2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the launch of Canadian content in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio

Natural Resources Canada

Developed and released in 2000 by the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is the industry standard for benchmarking and comparing energy use, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and water and waste consumption in large buildings. Free to use in a secure online platform, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is a valuable management tool that can help building owners and managers identify underperforming buildings, set investment priorities, and verify efficiency improvements and savings.

Responding to demand from users for Canadian building data and features, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the EPA entered into a cooperative agreement in 2011 to develop Canadian content for ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Officially launched in 2013, the Canadian adaptation of the tool includes multiple features specifically geared towards Canada, including Canadian site and source energy, Canadian GHG emissions factors, weather data, metric units, a bilingual user interface, and the ENERGY STAR^® score rating system for Canadian buildings.

Ten years on, the US and Canadian collaboration on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager ensures the tool remains relevant to users on both sides of the border.

What data has been collected over the past 10 years?

In Canada, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is widely used by government, industry, and professionals to deliver on energy savings and sustainability initiatives. All data collected is made possible thanks to users of the tool, primarily the real estate management industry, who see the value in adopting benchmarking as a strategy to improve building energy performance.

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager offers users a comprehensive suite of over 100 metrics to track and assess building performance. The most common building types in Canada, such as offices, retail spaces, supermarkets, warehouses, and multi-use residential buildings, are eligible for the 1-100 ENERGY STAR score to assess energy use relative to similar buildings. Users can tailor their experience by incorporating custom use details and intensity metrics, to align with organizational priorities.

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is not just a tool for individual building or portfolio assessment. The data captured contributes to the broader understanding of Canada’s building sector and is used by provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to shape sub-national policies and strategies that can help Canada meet its climate targets. To support these efforts, NRCan publishes energy benchmarking snapshots of data and trend analyses of buildings registered in the tool and, upon request, provides aggregated building data to these users and the public. Work is underway to enhance the ability for users to obtain and query aggregate data from ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

NRCan is proud of its collaboration with the EPA on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and improving energy efficiency in buildings is crucial to help Canada and the US meet their climate targets.

What have we learned from the past decade?

It’s been an incredible decade of growth for Canadian content and representation in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. In 2013, there were over 4,000 Canadian buildings captured in the tool, equivalent to approximately 0.8% of the commercial and institutional building floor space in Canada. As of 2023, there are over 42,000 buildings, equivalent to approximately 40% of the commercial and institutional building floor space in Canada. This underscores the pivotal role that ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager plays in meeting the demand for robust energy management solutions throughout Canada.

A growing number of jurisdictions and organizations are adopting benchmarking, labelling, and disclosure and building performance standards (BPS) programs. ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is the cornerstone of many of these, offering a unified platform for users to gather, report, and share data, or to be recognized for superior energy performance through ENERGY STAR certification. Further, many utilities have integrated ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager web services into their offerings to upload utility data securely and automatically into the tool.

As user needs evolve, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is about to undergo a significant upgrade to refresh the user interface, enhance current functionality, and add new features. Some measures include expanded functionality to track energy use and GHG emissions, and new functionality to track progress on BPS targets. These improvements will help organizations to reduce their energy use, achieve cost savings, and increase competitiveness.

How can you join us in celebrating 10 years of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager?

This summer we launched our 10th anniversary Recognition Challenge, a one-time recognition initiative for all organizations that certify 5, 10, or 25 buildings for the 2023 certification year. Recognized organizations and buildings will be celebrated on a new NRCan webpage and recipients will receive recognition materials to use in their communications.

We are also about to launch a recognition initiative to acknowledge individuals, teams, and organizations pivotal to the success of the Canadian adaptation of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. The 10th anniversary is a fitting occasion to celebrate the significant contributions that have played a vital role in the success of the program.

More activities and recognitions are planned throughout the year, so please check our website and ENERGY STAR social media channels. To learn more, visit: https://natural-resources.canada.ca

2023 marque le dixième anniversaire du lancement du contenu canadien de l’outil ENERGY STAR^® Portfolio Manager^®.

Ressources naturelles Canada

Conçu et diffusé en 2000 par l’Environmental Protection Agency des États-Unis (EPA), ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager est une norme de l’industrie en matière d’analyse comparative de la consommation énergétique, des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES), de la consommation d’eau et de la production de déchets des grands bâtiments. D’utilisation gratuite et sécuritaire, cette plate-forme en ligne est un outil de gestion fort utile qui permet aux propriétaires et aux gestionnaires de bâtiments d’identifier les bâtiments de moindre rendement, d’établir les priorités en matière d’investissement et de suivre les améliorations et les économies écoénergétiques.

Afin de répondre aux demandes des utilisateurs de données et de fonctionnalités canadiennes, Ressources naturelles Canada (RNCan) et l’EPA ont conclu une entente de collaboration en 2011 pour concevoir le contenu canadien de l’outil ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Lancé officiellement en 2013, l’adaptation de l’outil comprend plusieurs fonctionnalités spécialement conçues pour le Canada comme le site canadien et les sources d’énergie, les facteurs canadiens d’émissions de GES, les données météo, les unités métriques, une interface bilingue et le système de cotation ENERGY STAR^® pour les bâtiments canadiens.

Dix ans plus tard, les États-Unis et le Canada collaborent toujours pour s’assurer que l’outil ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager demeure pertinent pour les utilisateurs des deux côtés de la frontière.

Quelles données ont été collectées au cours des 10 dernières années?

Au Canada, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager est largement utilisé par le gouvernement, l’industrie et les professionnels pour mettre en œuvre des initiatives d’économie d’énergie et de développement durable. Toutes les données collectées sont rendues possibles grâce aux utilisateurs de l’outil, principalement le secteur de la gestion immobilière, qui voient l’intérêt d’adopter l’analyse comparative comme stratégie d’amélioration du rendement énergétique des bâtiments.

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager offre aux utilisateurs une gamme complète de plus de 100 mesures pour suivre et évaluer le rendement des bâtiments. Les types de bâtiment les plus courants au Canada, comme les bureaux, les espaces de vente au détail, les supermarchés, les entrepôts et les immeubles résidentiels polyvalents, sont admissibles aux cotes de rendement ENERGY STAR de 1-100 pour comparer la consommation d’énergie par rapport à celle de bâtiments similaires. Les utilisateurs peuvent personnaliser leur expérience en intégrant des détails personnalisés sur l’utilisation et des mesures d’intensité pour s’harmoniser aux priorités de l’organisation.

