Sustainable Practices

Ont private sector readies for energy reporting

Proposed amendments to Ontario's Green Energy Act signal the government's intention to mandate reporting of energy and water consumption in privately owned buildings.

Ontario releases cap-and-trade program details

On November 16, 2015, Ontario’s MOECC posted details about Ontario’s proposed greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system to the Environmental Registry.

Surprising facts about plastics recycling

Krista Friesen, vice-president of sustainability at the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, offers updates on the process of plastics recycling.

LEED v4 users lag ahead of new deadline

LEED registrants appear to be taking full advantage of the deadline extension before the more rigorous version 4 of the certification program becomes mandatory.

Pension funds drawn to investable cities

Despite an abundance of investment funds spending across the globe, Canadian infrastructure continues to face a crisis.

Mixed-use project meets old-soul community

The Metalworks development in Guelph, Ontario, will ultimately bridge a deep-rooted community to the downtown core with a 50-foot-wide river walkway.

Net zero project is building industry milestone

A net zero energy home in Guelph, Ontario, the first of 25 to be completed as part of a national project, aims to position NZE in the mainstream public.

Canadian GRESB results lead the larger pack

Global sustainability benchmark places 2015 Canadian achievement more in line with the top-ranked Australia/New Zealand region than with the 144 U.S. participants.

What is sustainability to the building sector?

A look at what sustainability means to some experts in the building industry and the way climate change has impacted the conversation.

Energy monitoring outside the building box

Many properties continue to fail in frequently monitoring their utility and energy consumption outside of the reporting scopes of building certifications.

Climate adaptation priority in trilateral efforts

North America leaders endorsed a new five-year CEC plan for better environmental management decisions. Climate change adaptation is one focus area.

Toronto puts energy reporting proposal on pause

An energy reporting requirement for large buildings is likely coming to Toronto. The only question is: Will it come from the city or from the province?

What motivates the greening of suburban assets

While sustainable real estate means thinking outside downtown cores, experts stress the necessary models required to support these suburban assets.
REMI

Why LEED certification is becoming an essential

As LEED certification increasingly matters to tenants’ employees, sound environmental stewardship has moved from a nice-to-do to a must-do for many companies.

UN gathers greenhouse gas reduction pledges

NAFTA partners, U.S. and Mexico, submit greenhouse gas reduction targets to the UN, while Canada is late with its climate change action homework.

Climate change spurs business opportunity

Tucked into the back of the Metro Convention Centre at Toronto’s Green Living Show on March 27, 2015, a group of scientists, politicians and entrepreneurs

National Waste Benchmarking Study released

The Recycling Council of Ontario’s first commercial, industrial and institutional waste performance benchmarking study has been released, revealing an immediate need for industry-wide improvement, with