Carbon Planning: Implementing Low C Communities
9:30am - 10:20am
Workshop Session A
This workshop helps developers, planners, and professionals with tools and resources to address embodied and operational carbon goals in planning future communities. Renewable energy integration, building standards, and community layouts will be progressively analyzed through city, community, and site scales to help attendees identify opportunities and policy objectives to create low carbon community plans within our current legislative framework. Much of the workshop will focus on setting appropriate policy regimes, efficiency strategies, and design parameters for low carbon and energy efficient communities. Participants are encouraged to participate in discussions to develop actionable roadmaps suitable for implementation in real applications.
Piyaruwan (Piya) Perera, PhD, P.Eng.
Civil Engineer | Low-Carbon & Affordable Housing Specialist
Dr. Piyaruwan Perera is a licensed civil engineer with over 10 years of experience in sustainable construction, climate-resilient buildings, and affordable housing solutions. As Principal Investigator at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), he leads applied research initiatives that support low-emission, equitable housing strategies across Canada. Piya’s expertise spans tiered energy code adoption, Low-carbon housing and mobility, life cycle-based material selection, and housing affordability. He has worked extensively with municipal and industry stakeholders, including the City of Calgary, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, and industry practitioners, developing tools and frameworks that inform both policy and practice. He has secured over $1 million in funding and delivered innovative project outcomes that help communities navigate the intersection of energy efficiency, cost, and social equity in housing. Piya holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Alberta and British Columbia. His work has been recognized through multiple academic awards and is widely cited in peer-reviewed publications. He is committed to advancing practical, scalable solutions that make sustainable housing more accessible to all.