, revised from early designs, will reduce land impact
• Targeting net-zero green space loss through revegetation of demolished sites during Legacy conversion.
• Impacted trees have been relocated to other sites within the park 
• No net loss of play fields resulting from site redevelopment 
• Use of waste heat from the refrigeration plant to heat other building spaces and adjacent aquatics centre 
• Aboriginal artwork showcasing opportunities

• Federal (CEAA) and provincial (BC Parks) environmental assessment review process 
• Snowboarding venue developed on existing ski runs at Cypress ski area 
• Freestyle skiing venue located within existing Cypress ski area, in previously harvested forest 
• All wood waste chipped and reused on site 
• VANOC, Cypress Bowl Recreations Limited and other stakeholders joined in summer 2007 to salvage and relocate wetland plant species of local signifi cance from new snowmaking reservoir site to nearby wetlands that will remain unaffected by construction 
• Emphasis on local employment during construction phase 
• Archaeological Overview Assessment completed with First Nations 
• First Nations participation in the Cypress Legacy Project planning, including opportunities for First Nations art and recognition of traditional territories

• Federal (CEAA) environmental assessment review process 
• Targeting LEED Silver certification 
• Smart site selection — development of already disturbed site into legacy community health and recreation complex 
• Minimum 2:1 replacement of trees 
• Waste heat recovery from refrigeration plant to be used for ice melting, hot water and heating/cooling systems 
• All hardwood trees cut during site preparation have been salvaged and are currently stored awaiting milling for reuse in the building for panelling, fl ooring, furnishings or landscaping features at the facility 
• Flexible facility design to accommodate varied and shifting uses 
• Stormwater management initiatives include construction of a wetland for on-site stormwater treatment and rainwater collection, and reused for irrigation and toilet fl ushing. Rainwater collection system features artwork by Musqueam Nation artist Susan Pointe (water will fl ow over designs on concrete buttresses) 
• Roof structure to be constructed with wood damaged by the pine beetle infestation in BC

• Federal (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) environmental assessment review process 
• Redevelopment of a former industrial area — restoration of shoreline and contaminated lands and reduction/elimination of contaminants migrating to aquatic environment 
• Community legacy of non-market housing units 
• Targeting LEED Gold certification for all buildings except for the Community Centre with a target of LEED Platinum 
• Pilot project with Canada Green Building Council to test LEED Neighbourhood Development (ND) standard 
• Signifi cant creation of habitat through greenspace and foreshore rehabilitation, including significant reintroduction of inter-tidal marine habitat, restoration efforts and replanting with indigenous vegetation
• Neighbourhood Energy Utility to serve the Village for space heat and hot water generation utilizing heat captured from sanitary main line 
• Net-Zero Energy building pilot project for one of the buildings in the Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver to include consumption monitoring, solar recovery, waste heat harvesting and above-LEED standards in energy conservation 
• Stormwater management initiatives to currently include plans for green, bio-swales, rainwater collection and reuse, and surface drainage elements (minimal pipes) 
• Green roofs targeted for minimum 50 per cent of total buildings footprint 
• Units will be SAFERhome™ certified and will include the application of universal design, with elements such as wider doorways, hallways and stairs, and can be easily adapted to be completely accessible 
• Aboriginal artwork showcasing opportunities 
• Community Benefits Agreement negotiated between the City of Vancouver and the Building Opportunities with Business Inner-City Society to ensure inner-city recruitment, training and procurement opportunities related to this development project

• Targeting LEED Silver equivalent 
• Redevelopment of an existing facility, including refurbishment and reuse of major components of the existing ice plant 
• Waste heat recovery from ice plant to heat building and domestic water 
• Flexible facility design to accommodate varied uses 
• UBC and Musqueam Nation working together toward showcasing Aboriginal artwork

• Federal (CEAA) environmental assessment review process 
• Targeting LEED Gold certification 
• Redevelopment of an existing public ice rink attached to an existing community centre (community centre will remain as is until 2010, with rebuild planned post-2010) 
• Significant recycling and reuse of old building components and mechanical equipment after demolition of existing facility (most are being reused at other parks and recreation facilities in the city of Vancouver) 
• Minimum 2:1 replacement of trees 
• An oil/water separator stormwater system is being constructed to cleanse stormwater coming off the site and outflowing into Trout Lake. The oil/water separator will improve the quality of collected rainwater routed to the lake and thereby improve aquatic habitat conditions.

• Federal (CEAA) environmental assessment review process 
• Targeting LEED Gold certification 
• Redevelopment of an existing public ice rink facility attached to a community centre and public aquatic centre (these facilities will remain as they are) 
• Minimum 2:1 replacement of trees 
• Waste heat recapture from refrigeration plant for use in other areas 
• Significant recycling and reuse of old building components and mechanical equipment after demolition of existing facility (most items are being reused at other parks and recreation facilities in the city of Vancouver)

• Modifications to an existing facility

• Upgrades to an existing facility, including accessibility enhancements

• Renovation of existing facilities, entirely contained within existing footprint 
• No increase to the percentage of impervious land surface on the project site after renovations 
• Equipment upgrades, including energy-efficient fixtures, are expected to improve indoor air quality 
• Arena seating upgraded — old seats auctioned off as sport fundraiser

•  Included in federal (CEAA) environmental assessment process for the Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Village/Legacy Neighbourhood 
• Target of LEED Silver for High Performance Centre training facility 
• Will connect to the District Energy System being developed for the Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler/Legacy Neighbourhood 
• Waste heat recovery systems in all accommodation buildings 
• The Centre will provide athletic training facilities for athlete and community use 
• The Centre will provide affordable accommodation options for athletes, residents and visitors (lodge with 100 hostel-style rooms and 20 townhomes containing a mixture of two and three bedrooms)

• Renovation of existing buildings 
• High-rise building has received LEED Gold certification (LEED Commercial Interiors through the US Green Building Council) 
• Increased daylight and views — reduces energy use and is also linked to increased employee productivity and reduced potential health impacts related to artificial lighting and lack of natural light 
• Use of low-emitting carpet systems, sealants, adhesives, paints and coatings — provides healthier work environment and decreases potential health impacts associated with pollutant-emitting sealants and adhesives; reduces environmental impacts associated with more pollutant-emitting materials (such as volatile organic compounds); reduced material consumption and waste through tile carpet system (tiles can be replaced as needed, as opposed to entire rooms) 
• Energy saving systems, fixtures and appliances (example: lighting fixtures reduced by 40-50 per cent as building was initially over-lit), daylight and occupancy sensors for lighting-control systems, energy-efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs 
• Facilitation of alternative transportation for workforce members — such as bicycle storage, showers, changing rooms, priority parking for car/vanpools and peak hours shuttle to/from nearest SkyTrain station 
• Comprehensive recycling program, including organic waste composting

• Redevelopment of an existing facility 
• Partnership with community organization to deliver carpentry skills development and job experience to 45-65 inner-city residents 
• Partnership with Building Opportunities with Business Inner-City Society and the construction industry to deliver construction readiness training to 160 inner-city and Aboriginal individuals

• Expansion of an existing facility