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Net-zero options for Minto’s Heights of Harmony homes

3 years ago

Minto is continuing its venture into sustainable building with its Heights of Harmony development in the GTA city of Oshawa. The homebuilder is offering three levels of optional comfort and energy-efficiency packages, including net-zero, on its single-family homes.

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Canada’s Ministry of Natural Resources announced the signing of a new Cooperative Research & Development Agreement between Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to continue with Canadian enhancements and updates to Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

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Monica Curtis is the new president & CEO of EnerQuality Corp. Curtis possesses over 25 years of Canadian and U.S. market experience working with governments, utilities, businesses and organizations to improve energy use and most recently was CEO of Energy Efficiency Alberta.

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SNC-Lavalin has been appointed by the Government of the United Kingdom as Net-Zero and Life Cycle Replacement Program Delivery partner to ensure that over four million square feet of public sector office space meet enhanced sustainability standards.

Procore

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Despite an abundant supply of energy in the world, “energy poverty” is found not only in developing nations but also close to home. Nearly 800 million people live without electricity; however, untapped renewable energy sources like building-integrated photovoltaics are offering solutions.

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Managed retreat — the movement of people, buildings and other infrastructure away from hazardous places — is controversial, but it isn’t just about moving; it’s about adapting to change and building communities that are safer, while incorporating new designs and technologies.

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Research shows lighter-coloured, reflective roads can potentially lower air temperatures by more than 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit and, in the process, reduce the frequency of heat waves by 41 per cent across U.S. cities but only if reflective surfaces are properly placed.

North American company, StressCrete Group, has partnered with Quebec-based FLO to launch Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations embedded inside spun concrete poles. The products provide communities with the opportunity to easily access EV charging infrastructure while supporting green solutions.

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A mere 25 big cities – almost all of them in Asia – accounted for more than half of the climate-warming gases pumped out by a sample of 167 urban hubs around the world, an analysis of emissions trends showed.

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What if you could drive your car for 1,000 kilometres on a single tank of fuel with zero emissions? That is just one example of what is possible in a hydrogen economy. Climate-friendly solutions are possible with hydrogen and renewable electricity.

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Air Products unveiled plans for a multi-billion-dollar hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton. Haldor Topsoe said its low-carbon SynCOR technology will be deployed at the net-zero complex to capture over 95 per cent of carbon emissions created during the production process.

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OPINION: As we emerge from the grip of a crippling pandemic, Canadians must now confront two challenges: creating a platform for collaboration and mutual growth with Indigenous peoples, and meeting our commitments for greenhouse gas and carbon emission reduction.

Energy Profiles

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The Lion Electric Company, a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, announced Nathalie Giroux as chief people officer. Giroux will implement strategies to develop and promote best practices in human resources management, operations, and organizational development.

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A subsidiary of Winnipeg’s NFI Group has inked a deal with Ireland’s national transport agency to potentially deliver that country’s largest purchase of zero-emission buses. The initial order is for 45 buses, but could include up to 200 more.

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Electrifying delivery vehicles is no longer a race amongst startups. In the past year, big-name OEMs have revealed plans for an entire lineup of new battery-electric commercial vehicles, including Ford’s 2022 E-Transit and Mercedes-Benz’s eSprinter.

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VIDEO: Brian Kingston, president and CEO at Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, speaks with the Financial Post’s Larysa Harapyn in the video below about what it will take to get Canada to transition to 100 per cent zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

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Barrie resident Fran Ferguson said she often doesn’t take severe weather warnings seriously, but something — maybe a feeling or the way the wind was blowing on July 15 — made her think differently. Ten minutes later, the EF-2 tornado hit.

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Alberta expects to pay about $1 billion in insurance this year because of a severe drought that has crippled crops, killed poultry and reduced dairy production across Canada and the United States. The recent heat wave made the dry conditions worse.

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The federal government is allowing a controversial reservoir that could protect Calgary from future flooding to move forward. Alberta Transportation proposed the $432-million off-stream reservoir near the rural community of Springbank, which is west and upstream of Calgary.

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California power company Pacific Gas and Electric said it would bury 10,000 miles of power lines in high-risk fire zones as a safety measure after its equipment caused multiple destructive wildfires over several years.

Industry Events