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager n’est pas seulement un outil d’évaluation de bâtiments ou de portefeuilles individuels. Les données saisies contribuent à une meilleure compréhension du secteur du bâtiment canadien et sont utilisées par les gouvernements provinciaux, territoriaux et les administrations municipales pour façonner les politiques et les stratégies nationales qui peuvent aider le Canada à atteindre ses objectifs climatiques. Pour soutenir ces efforts, RNCan publie des aperçus des données de l’analyse comparative énergétique des bâtiments enregistrés dans l’outil et, sur demande, fournit des données agrégées sur les bâtiments à ses utilisateurs et au public. Des travaux sont en cours pour améliorer la capacité des utilisateurs à obtenir des données et à faire des recherches dans ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

RNCan est fier de sa collaboration avec l’EPA en ce qui concerne ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Améliorer l’efficacité énergétique des bâtiments est essentiel pour aider le Canada et les États-Unis à atteindre leurs objectifs climatiques.

Qu’est-ce que nous avons appris au cours de la dernière décennie?

La dernière décennie fut incroyable pour la croissance du contenu et la représentation canadienne d’ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. En 2013, plus de 4 000 bâtiments canadiens ont été pris en compte dans l’outil, ce qui équivaut à environ 0,8 % de la superficie des bâtiments commerciaux et institutionnels au Canada. En 2023, il y avait plus de 42 000 bâtiments, ce qui équivaut à environ 40 % de la superficie des bâtiments commerciaux et institutionnels au Canada. Cela souligne le rôle central que joue ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager pour répondre à la demande de solutions robustes de gestion de l’énergie partout au Canada.

Un nombre croissant d’instances et d’organisations adoptent des programmes d’analyse comparative, d’étiquetage, de divulgation et d’élaboration de normes de rendement. ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager est la pierre angulaire de bon nombre d’entre eux, offrant une plate-forme unifiée permettant aux utilisateurs de collecter, de rapporter et d’échanger des données, ou d’être reconnus pour leur rendement énergétique supérieur grâce à la certification ENERGY STAR. De plus, de nombreux services publics ont intégré les services Web d’ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager dans leurs offres pour télécharger les données des services publics de manière sécurisée et automatique dans l’outil.

Comme les besoins des utilisateurs évoluent, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager est sur le point de subir une mise à niveau importante pour actualiser l’interface utilisateur, améliorer les fonctionnalités actuelles et en ajouter de nouvelles, comme le suivi de la consommation d’énergie et des émissions de GES, ainsi que de nouvelles fonctionnalités pour suivre les progrès vers les objectifs de norme de rendement. Ces améliorations aideront les organisations à réduire leur consommation d’énergie, à réaliser des économies et à accroître leur compétitivité.

Comment se joindre à nous pour célébrer les dix ans d’ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager?

Cet été, nous avons lancé notre Défi de reconnaissance du 10^e anniversaire, une initiative de reconnaissance unique pour toutes les organisations qui certifient 5, 10 ou 25 bâtiments pour l’année de certification 2023. Les organisations et les bâtiments reconnus seront célébrés sur une nouvelle page Web de RNCan et les récipiendaires recevront du matériel de reconnaissance à utiliser dans leurs communications.

Nous sommes également sur le point de lancer une initiative de reconnaissance pour les individus, les équipes et les organisations qui ont joué un rôle essentiel dans le succès de l’adaptation canadienne d’ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Le 10e anniversaire est l’occasion idéale pour célébrer les contributions importantes qui ont joué un rôle essentiel dans le succès du programme.

D’autres activités et reconnaissances sont prévues tout au long de l’année, alors veuillez consulter notre site Web et nos réseaux sociaux ENERGY STAR. Pour en savoir plus, visitez: https://ressources-naturelles.canada.ca

2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the launch of Canadian content in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®.

Natural Resources Canada

Ten years on, the US and Canadian collaboration on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager ensures the tool remains relevant to users on both sides of the border.

What data has been collected over the past 10 years?

NRCan is proud of its collaboration with the EPA on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and improving energy efficiency in buildings is crucial to help Canada and the US meet their climate targets.

What have we learned from the past decade?

How can you join us in celebrating 10 years of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager?

More activities and recognitions are planned throughout the year, so please check our website and ENERGY STAR social media channels. To learn more, visit: https://natural-resources.canada.ca

2023 marque le dixième anniversaire du lancement du contenu canadien de l’outil ENERGY STAR^® Portfolio Manager^®.

Ressources naturelles Canada

Quelles données ont été collectées au cours des 10 dernières années?

Qu’est-ce que nous avons appris au cours de la dernière décennie?

Comment se joindre à nous pour célébrer les dix ans d’ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager?

Van Buren leaving CCA

Mary Van Buren, president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), has announced that she will be leaving the association in the spring of 2024.

As the first female president in the association’s more than century long history, she has guided CCA into a new era that is digital first and inclusive. Her focus on modernization was critical in CCA’s ability to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, while advocating on behalf of the industry and continuing to deliver member value in the face of a global crisis.

Under her leadership, CCA has developed an expanded focus on innovation and best practices, and is currently piloting a digital contract service which will roll out in early 2024.

One of the most significant achievements of her tenure has been the review of CCA’s governance model, and the restructuring that allowed the association to be more nimble in addressing member issues. Working closely with the board of directors as well as the Governance and Nominating Committee, Van Buren’s commitment to governance effectiveness has seen the consistent evolution of the model and has resulted in a Governance Award from the Governance Professionals of Canada in 2023.

While her impact on the association is evident, her unwavering commitment to engagement stands as the bedrock of her success at CCA. Through her steadfast dedication to collaboration, she has strengthened the relationship with CCA’s 62 partner associations and developed new strategic partnerships that have not only delivered more value to CCA’s 18,000 member firms but also elevated the profile for the national construction industry.

“The construction industry is essential to Canada’s economic success and quality of life, yet it doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. I am so proud to have brought more attention to an industry that has such a profound impact on our country and affects positive change in our communities every day,” says Van Buren.

