As the building sector strives to play a more active role in curbing global warming while also adapting to a changing climate, it’s becoming clear that some of the metrics guiding our progress—energy, cost, and carbon—can no longer be treated separately. Join ZEBx for a Decarb Lunch where reload and UBC Campus & Community Planning unveil findings from an investigation into how best to push forward with the higher levels of the BC Energy Step Code and BC Zero Carbon Step Code when cost and whole life carbon are also considered. 

To meet its climate action goals while keeping new construction cost-effective, UBC commissioned a study to examine the impact of raising envelope performance standards, balancing carbon and cost. Led by reLoad in collaboration with Ryder Architecture, Glotman Simpson, and Heatherbrae Builders, the study evaluated envelope options for two building archetypes—a six-storey wood-frame MURB and a high-rise concrete tower—to determine which combinations of assemblies would yield the best trade-offs between energy efficiency, embodied carbon, operational emissions, and construction cost. 

What envelope choices deliver the lowest total carbon and best overall outcomes? Does the TEDI make sense when the whole life carbon lens is applied? How might future codes evolve to reflect this new balance of performance and practicality?   

Don’t miss this timely conversation about a topic that is poised to shape the next generation of low-carbon building design in BC and beyond. 

Speakers: 

• Ralph Wells, Community Climate and Energy Manager, UBC Campus & Community Planning. Ralph is responsible for the development and implementation of UBC’s award winning Residential Environmental Assessment Program and implementation of the Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan, guiding the campus toward net-zero emissions and a climate-resilient future for UBC’s residential neighbourhoods. Ralph holds a Master of Resource Management from UBC, where he focused on environmental policy, urban systems, and community engagement. With a deep commitment to low-carbon, sustainable urban planning, he integrates technical expertise and collaborative approaches to advance innovative, energy-conscious solutions at the campus and community scale. 

• Martina Soderlund, Principal and Founder, reLoad Sustainable Design. Martina is the Founding Principal of reLoad Sustainable Design Inc., where she leads a team of experts in shaping the future of low-carbon building in Canada and beyond. With more than 19 years of experience, she specializes in energy and carbon modelling, net zero design, and building performance strategy. Known for simplifying complex codes and performance data into clear, actionable insights, Martina helps clients make confident, cost-effective sustainability decisions. Her collaborative, big-picture approach ensures projects meet today’s standards while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges 

• Hugh Nolan, Building Energy and Carbon Analyst, reLoad Sustainable Design. Hugh is reLoad’s Embodied Carbon Specialist, integrating operational emissions, embodied carbon, and cost analysis into cohesive whole-building strategies. With a background in both architecture and engineering, he works at the intersection of design and analytics to bring clarity to complex decisions - balancing material choices, energy efficiency, and lifecycle carbon performance. Hugh also leads reLoad’s BIM-to-BEM integration, bridging digital design and performance modelling to inform early-stage decisions and support long-term building performance.   

Thanks to the financial support of BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver, this event is free of charge!