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BUILDING PERFORMANCE


Building performance measurement enables building owners and real estate managers to set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and take steps to improve the operational and environmental performance of their portfolio. Not only do energy efficient buildings have lower operating costs and a smaller carbon footprint, but buildings with superior energy efficiency attract higher occupancy levels, lease rates and valuations.

There are many tools and services available for measuring energy and water consumption. Ongoing  performance measurement and reporting of energy and water use has been rapidly adopted and is successfully transforming the commercial office sector with certified buildings across Canada.


McGraw Hill Construction examined the current and projected growth, drivers and obstacles, and impact on tenants and occupants. The report titled Canada Green Building Trends: Benefits Driving the New and Retrofit Market, is the first of its kind in Canada.

Among its many findings, the report demonstrates that companies that invest in green buildings are seeing significant dividends on their investments, including:

  • 82% of building owners and developers reported decreases in energy consumption in their green buildings compared to similar buildings.
  • 68% of building owners and developers reported decreases in water consumption in their green buildings.
  • The median reduction in operating costs over five years for green buildings reported by the firms included in the research is 17%.
  • The median payback for the investment in a new green building is reported to be eight years, a finding consistent with paybacks on studies McGraw Hill has conducted in the U.S. and globally.







ECO DISTRICTS


EcoDistricts are neighbourhoods or districts where neighbours, community institutions and businesses join with city leaders and utility providers to meet ambitious sustainability goals and co-develop innovative district-scale projects. Unique partnerships, governance and financing models are often required to bring plans to reality.


Program is aimed to:


  • Define a district-scale sustainability project and its outcomes and benefits,
  • Identify key opportunities in their community to develop a neighborhood development strategy,
  • Evaluate organizational models for engagement and governance in projects,
  • Understand funding mechanisms that support projects,
  • Analyze public policy crafted to support projects, and
  • Apply methods for assessing eco districts to determine projects priorities.

GOING GREEN WITH LEED


Buildings generate up to 35 per cent of all greenhouse gases, 35 per cent of landfill waste comes from construction and demolition activities, and 80 per cent of all water is consumed in and around buildings. It’s clear that making buildings greener can have a significant impact on larger environmental goals.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system that is recognized as the international mark of excellence for green building in over 132 countries. Since 2002, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and LEED Canada have been redefining the buildings and communities where Canadians live, work and learn.

LEED works because it recognizes that sustainability should be at the heart of all buildings – in their design, construction and operation. Over the past 11 years, the CaGBC has certified over 1000 LEED buildings in Canada and registered over 4000, the second highest number in the world.