Bridges completed on Coquihalla Highway

The B.C. government announced that permanent repairs to Coquihalla Highway 5 are complete after it was washed out during unprecedented flooding two years ago.

“Climate-resilient highways are crucial for British Columbia. The province has improved infrastructure to handle more frequent extreme-weather events in the future,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming.

The repaired highway features six new climate-resilient bridges built in place of the ones that were lost in November 2021. The six bridge spans located at three different locations have been rebuilt to handle extreme weather. The new permanent bridges are now finished at Bottletop Bridge, 50 kilometres south of Merritt, and Jessica Bridge, 20 kilometres north of Hope. The bridges at Juliet, 53 kilometres south of Merritt, were completed earlier this year.

Ryan Tones, district manager for Kiewit, said: “The ability to successfully complete this work ahead of schedule is a testament to the experience and expertise of the skilled workers, construction professionals and design engineers in British Columbia. The emergency and permanent repairs to the Coquihalla Highway demonstrate the benefits of alliance-contracting models and the challenges we can overcome when working together. We are grateful for the guidance we’ve received from local First Nation communities throughout the process and to have helped make a key transportation corridor more resilient for years to come.”

The new bridges are built to withstand high water levels by using deep-pile footings and longer spans. Large rock protection has been added to protect the bridges from erosion and scour. Trees, shrubs and grasses have been planted to encourage stream-side re-vegetation and support overall restoration of aquatic and land habitat.

Repairs to highways damaged in the floods are progressing well across southwestern B.C. In addition to the completion of the full rebuild of Highway 5, two of the three bridge replacements on Highway 1 are underway at Nicomen and Falls Creek. Design of the third bridge replacement at Tank hill is underway with construction expected to start next year. The ministry is working with local First Nation communities to fully re-build Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge. On Vancouver Island, permanent repairs are complete at the Tunnel Hill section of the Malahat that was washed out by flooding.

Unintended consequences in capital repair planning

Capital repair planning in the condominium market is a crucial aspect of maintaining and improving aging buildings. However, it is essential to recognize that decisions made in this process can have unintended consequences.

Although our buildings are aging, the condominium market in Ontario is still young. We are learning valuable lessons together as the oldest condos go through their full building renewal cycles.

A condominium manager who had read an article I wrote about the impact of inflation on repair projects recently asked why no one is writing articles about creative repair strategies that could potentially shelter corporations from the larger cost of full-scale replacements.

It’s not that condominium corporations shouldn’t look at alternatives when faced with projects they can’t afford, but there is a risk of unintended consequences.

Pipe lining is one example that comes to mind. For many years pipe lining was an attractive lower-cost solution to full riser replacement, and as a bonus the project was less disruptive to residents. More recently, many of these liners have failed, creating a need to replace water piping on an urgent basis. Not only has the original cost of the project sunk, but the condo must now find the money for a project they didn’t see coming so soon.

When we look at windows, retrofit projects can be good short-term alternatives, but they don’t reset the savings clock towards the larger, more expensive, full window replacement. In the meantime, economic pressures are making these projects less and less affordable every year because they are inflating at a much greater pace than consumer price inflation and the average salary.

Another thing to think about is deferring future projects in reserve fund studies. If a project isn’t going to happen for a very long time, is there harm in pushing it a year or two, or phasing it unreasonably to keep the fees lower today? Many of our aging condos are now suffering because of these past decisions, trying to live with drafty old windows and aging interior finishes because the condominium corporation delayed saving for their replacements.

Here’s one that’s near to the hearts of reserve fund planners—phasing in increases to condo fees. The fact is that longer phase-in periods equal higher condo fees in the end. Longer top-up periods only delay necessary increases to condo fees. This is why most reserve fund planners will not accept top-up periods longer than three years as “adequate”.

A recent client of mine, chosen at random, illustrates this point. The condo’s current plan is to increase reserve fund contributions 45 per cent each year for the next three years, which amounts to $371 per unit per month total.

If instead they increased the contributions by 120 per cent in the first year, the increase required over the same three-year period would be reduced to $233 per unit per month. The longer you stretch out the required increase, the larger the gap gets. The desire to reduce the cost today is natural, but the unintended consequence is that it’s making it harder and harder in the future to catch up to the level of contribution required.

The unintended consequences are not always financial. There are issues associated with safety, liability, community standards, property values, project execution, and insurability to consider.

There is still an important point to be made here about due diligence. Condo corporations should absolutely explore information about their repair options, and there is no harm in exploring creative solutions.

If you are spending on behalf of your community, be sure that you are doing the right thing, and the only way to do that is to understand all potential solutions. But always make sure that part of the process is to consider both the short- and long-term impacts as part of the decision-making process.

A more in-depth discussion on the unintended consequences in capital repair planning will be discussed during a panel on reserve funds at the 2023 Condo Conference on November 17.

Lyndsey McNally is President of the Toronto & Area Chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute and Director of Condominium Finance at CWB Maximum Financial where she works exclusively with condominium corporations, property managers and other condominium stakeholders to develop and implement customized financing solutions. She is also a licensed condominium manager.

Ontario to wrest realty functions from agencies

The Ontario government is moving to wrest realty functions from 10 additional provincial agencies, including the administrator of the health care system, the manager of Algonquin park, major museums and convention centres. Newly introduced legislation follows measures taken earlier this year to centralize authority for real estate management within the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Under the Reducing Inefficiencies Act, which received royal assent in May 2023, but has not yet come into force, responsibility for land and building dealings can be transferred, by regulation, to the Minister’s authority. Initially, 14 provincial entities that primarily hold or occupy office were designated.

The proposed new legislation, Bill 151, the Improving Real Estate Management Act, is presented as a means to manage real estate more efficiently and cost-effectively and to give the provincial government more flexibility to sell surplus properties that could accommodate housing or long-term care facilities. The designated entities include:

Ontario Health
Public Health Ontario
Niagara Escarpment Commission
Ontario Science Centre
The Royal Ontario Museum
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation
Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation
Science North
Algonquin Forestry Authority

As proposed, a central government authority would assume control of properties from Ontario Health, Ontario Public Health, the Ontario Science Centre and the Niagara Escarpment Commission. Administrators of the museums, convention centres and Algonquin park would need to obtain government approval to acquire or dispose of freehold property.

