NRCan opens new round of ISO 50001 incentives

A new round of funding is available to underwrite adoption of the ISO 50001 energy management systems standard in commercial and institutional buildings. Up to $40,000 per building or $200,000 per portfolio is on offer to help cover the implementation costs of procedures and some supporting technologies required to comply with and/or achieve certification under the voluntary international standard.

Owners and operators of commercial and institutional buildings, industry associations, provincial/territorial and municipal governments, utilities and Indigenous organizations can apply for the funding, which Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is administering. To participate, buildings must be registered in the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking program.

The ISO 50001 standard is a framework for continuous improvement that requires organizations to identify a baseline starting point and commit to a process for improving energy performance with rigorous monitoring to ensure compliance. Prospective adopters are encouraged to use the free navigational guidance available through NRCan’s website.

The incentive covers up to 60 per cent of eligible costs for private companies and up to 75 per cent of eligible costs for not-for-profit organizations and agencies to the maximum funding level. That may include: staff time spent working on the project; training, licensing and contracting/consulting fees; and the purchase of instrumentation, software or metering. However, the funding does not apply for the installation of instrumentation, software or metering, or any other capital project related to improving energy performance.

Applications will be evaluated for energy saving potential, project feasibility and adherence with the stated requirements for a complete proposal. Based on this criteria, NRCan will approve applicants in descending order from the highest achieved scores until the funding is fully allocated.

The application deadline is October 21, 2024. Approved projects must be completed by March 31, 2026.

Canadians convey most desirable home types

Many potential homebuyers are hoping for renovated single-family homes in the suburbs, despite steep prices and the abundance of condos, suggests a new survey from digital real estate platform Wahi.

Wahi polled Canadians nationwide to see what kind of home they’d most like to purchase, from property type and location to size and condition. The data was collected online in May 2024, among 1,501 members of the Angus Reid Forum. Respondents were aged 18 and up and stated they may or probably will buy a home in the next five years.

Across the country, the single-family home was most desired, with 64 per cent of potential homebuyers opting for this property type, which includes detached and semi-detached properties but excludes townhomes. Potential homebuyers also preferred larger, renovated homes (64 per cent) — three bedrooms was the leading choice (43 per cent) — and properties located in suburban (38 per cent) or urban (34 per cent) neighbourhoods rather than rural (28 per cent) communities.

These latest results also varied by province and demographic group.

Although nearly two-thirds of respondents across Canada chose a single-family home as their preferred property, B.C. had the smallest share of respondents (52 per cent) who want such a property. This is likely attributed to the high cost of housing in B.C.

Quebec also has affordability challenges in urban centres, thus a lower share of respondents who favour single-family homes at 60 per cent.

“Canadian cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto all have great urban cores with lots to do, so some potential homebuyers may also choose condos to be closer to the action,” added Wahi CEO Benjy Katchen.

Meanwhile, respondents from more affordable provinces showed a stronger preference for single-family homes, led by Saskatchewan/Manitoba (82 per cent), Atlantic Canada (77 per cent), and Alberta (72 per cent).

Turning to demographics, potential homebuyers aged 18 to 34 most preferred a single-family home at 67 per cent. Not far behind were respondents aged 35-54 at 66 per cent. Half of people aged 55 and up, some of whom may be planning to downsize, desire their next home to be a single-family dwelling.

Suburban versus urban

Suburban interest was high, but urban demand isn’t abating. Atlantic Canada was the only region where the majority of respondents wanted to live in a rural setting (58 per cent). Wahi points out that a high share of Atlantic Canadians already dwell in rural communities. While just one in five Canadians reside in rural areas, the share increases to 50 per cent in Atlantic Canada.

For those 18 to 34, the suburbs and the city were preferable to the country. The same was true among the 35-to-54 cohort with 40 per cent selecting the suburbs, 36 per cent liking an urban area, and 25 per cent opting for a rural area.

Fixer-upper, tear-down, or renovated home

Most Canadians want a renovated property (64 per cent). Nearly one quarter (23 per cent) would like a fixer-upper, and 2 per cent desire a full tear-down. Another 12 per cent were undecided.

Older Canadians over 55 years old said they would opt out of home improvements when house hunting in place of renovated homes (74 per cent) than their younger peers.

Housing starts down in August by 22%

The annual pace of housing starts in August dropped 22 per cent compared to July.
The national housing agency said the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts for August was 217,405 units, down from 279,804 units in July.

Meanwhile, actual housing starts are currently 5 per cent higher this year. In Canada’s urban centres with a population of 10,000 or greater, there were 149,922 actual housing starts between January and August, compared to 143,229 for the same period in 2023.

