Laneway housing, innovative DTES housing project and civic energy-reduction efforts honoured at Real Estate Foundation of BC Land Awards Gala

VANCOUVER, Oct. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - A Vancouver company that built the city's first laneway home, a non-profit that developed Canada's first multi-unit housing project with recycled shipping containers and a small Vancouver Island municipality that spearheaded energy consumption and clean technology for its homes and businesses were the winners of The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC)'s 2013 Land Awards Gala Friday.

Each year, REFBC chooses a winner from the private, non-profit and government sector that demonstrates innovation, leadership and collaboration in sustainable land use in BC.

The 2013 winners are:

Non-profit sector Winner: Recycled Shipping Container Housing Project - Atira Women's Resource Society
The Society recycled shipping containers to build 12 self-contained studio suites on a small lot in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The judges applauded an environmentally sensitive way to address the need for affordable housing for low-income women and noted recycled shipping containers dramatically cut the cost and time involved in constructing the housing.

Private-sector Winner: Net Positive Housing Project - Lanefab Design/Build
After a City of Vancouver bylaw change in 2009, Lanefab of Vancouver developed both the city's first laneway house and its first solar-powered laneway house. REFBC judges praised Lanefab for transforming neighbourhoods in healthy ways by using green-building practices to construct homes on underused urban spaces.

Public Sector Winner: Solar Colwood - City of Colwood
Solar Colwood aimed to demonstrate whole community change in reducing energy consumption and costs, and creating clean-energy solutions. The project, which saw Vancouver Island-based Colwood collaborate with 14 organizations, includes home energy retrofits, electric vehicle charging stations, and public education programs. The judges praised Colwood's ability to partner effectively with numerous organizations, including business associations, academic institutions, governments and First Nations.

"Tonight's award recipients should be proud of the vision, creativity and collaboration that were hallmarks of these projects," said REFBC Chair Kelly Lerigny. "The Foundation is pleased to shine a spotlight on the exceptional work done by each winner and to recognize the commitment all have demonstrated towards sustainable land-use practices."

Vancouver social entrepreneur Carol Newell was earlier named this year's recipient of the REFBC's Land Champion award for her conservation work on Cortes Island and elsewhere in BC.

About the Real Estate Foundation of BC: REFBC is a philanthropic organization that provides funds and information to groups dedicated to the stewardship of BC's land and natural resources. It supports real-estate and land-use practices that contribute to healthy and sustainable communities. Its funding programs support research, education, and law and policy reform. Since 1988, the Foundation has approved more than $64 million in grants.

SOURCE: Real Estate Foundation of BC

FOR INTERVIEWS WITH WINNERS AND REFBC, CONTACT: 

Celina Owen
Real Estate Foundation of BC
[email protected]
604.343.2623