“If passed, this legislation would create a more centralized approach to how government manages and makes decisions about real estate so that we can continue to build Ontario and deliver the services that families and individuals need,” says Kinga Surma, the Minister of Infrastructure.

Bill 151 is posted on Ontario’s regulatory registry for public comment until December 31, 2023.

Is your grass ready for winter?

Often, lawncare can become out-of-sight-out-of-mind for maintenance managers once the seasons change, but proper preparation means that it can save time and money on your spring groundskeeping by keeping your grass healthy through the winter.

Groundskeeping

Fall is a time where grass is actively growing, so you want to keep it as healthy as possible by lowering the cutting height, pulling weeds, and removing fallen leaves. These practices ensure that the grass gets the right amount of sunlight and is encouraged to soak up all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy over the winter. Leaving the weeds means that there’s a good chance they will return even stronger in the spring, so you want to make sure these are taken care of before the snow falls.

Dethatching is also a key step in getting your grass winter-ready, which involves removing a dense layer on top that can inhibit health and growth. Grass that is thinner than one inch can help protect the grass in the winter, so focus on dethatching the thicker layer instead.

Aerating

Aerating the lawn means creating holes throughout so that air, water, and nutrients can access the roots of the grass. Aerate on wet grass, so if there hasn’t been any rainfall lately, water the lawn for a few days to prepare it for aeration.

Schedule this process three to four weeks before winter dormancy for best results. If you overseeded towards the end of the summer, this process will enhance your overseeding efforts, leading to a fuller lawn over the winter and into the spring.

Encouraging spring growth

If you have had issues with snow mould in the past, you can apply a preventative fungicide on your lawn before the first snowfall to help avoid the black mould that can happen when heavy snow melts and does not dry.

In the winter, keep traffic off your lawn for winter so it can receive air, water, and nutrients while in dormancy. Keep salt, sand, and any other products from reaching your turf, which can cause damage and inhibit spring growth.

By taking these simple steps in the fall, you will help your grass look its best when the snow thaws, saving you time and money in the spring.

Montreal receives $925 million in funding via RCFi

Montreal is moving forward on the construction of 2,976 new purpose-built rental homes across twenty projects thanks to $925 million in funding from the federal government’s Rental Construction Financing Initiative (RCFi).

The announcement came November 16th at ‘Cite Nature Phase 5’, a high-rise apartment project located at 5150 boulevard de l’Assomption. Centrally located with several major attractions nearby—including Montréal Botanical Gardens Montréal Biodome, Olympic Stadium, and the l’Assomption Metro station—the new development is expected to be complete in the spring of 2025.

“We need to boost housing supply, this is why we are making strategic investments through programs like the Rental Construction Financing Initiative, to build much-needed rental units across the country,” said Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “All Canadians deserve a safe place to build and live their lives in, and we will ensure this becomes a reality.”

Canada’s construction of rental homes has not kept pace with the country’s growing cities and population, leading to a decline in the existing and aging rental stock for decades. The RCFi is one of several initiatives launched under the National Housing Strategy to address housing needs across Canada’s housing continuum; specifically, this fund provides fully repayable low-interest loans to encourage the construction of more purpose-built rental housing for middle income Canadians.

“Access to housing is a human right and is essential to one’s sense of dignity, safety, and inclusion,” added Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Laurier—Sainte-Marie The Government of Canada is committed to working with communities to meet the challenge of building more homes in Montréal. Through RCFi, our government is increasing the supply of new rental units by investing over $925 million to build nearly 3,000 units. These energy efficient and accessible homes will benefit middle class individuals and families and stimulate the local economy.”

To find out more about the RCFi and other programs under the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca

New $1B lithium battery plant coming to B.C.

Plans have been announced to build a $1 billion lithium-ion battery cell production facility in Maple Ridge, B.C.

The project is a partnership between E-One Moli and the governments of B.C. and Canada. The production facility will be Western Canada’s first high-performance lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facility, creating a new hub in the global battery component supply chain.

“As our province builds a stronger, cleaner economy, we open the door to immense opportunities in the private sector that value B.C. as a centre for innovation, investment and cutting-edge technology,” said Premier David Eby. “The new E-One Moli advanced manufacturing plant will create hundreds of good, local jobs and continue to establish B.C. as a leader in building a clean-energy future.”

The province’s investment leverages $970 million from the federal government, E-One Moli and private sources. The plant will produce the latest generation of high-performance lithium-ion battery cells found in a wide range of products, including consumer electronics, such as vacuums, power tools, garden trimmers and medical devices.

“British Columbians have long been known for their innovation in the clean-technology space. Today, as we secure a major clean battery manufacturing project in Maple Ridge, we build on that expertise to secure hundreds of middle-class jobs, while fighting climate change,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “The world is looking to Canada. When we support projects like E-One Moli’s new facility in Maple Ridge, we bolster Canada’s role as a global clean-tech leader, create good jobs and help keep our air clean.”

With the creation of 450 jobs, E-One Moli will become the largest private-sector employer in Maple Ridge.

Climate action levers key amid competing crises

Strategists are pondering the most effective climate action levers to keep attention focused on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as other events and pressures commandeer priority-setting agendas. The upcoming annual United Nations conference on climate change follows a year when extreme weather took various forms to slash a vast track of destruction and suffering around the globe, yet, there is a sense that many concerned onlookers do not retain the memory or the resolve to guard against the next time once such events are in the past.

In the buildings sector, proactive sustainability proponents acknowledge that there are abundant competing interests as they pursue decarbonization and climate resilience. Speaking in conjunction with the online release of the 2023 GRESB global benchmark results for the ESG (environmental, social, governance) performance of commercial real estate portfolios, Darryl Neate, vice president, ESG, with REALPAC, reported that about one third of the association’s membership of prominent Canadian real estate companies, institutional investors and investment managers have set targets to achieve net-zero emissions.

He hypothesized that current “tough” market conditions — “declining NOI evaluations, increased financing costs, less available capital” — are one filter on the financial lens, but that longer term climate risk is also an important factor. The number-crunchers are considering the annual escalating cost of carbon (in $15 increments to $170 per tonne by 2030) versus the cost to reduce 1 tonne of carbon emissions on a per square foot basis.