“Growth in actual year-to-date housing starts has been driven by both higher multi-unit and single-detached units in Alberta, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces,” CMHC’s Chief Economist Bob Dugan. “By contrast, year-to-date starts in Ontario and British Columbia have decreased across all housing types. As the housing shortage continues, higher levels of construction are needed to restore affordability in Canada’s urban centres.”

The monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of total urban housing starts was 24 per cent lower. Multi-unit urban starts dipped by 29 per cent (154,290 units), while single-detached urban starts increased 3 per cent (45,188 units).

By location, on a year-to-date basis, actual starts are up 39 per cent in Montreal, showing some recovery from historically low new home construction in 2023.

In Vancouver, actual starts are down 20 per cent compared to 2023, which was a record high last year. In Toronto, actual starts are down 14 per cent from 2023, which was also a high year by historical standards.

Stuart Lake Hospital project nears completion

The new Stuart Lake Hospital replacement project in Fort St. James is expected to be substantially complete on Oct. 8, 2024. The facility will replace the outdated hospital, combining primary, acute and long-term care in one location. It will house 27 beds, with 18 long-term care and nine acute care beds.

“With the substantial completion of the facility, people will be one step closer to an expanded emergency department, improved diagnostic imaging services and better access to primary care in their community,” said Minister of Health Adrian Dix. “This investment will also provide health-care professionals with the space and technology they need to provide more cutting-edge care. Reaching this significant milestone will ensure people in the North have access to the care they need close to home, now and well into the future.”

The new facility will be three times larger than the current hospital with an expanded emergency department with two treatment rooms, a trauma bay and an ambulance bay. In addition, a larger laboratory and diagnostic imaging (X-ray) and palliative-care spaces will benefit patients and staff.

The primary-care centre within the facility will be integrated with the hospital and long-term care services. Primary-care services will include physicians, visiting specialists, substance-use supports, public health, and home and community care.

Patients will start receiving care in the new facility when it opens in January 2025. Demolition of the current hospital is anticipated to begin early in 2025, with full completion of the project expected in September 2025.

The new Stuart Lake Hospital replacement project is Infrastructure B.C.’s first progressive design-build contract, and the hospital is being constructed for the Northern Health Authority by Graham Construction.

The total capital cost of the project is $158.3 million, funded by the province through Northern Health, and an $18.4-million contribution from the Stuart-Nechako Regional Hospital District.

BC Retrofit Accelerator targets decarbonization

The Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) has launched the BC Retrofit Accelerator (BCRA), a three-year $20 million program aimed at kick-starting climate and energy upgrades across hundreds of the province’s commercial and residential buildings.

With funding from Natural Resources Canada, the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, Metro Vancouver, ZEIC, and others contributors, the BCRA will provide hands-on guidance to the owners and managers of larger commercial and residential properties—including strata-owned, rental, non-market, and off-reserve Indigenous housing.

Over the next three years, the BCRA aims to deliver decarbonization plans for 500 large existing buildings, each showing a path to zero emissions by 2050 aligned with major capital renewals.

The program will provide expert coaching for all stages of a retrofit project: such as identifying technology and financing options and support through procurement and implementation. By navigating building owners and managers through the upgrade process, the BCRA aims to spark deep energy retrofits—including the installation of heat pumps or distributed renewable energy systems—in 125 larger properties across the province.

“The climate is changing, and the buildings that we live, work, and play in need to change too. By timing cost-effective energy and climate upgrades with regular building renewals, property owners and managers can deliver healthier, more comfortable homes and workplaces while advancing climate action. It just makes sense,” said ZEIC executive director Melina Scholefield.

Many property owners and managers, including strata councils, want to upgrade and decarbonize their buildings by transitioning to all-electric heating, cooling, ventilation, or water heating. But they grapple with a range of barriers, including low awareness, complexity, and challenges in sourcing financing. This comes at a time where the need for cooling has become a priority due to intensifying heat waves and degraded air quality.

Data centres draw investment interest

Surging need for connectivity has positioned data centres to be favoured investment assets into the future. A vast injection of new supply — which has already expanded the megawatt (MW) capacity of the six leading North American markets by about 20 per cent during the past year — is still projected to lag a rising load from the Internet of things, 5G and data hives, underpinning burgeoning technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the smart electricity grid and autonomous vehicles.

“The data centre sector is experiencing all-time highs in demand,” Sean Coughlan, JLL’s global head of capital markets research and strategy, reported during an August webinar to explore global commercial real estate trends. “We’re seeing the demand-supply imbalance actually becoming even more pronounced, and we believe there is runway for strong growth.”

