Surrey businesses have prioritized green building practices

Achieving sustainability goals in the construction industry requires collaboration across the entire ecosystem, including materials producers, construction companies, developers, regulators, and technology providers. 

Fortunately, Surrey companies have established deep roots when it comes to fostering innovation and accelerating progress towards green objectives. Here are five leading companies which continue to put Surrey on the green building map.

Basalite Concrete Products

According to McKinsey & Company, the cement and concrete industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Cement in particular accounts for a substantial portion of global emissions.

Fortunately, Basalite is ahead of the curve when it comes to embracing sustainable processes and products. 

“Our growth goals must always align with our desire to be solid global stewards. It is incumbent upon us to lead the way with commissioning processes that protect the environment,” said Scott Weber, President of Basalite Concrete Products. “We want to deliver products to our customers that achieve our mutual goals of designing and developing sustainable buildings.”

Reforus Wood Products

Reforus is a green-technology company producing advanced bio-based urethanes for wood manufacturers. It offers innovative opportunities for its clients to develop value-added wood products to serve untapped markets and grow sales. 

Its breakthrough green technology protects wood’s structural integrity and extends its value. In turn, the company enables wood manufacturers to earn higher profit margins and generate new opportunities in a global market.

“Our manufacturing process uses pulp and agriculture waste streams to naturally extend wood’s performance,” according to Reforus’s website. “Manufacturers and builders improve their efficiencies because wood composites made with Reforus technology helps cut labour costs, eliminate processes, and reduce materials needed.”

Airfoam Industries

Airfoam manufactures sustainable and budget-friendly building insulation, geofoam, flotation, and other construction solutions. 

One of the best energy solutions is to stop wasting it in buildings. According to Airform’s website, the key to achieving no-cost building projects is by improving building insulation. In the company’s experience, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation — which is about 98 percent air and is free of formaldehyde and CFC, HCFC, and HFC gases — is the most cost-effective way to add value to buildings.

Airform is deeply invested in sustainability initiatives. It has a company-wide environmental policy and proudly serves customers with an ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System. Even more, it regularly helps customers achieve energy savings and reductions in life-cycle emissions.

Starline Windows

Starline Windows has been a leader in the design and manufacturing of architectural aluminum window systems as well as residential vinyl windows and doors for over 50 years.

The company’s vision is to be an industry leader in reacting to the demands of the changing construction industry, including the increased need for energy efficiency. As such, Starline’s Engineering and New Product R&D teams are constantly seeking out new ways to innovate.

Starline’s products are designed for durability and quality, which has valuable environmental benefits. For example, its powder coating does not require the use of solvents and thinners so no volatile organic compounds are released into the environment. Furthermore, its state-of-the-art equipment utilizes environmentally friendly “Chrome Free” pretreatment, and all powder is reclaimed by the system during the coating process.

Delta Controls

Delta Controls is a building controls manufacturer at the forefront of building automation systems. Since its inception, the company has grown a distribution network of more than 300 partners across 80 countries. This enables a broad and global reach to offer intelligent, imaginative building solutions across various markets. 

Guiding its industry into a sustainable future is a north star for Delta Controls. In fact, its focus on innovation and sustainability has made it an industry leader for over 30 years. 

Notably, the company was featured in gb&dPRO, an award-winning magazine for sustainable building solutions. It was also recognized by Frost & Sullivan as 2022 North American Company of the Year for products that “empower customers to save costs, condense energy use, [and] amplify operational excellence.”

Surrey’s green building advantages

Alongside the robust network of eco-friendly companies and materials producers, Surrey has numerous advantages for companies looking to establish operations in the city. 

First, Surrey’s available office and industrial space provides opportunities to establish product development and large-scale manufacturing facilities in a central location. At 317.2 square kilometres, Surrey is the largest city in Metro Vancouver and has 18 percent of the region's industrial lands, of which 32 percent is undeveloped or vacant.

Second, Surrey’s rapid growth and the demand for green construction is a major driver behind current opportunities. Moreover, the existing green building ecosystem enables collaboration and streamlines stakeholder engagement. 

Surrey’s vibrant green building and sustainability subsector doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Despite the challenges created by industry demands and governmental pressures, Surrey companies continue to lead the charge through innovative products and solutions.