Burnaby, where I live, recently moved to bi-weekly garbage collection, which has made me realize how much of our household garbage is plastics – not a comforting observation for anyone trying to live more sustainably. So what do 
municipal services have in common with heritage? Lots, especially when you discover that oil-based products are key components in the BC building code’s new energy efficiency requirements. I’m glad the code includes allowances for alternate solutions when renovating heritage homes, but since, for many people, retaining heritage character and value is interlinked with sustainability, there are definitely some new challenges in achieving current standards of energy use.