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) appears to agree. Earlier this month, it announced its commitment to acquire a 12 per cent interest in the Australian data centre operator, AirTrunk, a company valued at approximately CAD $22 billion. That follows after Fengate Asset Management’s $1.8 billion investment to increase its equity stake and expand hyperscale facilities at eStruxture Data Centers, announced in June this year, and a 2023 joint move by Brookfield Infrastructure and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan to became co-controlling shareholders in Compass Datacenters LLC.

On the hosting side of the equation, Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation, Nate Glubish, has just wrapped up a trip to California to promote his province’s suitability for hyperscale infrastructure. A representative from the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) accompanied him on the mission to help make the case to major technology companies and cloud service providers.

“Our competitive advantages around electricity, water, telecommunications and regulatory framework are unmatched in Canada and North America,” Glubish asserted before his September 17 departure.

In a recent look at commercial real estate from a credit risk perspective, Brenda Lum, managing director of North American corporate real estate ratings with Morningstar DBRS, highlighted a spurt of data centre transactions as evidence of real estate stakeholders’ improved enthusiasm compared to 2023. Since January, the agency has rated seven such deals (six in the United States and one in the United Kingdom) collectively worth about USD $4.1 billion (CAD $5.5 billion), spiking up from USD $5.8 billion (CAD $7.9 billion) in total data centre transactions over the previous three years.

“There’s so much happening in the data centre space right now and for years to come, given the demand,” Lum said during a webinar earlier this month.

Her colleague, Michael Vidmar, vice president, North American real estate adjacent ratings, sketched out some of the details. Average asking rents have jumped by 13 to 37 per cent in larger U.S. markets with a concentration of hyperscale facilities, which accommodate thousands of servers representing upwards of 100 MW of power demand, while the vacancy rate had fallen to a record low 3 per cent across the total market as the second quarter closed out this year.

Data centre developers have told Morningstar DBRS analysts that about 80 per cent of the space under construction is pre-leased, and that climbs to nearly 100 per cent of in-progress hyperscale sites. Pending completions in major markets are roughly equivalent to 44 per cent of the existing data centre space. Along with traditional hubs like North Virginia, Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago, Atlanta and the Las Vegas-Reno corridor are identified as rapidly expanding markets.

“Despite historical levels of development in this space, demand continues to exceed supply,” Vidmar said.

Nor is the incoming supply a straightforward gain. Rapidly evolving technology and customer needs are pushing some smaller facilities with lower power capacity into obsolescence. Land availability, tax competitiveness, power prices and power availability are all seen as instrumental to luring new development, while power, cooling and space design are key to ongoing viability.

That increasingly means higher-density power racks coupled with cooling systems to adequately support and safeguard that heightened draw on electricity. Notably, cooling loads typically equating to about 40 per cent of the total energy expenditure have a large impact on operational costs.

“We’re closely monitoring whether these new inventories are replacing existing data centres or supplementing them,” Vidman affirmed. “We’re seeing potentially older vintage, lower-powered co-location centres that are unable to scale up power or implement more efficient cooling systems as a higher credit risk in the near term.”

Musing on promising asset classes earlier this year, in conjunction with the release of the 2023 annual results of the REALPAC/MSCI Canada Property Index, Mark Rose, chief executive officer of Avison Young, reiterated that 2019 would have been an opportune time to invest in data centres.

“We were making that argument five years ago and Canadian fund managers said: No, that’s pioneering,” he recalled. “Everybody would have made a fortune because that’s where the market is going.”

However, market analysts aren’t framing it as a fleeting opportunity. Rather, it’s seen as a prime niche for acumen and deep pockets.

“Data centres require highly specialized operational knowledge and significant amounts of capital investment, both upfront and ongoing,” Vidmar submitted. “Going forward, we’ll continue to monitor such critical infrastructure investment and the ability of data centres to address these three things: power, cooling and design demands over the long term and beyond.”

MST Nations launch attainable housing initiative at Heather Lands

About 2,600 condo units being built at the Heather Lands in Vancouver will be sold at 60 per cent market value, with the province of B.C. covering the other 40 per cent of the cost. This will make it easier for thousands of first-time buyers to purchase their first home. The attainable housing Initiative was announced as a joint financing partnership between the province of B.C. and the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) (MST) Nations.

Heather Lands is a 21-acre site located between West 33rd Avenue and West 37th Avenue at Heather Street. The Initiative was proposed by the MST Nations as a meaningful way for the Nations to harness economic, cultural and social benefits from their land holdings by strategically partnering with other levels of government.

