Toronto office buildings participating in CivicAction’s Race to Reduce challenge have nearly reached their four-year goal to reduce collective energy use, and still have plenty of time to spare.

The challenge launched in 2011 with the goal of reducing collective energy use by at least 10 per cent by the end of 2014. And at the third annual Race to Reduce Awards held in conjunction with the Toronto Real Estate Forum, it was announced that participating landlords and tenants have already reduced use by nine per cent.

“Toronto tenants and landlords are exceeding the expectation of the OPA’s Conservation Fund,” says Andrew Pride, vice-president of conservation for Ontario Power Authority. “We believe the Race to Reduce couples a comprehensive engagement program with measureable results that demonstrate how tenants and landlords can work together to truly transform how buildings consume energy.”

During the forum, awards were handed out in three categories: Team Excellence, Energy Champion and Building Performance.

Both Rogers Communications Inc. and the partnership between Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP and RBC were recognized in the Team Excellence category, which looks for energy reduction efforts resulting from active and sustained landlord and tenant collaboration.

The Earning Energy Champion Award recognizes “superior industry leadership in energy reduction and market transformation.” This year, RBC was recognized in the tenant category, while the landlord/building award went to Cadillac Fairview’s Simcoe Place.

A total of nine buildings received awards in the Building Performance category.