The University of British Columbia (UBC) recently celebrated the opening of its Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS), a living laboratory for researchers to teach, test, and study the long-term impact of sustainable practices and technologies. Featuring advanced building controls, sensing technology, and management software from Honeywell, CIRS will serve as a leading academic hub to test and advance sustainable technologies before broader implementation, and operate as a center for green building policymakers to establish future standards. CIRS is one of only a handful of buildings worldwide that will provide "net positive" benefits to the environment. It reduces UBC's carbon emissions, powers itself and a neighboring building with renewable and waste energy, and provides water for inhabitants with rainwater treated onsite.