“Ten years ago, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh signed groundbreaking agreements that led to our Nations working together to regain ownership of several properties within our shared territories,” said xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Chief Wayne Sparrow. “This relationship has evolved, and we are proud to collectively introduce this new initiative that will ease the housing crisis faced by our members and the general public.”

The initiative will allow for studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom 99-year strata leasehold homes to be initially purchased and financed by middle-income earners at below-market prices through a 60/40 purchase financing arrangement.

The partnership will include MST Nations providing the land and the government of B.C. contributing up to $672 million, which is expected to be repaid by purchasers to the province under the initiative. The province will reinvest returned funds into future provincial programs, which may include housing.

“This new MST collaboration is an innovative and distinctly Indigenous approach to development, that will make home ownership significantly more accessible to those who live in our shared territories,” said Sxwixwtn, Wilson Williams, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw spokesperson and council member. “We are proud that the MST Nations can offer a unique solution to the affordable housing crisis now facing Vancouver.”

Since 2014, the Heather Lands site has been part of a joint venture between the MST Nations and Canada Lands Company, a self-financing, federal Crown corporation specializing in real estate and development. A comprehensive planning program of the site began in 2016, jointly overseen with the City of Vancouver’s planning department.

“As the host First Nations within Vancouver, we have always welcomed people to our shared territories, and in our culture being a good host matters,” said səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) Chief Jen Thomas. “This initiative is our way of aligning our cultural values of caring for all the people that choose to live in our territories, while also delivering economic benefits to our communities and the next seven generations. We are all in this together and I think this is the start of something very special.”

Under the plan, prospective buyers could be able to register and confirm their eligibility as early as spring 2025. First-time homebuyers and people who do not own any property will be prioritized.

“First Nations are important partners in tackling some of the biggest issues of our time, from climate change to housing, and Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations are showing real leadership through the Heather Lands housing development,” added Murray Rankin, minister of indigenous relations and reconciliation. Not only will this benefit people of British Columbia and Vancouver, but it also creates a space for Indigenous art, architecture and design in Vancouver’s landscape, creating healthy communities and economic opportunities where we can all feel the benefits now and in the future.”

Hines celebrates opening of luxury rental property in Calgary

Global real estate investment manager Hines has celebrated the completion of its Park Central master plan with the grand opening of Two Park Central, a luxury high-rise located in the Beltline neighbourhood of Calgary. The 405,590-square-foot building features 531 upscale rental apartments across 40 storeys.

In 2020, Hines completed One Park Central, a 368,216-square-foot luxury rental tower, and now manages approximately 1,300 residential units in Calgary, both within its own portfolio and on behalf of third-party entities.

“The completion of Two Park Central further builds upon the nearly 20-year legacy that Hines has cultivated in Calgary,” said Avi Tesciuba, Co-Country Head for Hines Canada. “One and Two Park Central set the standard for rental living in Canada through our best-in-class amenity programming and property management platform. This project exhibits not only our capability to deliver in-demand, well-curated luxury residential product to this market, but also our commitment to the community in creating a dedicated space for local, celebrated artists to thoughtfully present engaging artwork that will inspire residents for years to come.”

The Park Central master plan includes space for artwork to be showcased along the elevated breezeway connecting the two residences. As part of the opening ceremony on September 19, Hines unveiled two pieces of art by award-winning Canadian artists Ron Moppett and Katie Ohe.

Moppett, one of Canada’s leading contemporary painters, is a recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Gershon Iskowitz Prize, The Alberta Centennial Medal, and the Board of Governors Alumni Award of Excellence. His latest work for Two Park Central, entitled “BIRDHAT/STARTREE,” is an animated 15-colour polychrome sculpture standing 3.5 meters.

Ohe is a renowned Canadian sculptor and an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, having exhibited extensively throughout Canada and internationally. She was awarded the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Award, the province’s most prestigious artistic award. Her newest work for the building, “Three Tree,” is a 3.5-meter-tall, kinetic steel sculpture.

In addition to the art, Two Park Central includes a host of on-site amenities and 5,100 square feet of street-level retail space intended for several prominent local food and beverage tenants. A variety of retail and dining options also exist within the immediate vicinity of the towers.

Visit www.hines.com for more information.

Stantec selected to design long-term care homes

Stantec has been selected by Island Health as the prime consultant leading architecture, engineering, and sustainable design services for three new long-term care (LTC) homes.

Located in Colwood, Nanaimo/Lantzville, and Campbell River, the new LTCs will provide more than 750 long-term care beds and bring more timely and accessible care to Vancouver Island residents.