“That’s an important metric. I think the CFOs are going to continue putting pressure on: What are the cost curves of net-zero carbon assets? What’s the return profile? How are we going to deploy our capital in the most efficient manner going forward to decarbonize our portfolios?” Neate maintained. “It’s about value and returns more than ever.”

Publicly listed companies are also watching for moves from Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States. Both entities have indicated that rules are forthcoming to mandate disclosure of climate-related information, including a tally of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, but those have not yet been enacted.

Alternatively, on the carrot side of climate action levers, a variety of federal and provincial/territorial incentives are on offer. Joining the GRESB results presentation as a representative of one of three benchmark participants to be highlighted as “examples of innovation and action”, Kit Milnes, vice president, sustainability and resilience, with KingSett Capital, cited his company’s partnership agreement with Canada Infrastructure Bank to fund deep retrofits in its portfolio.

“Without external financing assistance, all this would be made much harder so I would highly recommend to any and all of you to understand what programs exist in your market so that you can get some assistance and help on executing these very complex strategies at the asset level,” he advised.

Physical risks could galvanize consensus-building

Physical climate risks were literally burned into the Canadian psyche in 2023 during a wildfire season that saw nearly 185,000 square kilometres of forest alight, hundreds of thousands of nearby residents forced to flee and smoke migrate thousands of kilometres southward. That follows Hurricane Fiona’s wallop to Atlantic Canada in the fall of 2022, and comes along with a rash of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and flooding. A recent REALPAC poll found that almost 50 per cent of members had experienced operational impacts related to a severe weather event.

“It is turning people’s attention to: What are we learning? What are we experiencing? And what do we need to do differently?” Neate affirmed.

Looking to the broader population and an often fractious debate over the costs and benefits of curbing dependence on fossil fuels, physical risk is identified as a potential prompt for consensus-building that could be divorced from political gamesmanship.

“When you talk about climate change as a health issue, it helps to depoliticize the issue and it helps to bring people on board,” says Dr. Lisa Patel, executive director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, which brings together 46 national medical societies that collectively represent about 700,000 physicians in the United States.

Speaking during a recent online presentation sponsored by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), she focused on two galvanizing climate-related health risks: heat and pollutants from wildfires. Both made plenty of headlines in the summer of 2023, bringing immediate detrimental health impacts and potential long-term repercussions.

Infants, particularly in the first week of life, pregnant women and the elderly are considered most physiologically vulnerable to heat, but other circumstances, such as inadequate access to cooling or strenuous outdoor activity, heighten risk generally. Healthy adults can typically tolerate temperatures up to about 46 Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) if they are at rest, wearing light clothing, drinking water and there is minimal humidity — criteria that were difficult to meet for those who had to be outdoors during prolonged and intense heat waves this summer.

Patel cited the example of Phoenix, where people fainted due to the heat and then sustained burns when they contacted the pavement. Beyond such acute injuries, there is also a risk of chronic kidney damage from repeated exposure to high heat.

Meanwhile, the fine particulate in wildfire smoke can be a trigger for lung conditions like asthma and bronchitis. “We breathe those in and it produces, essentially, an inflammatory cascade,” Patel explained.

Emerging research shows that wildfire smoke can be dramatically more harmful to children than other common air pollutants. Fine particulates can also cross the placenta to fetuses in utero. “Before they even take a first breath, they are exposed to that pollution,” she affirmed.

It’s all evidence offered up as a counterbalance to what she sees as “blowback” on ESG and a resistance to climate change action that is rooted in political and cultural polarization.

“Health is the silver bullet — the winning argument. It is especially resonant with conservative audiences,” Patel maintained.

ESG efforts can ripple down the value chain

Quaiser Parvez, chief executive officer of India’s Nucleus Office Parks, agreed that health is a top priority for building users. Joining the GRESB results presentation to outline the philosophy of operating the world’s largest WELL-rated portfolio (at 20 million square feet), he charted a rising emphasis on indoor air quality since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is in tandem with growing public interest in waste management and reducing GHG emissions. That’s translating into discernible “green premiums and brown discounts” for office space providers.

“We have started getting questioned by our occupiers on our net-zero plans,” Parvez reported. “Increasingly, our occupiers are rising to the fact that 30 per cent of the global carbon emissions come from buildings and they would like to join the movement one way or the other.”

Representing the third company featured in the GRESB presentation, Lilia Kouzmina, head of sustainability with Eastnine AB, based in Sweden, talked about her company’s role in incubating proptech through a multi-sector acceleration bootcamp it organized, then drew analogies to the spinoffs that ESG efforts can engender.

“Think about what we all do every day when we engage with our suppliers, collecting, for example, material emission data. Every inquiry from our side generates multiple inquiries down the value chain, introducing more and more people to sustainability concepts, creating collective impacts,” she said. “Let’s remind ourselves about the ripple effect that we create every day by going after our vision. Our impact is not limited to the scope of our operations or the size of our business, but can go beyond those boundaries to our ability to touch and move others with our vision and determination.”

Cultivating safe schools

Schools across the country have changed over the past two years. Canadian perception was such that violence and crime were troubling issues taking place in the United States, but there are more frequent incidents of bullying and victimization, violent activity, crime, and theft in Canada’s own schools.

To cultivate a safe and welcoming environment, schools require a student and staff safety framework, as well as support for successful daily management and operations to keep everyone on the grounds safe and secure.

Process visitors at a single point

School building officials can focus their attention on many areas, but one of the first to consider is that a campus has a secure single point of entry, with the necessary processes and equipment.

Visitors and parents can receive screening, information, and permission to enter the school all from one specific location on campus. This location could be the front door or a main entrance, which is easily observed and supervised by a staff member.

The chosen entry point should be easily seen and labelled with signage, which clearly outlines the next steps necessary for each visitor. This signage should, for example, direct visitors to the nearest staff member who can sign the visitor in.

Cultivating safety through visitor management

On a given day, there are numerous situations where visitors must enter the facility, whether for maintenance work, events, or student pick-ups outside of normal hours.

Regardless of who they are, they should never be able to enter the building without stating their identity and the purpose of their visit. This information should be verified before entry is granted, for the safety of students and staff, and for adherence to fire regulations.

