Wavefront’s Director Appointed to Green Building Institute Expert Panel

Green Building Initiative (GBI), a leading non-profit organization promoting sustainable building, has assembled an expert panel to review and update its standards for green building certification. Janis Fedorowick, principal of Wavefront Planning and Design, is honoured to have been appointed as one of 14 experts on the Existing Buildings - Site / Materials Subcommittee. Janis is contributing her knowledge of green building construction standards and policy formulation to the continuous maintenance and improvement of ANSI/GBI 02-2023, the Green Globes Assessment Protocol for Existing Buildings

As a panel expert, Janis plays a key role in:

• Assessing and refining green building policies to ensure they remain innovative, effective and reflect current building trends.

• Identifying best practices for sustainable materials and site development in existing buildings.

• Enhancing the Green Globes certification program by incorporating the latest research and technological advancements in sustainability.

• Collaborating with fellow experts to create policies that support climate resilience and long-term sustainability goals and can be applied worldwide.

A Recognized Leader in Sustainable Development

Janis’ appointment to GBI is a testament to her extensive contributions to sustainable planning and design. With over 30 years of experience as a registered landscape architect and urban planner, she has led high-impact projects that integrate climate change adaptation and green building strategies. Her work on national building codes in the South Pacific and sustainability planning in Canada demonstrates her ability to create practical, results-driven sustainability policies.

Key Contributions:

Wavefront has a long history of creating building standards and regulations to reduce the carbon footprint and promote sustainable development:

• National Building Code of Samoa (2017): A 350-page update incorporating climate change adaptation and sustainable design principles.  This innovative regulatory framework won a 2017 Award of Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Planners.

• Fiji National Building Code (2024): A 578-page document that includes progressive energy efficiency policies, enabling a 30% reduction in energy consumption through green building techniques without extensive calculations.

• Saskatoon Park Development Standards (2024):  A110-page city-wide policy document using a Sustainability-First approach, and an innovative Sustainability Checklist for city staff and builders to ensure community plans, neighbourhoods, subdivisions and parks comply with green building standards.

Green Globes Certification and LEED

The Green Building Initiative was launched in the US in 2004 with the goal of providing a flexible, affordable and user-friendly alternative to LEED.  Aside from green building design details, GBI emphasizes third-party verification of materials and a working-relationship between the designer and assessor. 

While LEED is ideal for large, high-profile projects, GBI  works well for small to medium sized developments needing a streamlined certification. Choosing the right one depends on budget, project size, and sustainability goals.  Benefits are that Green Globes Certification demonstrates compliance with local sustainability regulations.

Green Globes Certification is recognized as an equivalent alternative to LEED in more than 20 US states and is recognized in Canada under the Canadian Green Building Council.