The British Columbia government has committed approximately C$2 billion to expand and improve quality care for seniors, including investments in primary care, home health, long-term care, and assisted living.

“The growing need for extended care is a priority for the province, and this collection of long-term care homes will make a genuine difference for patients and caregivers, as well as their care experience,” said Stefan Schulson, principal architect at Stantec. “We are proud to be creating a sense of home and community for residents and their families for years to come.”

The functional design elements will be consistent at all three sites; however, each building design will respond to the unique site conditions, locations, and environments within each long-term care home. A safe, fully accessible, homelike environment will support person-centered care.

Local First Nations and other project partners are being actively engaged throughout the design process to develop building elements that embody the values of each community.

The new LTC homes will bring 765 new beds to the region with each care home offering a hospice unit, childcare spaces, and a special population unit for younger adults who require long-term care. Adult day programs will provide well-being and health services for seniors or those experiencing challenges related to a traumatic brain injury, mental health, or substance use issues. Residents can also access hairdressing salons, activity and special event spaces, therapy services, and bistros to promote independent living opportunities.

The emerging threat of biofilms

Healthcare facilities are particularly vulnerable to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and biofilms that form in drains and sinks are an often-underestimated threat. In a Master Class webinar presented by The Infection Prevention Strategy (TIPS), experts Dan Mueller and John Lell shed light on the growing threat of biofilms in healthcare and discuss innovative solutions to deal with this problem.

Understanding biofilms and their impact

Biofilms are micro-organism communities that bind to surfaces and protect themselves through a “sticky matrix,” which renders them extremely resistant to conventional cleaning methods and disinfectants. This resistance to chemicals and to immune system attacks allows them to survive and thrive in hostile environments, such as hospital drains.

Biofilms can harbour dreaded pathogens like Pseudomonas and Candida auris, making infections much harder to treat. Once a pathogen becomes embedded in a biofilm, its resistance to antibiotics can increase exponentially, some as much as 1,000-fold. For instance, Staphylococcus epidermidis, which is normally susceptible to vancomycin, becomes antibiotic-resistant when protected by a biofilm.

Biofilms in hospital drains: a hidden danger

Hospital sink drains, which are often located in high-traffic areas, provide an ideal breeding ground for biofilms. These reservoirs of bacteria and other micro-organisms provide prime conditions for their proliferation, given the constant humidity and available nutrients from organic waste. A study by the American Society for Microbiology documented the ability of biofilms to form and grow in pipes, facilitating the transport of pathogenic bacteria through hospital plumbing systems.

Bacteria in these biofilms can travel up the pipes at a rate of 2.5 cm per day, progressively contaminating sinks and surrounding surfaces. This migration introduces pathogens into sensitive clinical areas, significantly increasing the risk of transmitting HAIs. Indeed, an article published by Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology revealed that surface contamination around sinks by pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii is frequent and directly contributes to the spread of infections.

In addition to their ability to move through pipes, biofilms are extremely resistant to conventional disinfectants. The protective matrix in which microorganisms breed shields them from cleaning chemicals commonly used in healthcare facilities. This increased resistance poses a significant challenge for healthcare professionals fighting HAIs. Studies have shown that bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus are often found in these biofilms and can survive multiple disinfection cycles.

Consequently, the persistent presence of biofilms in hospital drains calls for specific interventions to eliminate them. Innovative solutions, such as enzyme-based cleaners or high-pressure steam disinfection technologies are emerging to identify, treat, and eliminate biofilms in any healthcare facility, where they pose a constant threat to patient health.

Breaking new ground in biofilm control

Because the exopolysaccharide matrix (EPS) protecting these microorganisms makes them particularly difficult to remove, controlling biofilms requires much more sophisticated methods than simple conventional cleaning.

Among innovative solutions, the use of chemical agents that can penetrate the protective matrix of biofilms, such as enzymes and targeted-action disinfectants, has shown promising results. These agents break the polysaccharide bonds of the matrix, facilitating access to hidden bacteria for effective eradication. A study published by the American Society for Microbiology highlights how these products can significantly reduce the resistance of biofilms to antimicrobials by disrupting the protective structure of the biofilm.

Other solutions involve mechanical methods, such as ultrasonic debriding technologies or high-pressure water jets, which help to physically detach biofilms from contaminated surfaces. Additionally, the integration of monitoring sensors into hospital infrastructures enables biofilm formation to be detected and Environmental Service (EVS) workers to be alerted at an early stage to prevent their proliferation. Innovations like these are crucial to containing the spread of resistant pathogens in hospitals.