In the case of unwanted intruders, a gated entry is recommended to prevent people from entering at will. Keeping an audit trail to record who entered the grounds, their stated purpose, and the duration of their stay is important for security review purposes.

Naturally, visitor management strategies vary from school to school depending on the age of the student body and the physical layout of the campus. Even with these differences, there exists applicable technology for every step of the way. The visitor management process should, at minimum, incorporate the following procedures:

1. An easily identifiable and distinguishable main entrance close to the main office which accepts and screens visitors. This should be easily accessible for visitors on foot and marked well enough to be seen from the building’s parking lot.

2. All doors are to be locked until access is granted.

3. The main entrance must house a method of communication between visitors and building security staff.

4. Once a visitor has communicated with building security, building staff must decide whether to grant access to the visitor. All staff should be routinely trained regarding the visitor screening process and provided with a clear outline of who is allowed into the building and for what purpose. In the case that the visitor is approved for entry, the communication device should also control the lock on the door, permitting the visitor to enter after they are provided with instructions to make their way to the main office.

5. When the visitor has arrived at the main office, they should be presented with a proper sign-in procedure. All visitors must provide their name, identification, and the purpose of their visit. This information, along with the time of their visit, should be recorded.

6. Visitor badges must be distributed with instructions to wear them in clear vision. The visitor should also be instructed on where exactly in the building they should be, based on the stated purpose of their visit.

Simplifying visitor management

The best way to manage an entrance, which needs to be locked but also easily accessible to approved visitors, is through the integration of an intercom system.

A single button, which is accurately labelled and grants the visitor a direct line of communication to an available staff member, streamlines the process of screening visitors and creates a safer environment for everyone involved.

An intercom with a video feed allows staff members to hear and see the person attempting to gain access, which further improves the security of the building.

There are several integrated network solutions that can complement the visitor management process and work with existing security systems. IP intercoms, for example, represent a cost-effective method, which combines video and audio communications and seamlessly integrates into existing access control systems or can function as its own access control system. Buildings with existing video management software (VMS) can also work with these intercoms to save records of interactions for future review.

IP-based solutions provide several advantages over traditional hardwired options. Visitors can be screened from anywhere in the school, as staff can answer calls from a host of network devices such as computers, IP phones, mobile devices, or dedicated answering units. Because of this, staff members can ensure
the main entrance is consistently monitored without having to always be at a single desk.

Flexible access control

All school facilities can be outfitted with modern access control systems to limit entry to certain people at certain times of the day.

If a door is propped open, modern access control systems can detect this and issue an alarm or alert building security staff. Some companies offer systems that can integrate with intercom devices and video surveillance systems to maximize convenience and security.

Some systems offer embedded analytics and detection software, which can identify suspicious activity such as loitering and alert school staff remotely.

Modern, integrated solutions allow school security staff to proactively protect their staff and students, while also streamlining operations through automated entry permissions protocols.

Perimeter protection of school grounds

Outdoor perimeter surveillance and protection is essential. This can be used to detect moving persons and moving vehicles without discriminating between vehicle types. Applications for perimeter surveillance and protection reinforce the single point of entry and physical access controls to provide school facility managers and staff with an effective edge-based system where security should start, and that is at the perimeter of the school site.

Nathan Drew is a national sales manager with Axis Communications Canada. Nathan is a surveillance and security leader with several years of demonstrated success leading remote sales teams, consulting, and integration.

Use your winter generator safely

Winter is coming, and with extreme weather, electricity outages can result in costly work stoppages at your facility. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is reminding business owners and maintenance managers to prioritize safety when using a generator this winter.

“Not having power when you need it is frustrating, so a generator can provide emergency backup power at a reasonable cost,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI. “It’s important to follow all manufacturer’s instructions, and never place a generator in your garage or inside your building. It should be a safe distance from the structure and not near an air intake.”

OPEI has provided a list of tips for facility and maintenance managers to help increase safe use throughout the winter:

Take stock of your generator. Assess your equipment to make sure it’s in good working order before the bad weather comes.
Review the directions. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions and review the owner’s manuals (look manuals up online if you cannot find them) so equipment is operated safely.
Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector. This alarm will sound if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide enter the building, keeping your team and visitors safe.
Have the right fuel on hand. Use the type of fuel recommended by the generator manufacturer to protect your investment. It’s best to use fresh fuel, but if you are using fuel that has been sitting in a gas can for more than 30 days, add fuel stabilizer to it, and store gas only in an approved container and away from heat sources.
Ensure portable generators have plenty of ventilation. Generators should never be used in an enclosed area or placed inside a building or a garage, even if the windows or doors are open. Place the generator outside and away from windows, doors, and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to drift indoors.
Keep the generator dry. Do not use a generator in wet conditions, and cover and vent it to keep it protected. Model-specific tents or generator covers can be found online for purchase and at home centers and hardware stores.
Only add fuel to a cool generator. Before refueling, turn the generator off and let it cool down.
Charge and use battery-powered generators or inverters properly. Recharge your equipment only with the charger specified by the manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one type of battery pack may not be compatible with another battery pack. Follow all charging instructions and do not charge the battery pack or equipment outside the temperature range specified in the instructions. Charging improperly or at temperatures outside the specified range may damage the battery.
Plug in safely. If you don’t have a transfer switch, you can use the outlets on the generator. It’s best to plug in appliances directly to the generator. If you must use an extension cord, it should be heavy-duty and designed for outdoor use. It should be rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads. Make sure the cord is free of cuts, and the plug has all three prongs.
Install a transfer switch. A transfer switch connects the generator to the circuit panel and lets you power hardwired appliances. Most transfer switches also help avoid overload by displaying wattage usage levels.
Do not use the generator to “backfeed” power into your building’s electrical system. Trying to power your building by “backfeeding” – where you plug the generator into a wall outlet – is dangerous. Backfeeding bypasses built-in circuit protection devices, so you could damage your electronics or start an electrical fire.

Keep your building and its occupants safe through the winter with proper generator use, storage, and maintenance.

Photo courtesy of Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI).

New Ontario legislation supports injured workers

The Ontario government is introducing legislation that would, if passed, support injured workers by enabling “super indexing” increases to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits above the annual rate of inflation.

For an injured worker who earns $70,000 a year, a two per cent increase could mean an additional $900 annually on top of cost-of-living adjustments, which were 6.5 per cent in 2023. The current number of worker and survivor WSIB claims that are indexed to inflation each year is 134,000.

