CubicFarms’ farming modules cut energy use over 50%

BIZ  Energy  •  Technology  •  British Columbia, International

CubicFarms Systems says its vertical farming modules require 54 to 62 per cent less energy than similar systems in use around the world. And one of its subsidiaries, HydroGreen Global, has partnered with Deloitte LLP to develop a carbon credit program.

‘Incredible’ UPEI’s climate change centre opens

Energy, Real Estate  •  CBC

Adam Fenech, an associate professor in the School of Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI, said the new centre will focus on climate change education and skills development to help mitigate and adapt to climate change in P.E.I. and around the world.

Inside Microsoft Canada’s new tech-first HQ

Carbon, Energy, Real Estate  •  Canadian Business

Microsoft just opened its new Canadian headquarters in the heart of downtown Toronto. Located in CIBC Square, the 12,263 square-metre facility is fitted with more than 3,000 sensors that track water use, energy consumption and Microsoft’s carbon emissions.

Building a Cleaner Canada › How high-tech building management systems can reduce waste and increase efficiency

Sarah Bingham: Director of Development and Sustainability, Adera

The Côte-Nord prized for green hydrogen

Energy  •  LaPresse

Another green energy promoter is dangling a billion-dollar project on the North Shore. Teal Chemicals & Energy hopes that its solution designed “by Quebecers and for Quebecers” will allow it to have access to enough hydroelectricity to realize its ambitions.

Énergir deal could cost Hydro-Québec $7.2B

Energy  •  Montreal Gazette

An agreement between Hydro-Québec and Énergir, the energy company formerly known as Gaz Métro, could be an expensive one for Quebecers, costing $7.2 billion by 2050, according to environmental groups that analyzed documents filed with the energy board.

Ottawa man powers neighbourhood with microgrid

Carbon, Energy  •  Ottawa Citizen

It pays to have a neighbour like Art Hunter. The retired government scientist, whose resumé includes working on the Canadarm, is providing his rural Manotick neighbours with electricity to power their fridges, freezers, cellphones, electric kettles and much more.

Siemens exec on why future grids will be sectionalized

Carbon, Energy  •  Microgrid Knowledge

VIDEO: In a prequel to Microgrid 2022, David Fox, vice president of sales at Siemens Grid Software U.S., sat down with Microgrid Knowledge to discuss how sectionalizing will be a key component of the future grid.

Fedex invests $2B to deliver environmental performance

Carbon, Energy  •  Environmental Leader

FedEx aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 — something that requires an investment of $2 billion into everything from electric vehicles to energy-efficient buildings to deploying onsite green energy. 

Saint-Gobain finishes zero-carbon production process

Carbon, Energy  •  Environmental Leader

Saint-Gobain has achieved zero-carbon production of flat glass. This technological effort was completed last week by using 100 per cent recycled glass (cullet) and 100 per cent green energy produced from biogas and decarbonized electricity.

Walmart begins search for sustainable packaging

Carbon, Energy  •  GreenBiz

American retail giant Walmart launched its Circular Connector this spring. That the world’s largest retail multinational is launching an online platform to encourage the circular economy of packaging — even while accounting for some form of greenwashing — is undoubtedly great news.

John Warner: How to do the materials economy right

Social, Health  •  GreenBiz

Why would a chemist make a hazardous material in the first place? For four decades, John Warner has been inventing molecules, collecting hundreds of patents and advocating for designing chemicals and products that don’t harm people and the environment.

California on the clock for microgrid adoption

Carbon, Energy  •  Microgrid Knowledge

Only a few programs are now in place to test the viability of vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-microgrid programs. But in California — a state that is threatened by wildfire-related power outages — the pressure is on to speed adoption of the promising technology.

Could ailing strip malls be a green fix U.S.’ housing crisis?

Real Estate, Social  •  Yale Environment 360

Urban designer Peter Calthorpe has a plan for the financially troubled strip malls that dot the suburban landscape: Convert the malls into housing that would be part of green communities where people could live closer to work and drive less.

Gulf Islands’ aging water systems under pressure

Carbon, Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

As the islands between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia swell with new residents, their patchwork, aging water systems are under pressure to keep up with the population boom and climate change.

‘Too much water’ impacting plant response to CO2

Carbon, Energy  •  Water Canada

Conserving wetlands is critical both to fight climate change and adapt to it. Besides providing habitat, wetlands sequester massive amounts of carbon and protect people from some of climate change’s more extreme effects, such as hurricanes and typhoons.

ESG to decide winners-losers in mining

Carbon, Energy  •  Mining.com

Metal producers have to reinvent their relationship with communities in order to gain social licenses to grow output and feed the clean-energy transition, according to billionaire mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland.

Climate debate over role of oil in ‘going green’

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

As government officials and corporate leaders at the World Economic Forum grapple with how to confront climate change, a central question is emerging: to what extent can oil and gas companies be part of a transition to lower-carbon fuels?

HSBC banker suspended. Funds shouldn’t ignore climate change

Real Estate  •  Financial Post  •  Bloomberg

U.K. pension schemes should not ignore climate change, a senior executive at The Pensions Regulator said on Monday, the first watchdog to weigh in after a top HSBC banker was suspended after playing down the financial risks of climate change.

McKinsey publishes a net-zero guide for nine key sectors

Carbon, Energy  •  Environmental Leader

The sectors that produce the majority of global GHG emissions face a steep challenge to decarbonize. A new study from McKinsey draws together articles and reports that lay out a pathway to net-zero for nine emissions-intensive industries.