The threat of biofilms in hospitals is real and growing. A proactive multidisciplinary approach, combining chemistry, mechanics, and intelligent monitoring, represents the future of biofilm management, reducing HAIs and improving the safety of hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Nathalie Thibault is a certified microbiologist with a master’s degree in immunology, Nathalie specializes in infection prevention. She is also the Training Director at ValkarTech, recognized for the quality of her training courses on proper and safe housekeeping practices.

References:

American Society for Microbiology. The Role of Bacterial Biofilms in Antimicrobial Resistance. March 2021. Available at: https://asm.org/Articles/2021/March/The-Role-of-Bacterial-Biofilms-in-Antimicrobial-Resistance
Cambridge Core. Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Colonization and Infection Secondary to Imperfect Intensive Care Unit Room Design. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/outbreak-of-multidrugresistant-pseudomonas-aeruginosa-colonization-and-infection-secondary-to-imperfect-intensive-care-unit-room-design/40FE235C1B26E7B248209D4598D22BD5
MDPI. Microbial Biofilm: A Review on Formation, Infection, Antibiotic Resistance, Control Measures, and Innovative Treatment. Microorganisms. June 2023. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/6/1614
Cambridge Core. Why Do Susceptible Bacteria Become Resistant to Infection Control Measures? A Pseudomonas Biofilm Example. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/why-do-susceptible-bacteria-become-resistant-to-infection-control-measures-a-pseudomonas-biofilm-example/12492724

FortisBC doubles funding for energy efficient homes

FortisBC is doubling the funding available for B.C. builders looking to to build net-zero ready homes.

FortisBC worked closely with builders and developers to understand how best to build both fully electric and integrated gas-electric homes to Step 4 and 5, the highest levels of the BC Energy Step Code.

The company has revamped its New Home Program to better support builders with new construction projects, including $15,000 or more to build to Step 4 and $20,000 or more to meet Step 5, which is a net-zero ready home.

The program was revamped after working with builders across B.C.’s diverse climate zones. The builders provided FortisBC with lessons on the flexibility, support and funding needed to help design and build high-efficiency new homes in more affordable, practical ways, including net-zero ready homes. Each builder worked within the unique requirements of their project and took different approaches to meet higher levels of the BC Energy Step Code

“The province needs new energy-efficient homes to support the growing population as well as meet longer-term climate action goals,” said Danielle Wensink, director of conservation and energy management at FortisBC. “We believe that when builders have options, it can help us work towards these goals collectively while also giving customers a choice in energy options for their homes. Offering rebates on new construction projects gives builders flexibility on how to approach their projects, especially in different climates, while still building higher-efficiency homes.”

A key lesson from working with builders was that having access to both the gas and electricity systems provided the most choice and flexibility in achieving the higher levels of the BC Energy Step Code.

“A focus on high-performance design while maintaining access to both energy systems provided builders with the most options in how they design and build new homes,” said Wensink. “We believe this approach helps fill a critical gap for energy-efficient new homes while achieving higher levels of the BC Energy Step Code.”

Upskilling your worth in facility management

As facility managers, we all want to feel valued, find opportunities for advancement and showcase our worth. Believing in your potential is foundational for upskilling, which is the process of acquiring new technical and soft skills that are essential for staying competitive and adapting to changing job demands.

Lifelong learning bolsters careers and contributes to personal fulfillment. Staying up-to-date with the latest trends offers a competitive edge and prepares for future obstacles. Contributing new knowledge and ideas in your daily work and interactions with internal and external stakeholders and the c-suite is imperative to showcase your capabilities. Doing so will help build a reputation that attracts opportunities and respect within your company.

A self-development plan aimed at achieving personal goals is essential. Outline your strengths and weaknesses to improve areas that will bring you more recognition and new challenges. Be honest with yourself and acknowledge what may need extra attention.

Here are some key focus areas to help gain more recognition:

Communication: Do you have strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders? Openly communicate with your team and foster a workspace where everyone wants to work collaboratively and their work is recognized.

Influence: Are you able to influence and create buy-in with the c-suite and all internal and external stakeholders?

Leadership and team management: Do you have the capacity to lead teams and motivate others to drive initiatives forward in a collaborative way toward common goals?

Collaboration and sharing: By sharing knowledge, mentoring, collaborating, and recognizing others, you build a reputation that attracts opportunities and respect.

Continuous learning and adaptability: How efficiently can you adapt to new technologies, changes in regulations, and evolving best practices for the company?