The government also intends to bring forth a regulation under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 that would add poisonings by chlorine, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide to the list of presumed occupational diseases, making it easier and faster for workers in certain occupations to obtain compensation from the WSIB.

In October, the province launched an Occupational Illness Leadership Table, which will include some of the province’s foremost voices on occupational illness.

To help workers dealing with a critical illness, the government will be launching consultations on a new, job-protected leave to match the length of federal Employment Insurance sickness benefits, which is 26 weeks. A job-protected leave could ensure employees who receive a diagnosis of cancer or other diseases will have the peace of mind that their job will be waiting for them while they seek treatment.

“Ontarians should be able to focus on their cancer treatment without worrying about what it means for their job or how their family will pay their bills,” said Hillary Buchan-Terrell, Advocacy Manager for the Canadian Cancer Society. “We look forward to engaging with the government during this consultation to ensure the perspectives and concerns of cancer patients in Ontario are heard.”

Reimagining health and wellness

The Vivo for Healthier Generations facility, located in the northwest community of Country Hills in Calgary, is reimagining health and wellness and challenging the notion of a traditional recreation centre.

With an emphasis on supporting physical, social and emotional health, the facility offers better access to inclusive and accessible spaces and programs for healthy living.

“The project’s completion is a testament to the power of rethinking spaces to be more flexible, encouraging purposeful flow and engaging the outdoors,” says Marion LaRue, Dialog partner. “We are incredibly proud to bring residents and visitors to Calgary the benefits of a renewed gathering and activity space that, in its essence, is a place for everyone.”

Dialog rooted the vision for the project in a community co-design process, aiming to address key needs like maximizing a connection to nature and spontaneous play; increasing environments for holistic wellness, and building community resiliency – all with thoughtful design interventions.

The new and renovated space, expanded to 269,000 square feet, unites all ages, abilities, and cultures in stronger physical, social, and emotional health. This includes making sure the centre was rooted in inclusivity. The indoor park, market plaza, community garden, hub, youth areas, community courtyard and preschool are all meant to connect with different audiences. The facility also houses Calgary’s first ever indoor park, slated for LEED Gold certification.

Aligning with the facility’s mission to expand opportunity for unstructured play and spontaneous activity, the most innovative aspect of Vivo is the indoor park – a literal moving space complete with all the physical and social activities one would participate in outdoors – allowing for continuous use in all seasons.

The facility also features a new six-lane, 4,878 square foot pool, fitness centre with dedicated studios, research lab, yoga studios, tinkering lab, classroom, spa with European steam and sauna rooms, outdoor activity space and community rooms.

“This project will be a significant cultural addition to Calgary and a catalyst for change within the many communities that share the space of this city. The architecture at Vivo promotes a greater understanding of our potential for wellbeing. In the end, this will be a gift for all of us,” says lead designer Robert Claiborne.

Completed in 2023, Dialog partnered with EllisDon Construction on the expansion of Vivo for Healthier Generations.

Funding for new Calgary office conversion project

Alston Properties and Slate Asset Management’s Dominion Centre housing project in Calgary will receive funding through the office-to-residential conversion program and the Downtown Retrofit Challenge. This newly-announced project will improve climate resiliency, reduce emissions and create 132 new homes – all critical priorities for Calgary’s Downtown. A minimum of 25 per cent of the units will be rented at affordable rates.

“Calgary’s office conversion programs remain one of our greatest successes and have become internationally recognized as the template for creating new homes in existing downtown office buildings,” says Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “It’s exciting to announce three projects today that are tackling office conversions in different ways – through climate resilient initiatives, by building much needed long-stay hotel rooms, and accelerating housing delivery.”

Additionally, the second phase of Aspen Properties’ Palliser One office-to-residential housing project has been approved for funding under the office to residential conversion program which will more than double its housing delivery by adding 395 homes to Calgary’s downtown.

“In the first two years of our office conversion programs, we’ve seen tremendous interest from the private sector in partnering on these transformational projects,” says Sheryl McMullen, manager of Investment & Marketing for Downtown Strategy. “We have 17 projects in our pipeline currently and are committed to working with other levels of government to secure funding to expand that number as we move into the new year.”

The PBA Group of Companies’ project at 833 4 Avenue S.W., which was originally approved as an office-to-residential conversion, is now revised as a hotel conversion. The approved project will convert the existing office building to a long-stay hotel offering 226 suites for tourists and business visitors in Calgary.

Together these three projects will in total remove approximately 675,000 square feet of surplus office space from Calgary’s Downtown Office market.

Dominion Centre, Palliser One, and Element by Westin Hotel are just three of 17 office conversion projects in the pipeline for Calgary.

Best Practices for Controlling Cockroaches in Multi-Residential Buildings

The German cockroach may only live for three or four months, but during that short time, a female will lay over 200 eggs and is capable of reproducing without a partner. Controlling cockroaches in residential buildings takes effort from landlords, exterminators and tenants. In pest control circles, treatments for German cockroaches rank high on the list.

When the weather turns colder, the cockroach radar in multi-residential properties goes up. Partnered with a plan for consistent pest control treatments, cleanliness on the part of the unit occupants is a vital part of the insect’s eradication.

“If the resident is rigid in cleaning their property that’s really going to help the issue,” says Shaw Haghgoo, CEO of Pest B Gone Canada Inc., who has learned a thing or two about cockroaches over the years he’s been in business. He explains that a pregnant female will look for nooks and crannies to lay her eggs. From there, the egg hatches and becomes an infant and then an adult.

Vacuuming can really help, but a big issue is that many residents only have mops.

“A lot of residents don’t want to vacuum because they don’t have carpets,” Haghgoo explains. “Cockroaches lay their eggs in corners and crevices, not in the middle of the floor. With a vacuum, you can get into the baseboards and corners.”

Once vacuumed up, the contents of the vacuum bag should be disposed of outside the unit before the collected eggs hatch. He suggests purchasing a bagless vacuum, if possible, and tightly sealing garbage bags before throwing them out completely.

“Some people don’t empty the garbage every day. These insects hatch in the garbage can and then crawl out.”

