Two Toronto parking facilities are the first Parksmart certified projects in Canada under the Green Business Certification Canada’s sustainable parking certification system.
Oxford Properties’ Yorkdale Shopping Centre’s Parkade G achieved Parksmart certification at the Pioneer level and Yorkdale’s Parkade E achieved Parksmart Bronze. The parkades are also the first retail certifications in the world.
The sustainability measures that helped earn these certifications include:
• Rainwater collection through four cisterns in Parkade G and one in Parkade E, with a capacity of 60,000 litres and 749,000 litres respectively, used for irrigation of the centre’s landscaping and green roofs, and to power wash the garage;
• Grey water from a 30,000-litre tank in Parkade E that is repurposed for toilets and urinals in the public washrooms of Yorkdale’s East expansion;
Energy-saving programmable lighting with occupancy sensors and exterior photocell lighting.
• A complimentary tire inflation station at each parkade that can be used by both drivers and cyclists;
Four electric vehicle charging stations for Parkade E and 10 for Parkade G.
For Oxford Properties Group, the Parksmart certification process for both projects has served to highlight opportunities to maximize and modernize parking assets, ensure strong returns on investment, and provide an enhanced parking experience for mall patrons.
Parksmart certification recognizes parking structures that reduce their environmental impact, increase their energy efficiency and performance, manage parking spaces efficiently, and increase their energy efficiency and performance.