Problem-solving: In order to make improvements in your facility’s operations, do you identify issues, develop solutions, and have the analytical skills to implement these solutions?

Customer service and stakeholder engagement: Do you clearly understand what is needed to enhance satisfaction and retention and anticipate evolving needs?

Negotiation: Have you developed strong skills to negotiate contracts, manage vendor relationships, and achieve cost-effective solutions?

Time management: Can you efficiently manage multiple projects and tasks all while being effective at prioritizing your organization’s goals and deadlines?

Conflict resolution: While not an easy task for many FMs, it is extremely important to address conflicts constructively, all while maintaining positive work relationships.

You can upskill your worth by truly understanding what you can offer besides technical knowledge. Not only will this enhance your career opportunities but also contribute significantly to the overall efficiency, sustainability and success of your organization and team. Continuous self-improvement will ensure that you remain a valuable asset in the dynamic field of facility management.

Marcia O’Connor is president of AM FM Consulting Group. She is a strategic-minded leader with more than 20-plus years of progressive experience in corporate real estate, asset management, and integrated facilities management. Marcia has a passion for mentoring young professionals and helping people, teams, and organizations see their potential. She is the lead instructor for the University of Toronto School of Continued Studies, Facility Management Certificate Program.

Cross Fraser Partnership awarded DEWA

Cross Fraser Partnership announced it has been awarded the design early works agreement (DEWA) of the Fraser River Tunnel Project (FRTP) by the Province of British Columbia. This agreement signals the start of the development phase, which allows for a transparent and collaborative approach to tunnel design, project schedule, costs and risks.

Cross Fraser Partnership is an equal-parts consortium of leading Canadian and international construction and engineering firms with a track record in delivering complex infrastructure projects: Pomerleau BC Inc., Bouygues Construction Canada Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd. (FCC), supported by design and engineering consultant Arcadis Canada Inc.

Cross Fraser Partnership recognizes the significance of FRTP to British Columbians in connecting communities, enabling goods movement, supporting active transportation and improving transit options for the thousands of people who rely on this crossing every day. The state-of-the-art, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel will incorporate advanced engineering solutions and sustainable construction practices, reflecting the consortium’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.

FRTP is a key component of the broader Highway 99 Tunnel Program and the Province’s broader transportation strategy. The project will improve travel times and reliability, increase connections across the South Arm of the Fraser River and support economic growth in the region.

The new crossing will be an eight-lane immersed tube tunnel with three general-purpose lanes and a dedicated transit lane in each direction. The new tunnel will also feature a separate multi-use path to support pedestrians, cyclists and other active transportation options. The project also includes replacing the existing Deas Slough Bridge and the Highway 99 upgrades between Westminster Highway in Richmond and Ladner Trunk Road in Delta.

Ontario acts on washroom cleaning schedules

Employers and landlords with tenants whose workplaces are regulated under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act could soon be required to publicly report the cleaning schedule for the washrooms those workers use. Legislation to enable the new rule is now progressing toward adoption, and the provincial government is seeking comments on the scope of information to be revealed and the potential costs and implications for washroom providers.

As proposed in Bill 190, a package of changes and updates to provincial labour and employment laws, employers in designated sectors would have to report how frequently staff washrooms are cleaned. That would include construction projects, industrial establishments, mines, health care, educational and recreational facilities and hospitality venues.

A consultation paper posted on the Ontario’s regulatory registry proposes that this information could either be posted in a conspicuous place within or near the washroom facilities or in an easily accessible electronic format. Posted information would cite the day and time of the two most recent cleaning sessions so that washroom patrons can gauge how regularly cleaning occurs.

“The employer or constructor may need to collaborate with other parties (such as owners, landlords or building management) to ensure that records of washroom cleaning are posted,” the consultation paper acknowledges. However, the proposed regulation would not apply to hospitality workers in rented space in food courts, retail stores or kiosks in malls where retail staff use public washrooms primarily intended for public patrons.

The new rules would be set out in a stand-alone regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Respondents to the consultation are invited to estimate the potential financial impact to comply with this requirement and the time it might take to set up a reporting system on cleaning frequency if one does not already exist.

The proposed legislation would make the designated employers responsible for ensuring staff washrooms are “maintained in a clean and sanitary condition” but does not impose a standard for the frequency of cleaning. However, the consultation paper solicits opinions on whether such a standard is necessary and what the appropriate frequency should be.

The consultation is open until October 18.

Crackdown on environmental claims queried

A regulatory crackdown on unproven or misleading environmental claims is causing uncertainty for some businesses selling their products and services in the Canadian market. A coalition of 25 industry associations has responded to the Competition Bureau’s consultation on new greenwashing provisions that were enacted through amendments to the Competition Act earlier this year.