According to Haghgoo, a secondary issue is that frustrated residents run to pick-up do-it-yourself products which have a weaker active ingredient than the products available to licensed exterminators. “That actually counteracts what we’re doing,” he cautions, explaining that the use of such products leads pests to build up an immunity to the product making it more difficult to treat.

The exterminators themselves are responsible for carefully considering which chemicals are used to provide the most efficacy. “When we repeatedly use the same active ingredient, we create resistance. The exterminator has to maintain a logbook and consider what has been applied previously in the property, and how frequently it can be applied. Is it time to change to a product with a different active ingredient?”

Haghgoo says that the vehicles driven by the Pest B Gone exterminator team carry tanks containing different chemical groups, making it easy and quick for their staff to change up the product used.

“Manufacturers have given the active ingredients grouping numbers—there could be 10 different products in group 1, while group 2 uses different chemicals. Changing up the active ingredients is key with cockroaches.”

In apartment buildings, cockroaches travel along the plumbing lines making use of warm, moist areas.

“They use every type of tubing as their highway from one unit to another. If you’ve got a problem with cockroaches, it may not be your unit—it’s not necessarily the one next to you either.”

Haghgoo cautions that many people don’t understand the number of parasites and pathogens that cockroaches carry and how much of a health risk they pose.

“Every part of their body is contaminated,” he says. “They’re known for Salmonella and E. Coli, and they’re nocturnal, so while you’re sleeping, they’re out there feasting. They walk over utensils, pots and pans, and throughout your pantry.”

He stresses that a cockroach infestation should never be ignored. “It’s critical that the issue is addressed.” Cockroaches can also be brought in from a trip to the grocery store and have a particular fondness for hops and barley. “Cockroaches love beer. They are drawn to the spill from broken bottles at beer stores, and the dark boxes they can hide in. The German cockroach is the most common cockroach variety in Canada, and it likes to be near humidity, moisture and warmth.”

When approached by a building manager receiving complaints about the crawling insects, Pest B Gone will begin treatment, and then return in ten days to see the progress.

“When we start to see a lot of dead cockroaches, we’ve hit the right chemical,” Haghgoo says. “We make a note of what’s worked and that the same chemical is not to be used past that generation. Each cockroach can create six generations, so we do not want to use that same chemical on the second generation as it will create a resistance.”

If you have an issue with cockroaches, the first thing to do is reduce the amount of clutter that is kept in closets and cupboards. Transferring food to airtight containers can be very helpful, as is decluttering the pantry.

“If you have an over cluttered pantry, you can never monitor it. This is an area which should be vacuumed using the small nozzle on the vacuum cleaner and especially around where the pipes are going through the wall. Vacuum around your baseboards, and behind the fridge if you can reach there. Areas where we get a low volume hum—like the compressor on a refrigerator—are areas where we find more cockroaches.”

He warns that it’s rare to find “just one” cockroach. For severe infestations, Pest B Gone uses a ‘fogging’ method which can reach all areas of an apartment, but still won’t kill cockroach eggs.

“Our pesticides are designed to kill the insects, but during the egg stage they are safe,” he explains. “As soon as they hatch, they want to eat. If there’s bait waiting for them, we’re going to get it under control.”

There is one final warning for building owners and managers: mice love cockroaches, says Haghgoo.

“In buildings that are heavily infested with cockroaches, mice multiply just as quickly. We have treatments for mice and cockroaches and recommend combining treatments at the same time.”

Pest B Gone service all through the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region, including Kitchener/Waterloo. Connect at www.pbgcanada.ca or 289-597-BUGS (2847)

Winter Property Disasters: Knowing the risks, preventing the damage

Canadian winters are unkind to residential and commercial properties. Over several months, harsh temperatures, severe storms, freezing rain, and accumulating ice and snow can push a building’s resiliency to its limits. Therefore, as the temperature begins to dip, there is value in reviewing the potential winter-related disasters that may take shape and how to either prevent or respond to them effectively.

Floods & Water Damage

Water from melting snow and ice adds up over the winter months. When that water finds its way through the roof or building envelope, it can cause damage to interior building components, leading to occupant safety risks and costly repairs. Moreover, pipes that are inadequately insulated (e.g., those within basements and garages) can freeze and burst, creating further headaches.

How to prepare: Keep an eye on the snow and ice accumulating on (and around) your building and remove the material before the excess weight causes rooftop damage and before ice dams form. Also have your roof inspected to ensure any cracks, holes, or loose shingles are dealt with before they have a chance to let the snow or ice in. During a roof inspection, remember to check that drainage components are free from debris and properly insulated to prevent water from collecting and freezing.

Shelter from the storm

Even the toughest buildings can be worn down by severe winter storms as winter hail and snow chip away at exterior components and/or damage vital equipment. Setting up a proactive maintenance strategy and putting together an emergency response plan will help mitigate the damage.

How to prepare: Take action if you know a storm is approaching. Shutter the building windows, secure outside doors, and bring in any outdoor equipment and furniture that the wind could toss around. It also pays to collaborate with building exterior specialists who can ensure building envelope deficiencies are spotted and addressed so they don’t get worse in a storm.

After the fact

Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to avoid a winter-related building disaster. In these cases, it is important to act quickly and seek professional restoration help to minimize property loss and business interruption. At First Onsite, our five-step disaster response strategy includes the following:

Assessing structure damage (e.g., roofs, walls, ceilings, floors) and restoring or rebuilding as needed.
Safely removing snow loads on roofs while also installing heating cables or applying environmentally friendly chemical deicers to improve rooftop drainage where these techniques apply.
Inspecting for and repairing any electrical systems and plumbing system damage.
Preventing mould growth by using thermal imaging cameras to examine the building for hidden pockets of moisture within the insulation and wall cavities.
Making necessary alterations and renovations to prevent future recurrences.

Winter can be wicked to Canadian properties. Still, some preparation and emergency planning go a long way toward keeping occupants safe and preventing costly damage.

The FIRST ONSITE property restoration team comprises tradespeople and technicians who have received special training for disaster emergencies of all types: water, sewer, fire, wind, smoke, mould, oil spills, vehicle impact, and much more. Learn more at firstonsite.ca.

Physical risks could galvanize consensus-building

ESG efforts can ripple down the value chain

Floods & Water Damage

Shelter from the storm

After the fact

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