future looking design
We look towards the future to create flexible designs
that can adapt to shifting needs, respond to local
climates and resources, and are considerate of the
plants, animals, and waterways within our project sites.
energy efficiency
At Cover, we offer Passive House Consultant services to help clients achieve the highest standards in energy efficiency and sustainable design. With extensive experience on projects ranging from residential to commercial, our expertise can help your building meet or exceed Passive House certification while optimizing comfort, performance, and long-term sustainability.
Our team includes certified Passive House consultants and experienced designers who apply industry leading strategies to minimize energy use, improve indoor air quality, and reduce environmental impact. Whether you’re aiming for Passive House certification, BC Energy Step Code compliance, or beyond, we provide tailored solutions that balance innovation with practicality—delivering buildings that are not only efficient but also future-proof.
embodied carbon
We believe that sustainable design starts at the earliest phase of a project’s life cycle. With more recent developments towards low carbon and life cycle analysis, we understand that energy efficiency is just one part of creating truly sustainable buildings.
Embodied carbon has a massive impact at a global scale, something we work closely with our clients to reduce the impact of whenever possible. Oftentimes, this means we need to carefully balance the selection and sourcing of materials to reduce carbon emissions that arise from resource extraction, manufacturing, transport, and construction.
To simplify this process, Cover has been developing an ethical materials library that selects low embodied carbon, and ethically sourced, materials and products to use in our designs.
adaptive reuse
In our experience, the best way to reduce carbon emissions is by renovating existing buildings!
Renovations are an opportunity to extend a building’s lifespan, both by improving the building’s envelope and mechanical systems, but also by adapting the interior for new uses. This process of adaptive reuse revives old or neglected spaces within our communities and reduces the environmental impact of construction – especially when compared to the process of demolishing and building anew.
Our team has a breadth of expertise working on complex renovations, including deep energy retrofits, building envelope upgrades, and modifications to registered heritage buildings.