The legislation now states that organizations or individuals may be subject to Competition Bureau review if they do not have adequate proof to back up claims about a product or service’s environmental benefits or contribution to reducing or reversing the causes and effects of climate change. The Bureau is seeking input on the enforcement of those provisions and interpretation of the key concepts:

“adequate and proper test”; and
“adequate and proper substantiation in accordance with internationally recognized methodology”;

Resource-based organizations are prominent among the 25 organizations making the joint statement, including seven related to fossil fuels, five related to agriculture and food or forestry, and two related to mining. Major manufacturers and materials (cement, steel, aluminum) producers are also represented. As well, signatories include the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of British Columbia.

Their submission to the consultation maintains there has been no clear guidance since the Competition Bureau first raised the issue in an advisory to industry and advertisers in the fall of 2021. They also question the “novel terminology” in the new amendments that calls for adherence with internationally recognized methodology in establishing proof of claims — arguing that there is currently no single set of international standards and that a range of methodologies that have been recognized by credible government and research bodies should be acceptable.

“The definition should recognize that scientific methodologies can be contested and so evidence should not be discredited simply because it faces scholarly debate, or if other methodologies produce different results, or if they were not published recently,” the industry submission states. “Addressing large environmental issues like climate change requires significant innovation. Communication regarding that innovation should not be stifled by a narrow list of acceptable methodologies.”

The associations are also wary of the reverse onus that requires parties under Competition Bureau review to prove the validity of their environmental claims. They suggest this could potentially be subverted to harass or undermine accused parties, and call for diligent screening of the complaints process to guard against abuse.

“The reverse onus creates an incentive for private parties to make claims with little risk to themselves if their complaints are deemed baseless as they do not have to prove those claims are substantive in any way aside from being “in the public interest”. This could create significant costs and reputational risk, especially for Canada’s small and medium enterprises who cannot afford costly litigation,” the submission states.

Ontario opens new round of emergency preparedness grants

Communities and organizations across Ontario are encouraged to apply for a second round of funding that focuses on emergency preparedness for natural disasters and other events.

The community emergency preparedness grant totals $5 million for the 2024-25 term and is geared to support municipalities and organizations with essential resources, equipment and training to better prepare for natural disasters and emergencies. Last year, the funding helped 113 recipients.

This next round will be tailored to each recipient’s unique needs and can be used for purchasing equipment such as generators, sandbagging machines, thermal imaging drones and radio systems. It can also be directed towards emergency management training and awareness initiatives.

Applications are open until October 31, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET. Eligible applicants must be located in Ontario and include:

Small- and medium-sized municipalities (with populations under 100,000 people);
Local services boards established under the Northern Services Board Act;
First Nations communities, Tribal Councils and Indigenous service organizations that support emergency management programming in First Nations communities;
Non-governmental organizations with an emergency preparedness mandate or responsibility;
Non-governmental organizations that provide fire protection services to communities; and
Non-municipal fire departments or entities providing fire protection services as defined in the Fire Protection and Prevention Act in unincorporated Ontario.

Low-carbon industrial centre nears completion in Halifax

Low-carbon energy building design has been a major focus of a new 400,000-square-foot industrial centre that is nearing completion in Halifax.

The Bayers Lake Industrial Centre will feature a thermally efficient load-bearing tilt-up building system with increased roof insulation and vertical loading docks, a solar PV system, centralized in-floor heating, heat recovery ventilation, and provision for natural light into the warehouse space coupled with efficient sensor-controlled LED lighting.

Once complete, it will be in compliance with the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Design Standard.

Skyline Industrial REIT, Bayers Lake Industrial Centre’s owner and manager, celebrated the development progress at a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, with project partners CBRE Atlantic Canada, CIBC, Lindsay Construction, Secure Capital, East Port Properties, and Nicola Institutional Realty Advisors.

“Bayers Lake Industrial Centre represents a milestone for warehouse design,” said David Ogden, founding partner of Secure Capital. “The facility stands as a testament to what can be achieved when sustainability, efficiency, and resilience are at the forefront of the development process.”

The facility is located within one of Atlantic Canada’s largest business parks, next door to several of Halifax’s fastest growing communities and close to the city’s container terminals with transportation links.

“Skyline Industrial REIT sees significant growth potential in the Halifax industrial real estate market and is proud to be delivering efficient, sustainable, first-class industrial space in a city that is integral to Canada’s global trade,” said Mike Bonneveld, president of Skyline Industrial REIT.

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