Environmental Management

Extended phase-in for new LEED certification

LEED proponents will now have an extra 16 months to register projects under current criteria before the more rigorous LEED version 4 becomes mandatory in November 2016.
Intelligent CIty

Smart technology offers timely payback

Energy conservation programs, from audits to cost-effective measures for savings, have been a mainstay of consumption reduction strategy. However, existing buildings have the potential to

GRESB survey pegs real estate sustainability

Owners, managers, investors and tenants increasingly look to the GRESB survey's sustainability reporting.
Consumer confidence

Perceived building costs prevent conservation

A recent survey reveals that Canadian business leaders generally undervalue the return on investment from energy efficiency.
Social Media

Communicating green building plans to tenants

Talking to tenants and using social media are useful strategies to get occupants working toward the same energy-efficient green building plans.
Metrogate Park in Toronto

The benefits of urban parks

The economic and environmental benefits of urban parks are many. But as demand for land rises, cities must be creative when building new spaces.
public works

Road salt usage causing problems in Ontario

Property managers are using large amounts of road salt this winter. But overuse is taking its toll on their' pocketbooks and the environment.
change

Green Globes certification goes mainstream

The updated version of the Green Globes' building certification is gaining recognition as an alternative to LEED.
Soil

Soil ‘dating service’ matches supply & demand

A newly launched web-based registry matches supply and demand for clean soil.

Living walls have a growing list of benefits

Livings walls are growing in popularity due to the benefits they bring to indoor environments.
water infrastructure

Grey water technology flush with savings

Grey water recovery systems are starting to gain traction in commercial and multi-residential buildings because of their ...

5 Rs improve resource efficiency in construction

Mission 2030 sets a target to eliminate construction, renovation and demolition waste from landfill over the next 18 years.

Year in review

To sum up 2012, it was the “year of hot air.” After all, weird and whacky weather – a hotter than usual winter in Central Canada and the so-called “Super Storm Sandy” along the U.S. east coast – dominated headlines on the environmental front.
REMI

Environmental protection legislation

Environmental hazards pose significant potential liability for construction contractors yet the risks associated with violating protection legislation often are given little consideration. Contraventions of Alberta’s
REMI

Improving water efficiency

There are many aging irrigation systems that operate ineffectively. Thankfully, advances in technology mean many of the inefficiencies can be reduced or ...
REMI

From rocky relations to common ground

A new voluntary standard, SERA, will enable developers of green projects to specify certified aggregates and/or help them to identify ...
REMI

Brownfields attracting varied land uses

Brownfield sites have risen and fallen out of favour with the economic tides. Today, brownfield development is more consistent due, in part, to the demand in residential and commercial developments.