Peak Power’s energy storage and savings system

Peak Power’s energy storage and savings system

Peak Power Inc. is receiving support from the private and public sectors for its platform to optimize energy storage systems to maximize benefits for building owners and utilities. “The combination of energy storage and machine learning and artificial intelligence is where Peak Power was formed to take advantage of those cones of opportunity,” said Peak Power chief executive officer Derek Lim Soo, who founded the firm in Toronto in 2015.

Sustainable Biz Canada

Architect Michael Green at centre of mass-timber moment

When Vancouver-based architect Michael Green stops to reflect, he acknowledges that his practice of designing big buildings built from engineered mass-timber materials has come a long way in a short period of time as the trend in sustainable construction gains momentum. “It is definitely wood’s moment,” said Green who literally wrote the book on modern timber construction.

Vancouver Sun

Why Jason McLennan is optimistic about regenerative buildings

When it comes to the field of restorative architecture, few designers have earned the notoriety or respect afforded Jason McLennan. When last he spoke with GreenBiz, the co-author of the Living Building Challenge suggested that deeper climate knowledge would be integral to the future of architectural design and wished it were given more attention in academia. 

Green Biz

Big changes coming to Ontario building code

Changes to the Province of Ontario’s building code could include requirements for solar-ready roofs, more stringent heating/cooling efficiency requirements, and graywater reuse. Ontario’s code is scheduled to be replaced as of Jan. 1, 2019. New requirements will support the government’s Climate Change Action Plan unveiled in June 2016.

BDC Network

Tiny house on wheels will generate own power, store water

Right now it looks more like a shed than a house. But when it’s finished, the Northern Nomad could be one of the first tiny houses built in Canada to achieve net-zero energy. “So the first thing was the challenge, can you do it?” says Scott Bucking, an associate engineering professor at Carleton University.

CBC.ca

Passive House to move beyond single-family homes

The growth of the Passive House standard in the U.S. has been slow, but it could still produce significant influence, according to a recent panel of industry experts. That group is looking to expand the standard beyond single-family houses to projects like schools, hospitals and high-rise towers, according to a Construction Dive report.

BDC Network

Energy-harvesting paint no longer ‘science fiction’

When it comes to the building of the future, every material used in construction needs to pull its weight. For a building to become as sustainable, environmentally friendly, and as comfortable as possible, there can be no slackers on the materials front.  Consider, for example, E Ink’s bi-stable ink technology integration with traditional architectural materials.

BDC Network

	Airlines to use 25% world’s carbon by 2050
	Less than 18 percent of the world’s population has stepped foot on an airplane. Air travel is an activity only the privileged few have the luxury to enjoy. That’s all about to change warned John Mandyck, chief sustainability officer at United Technologies Corporation.
	Green Biz, August 14, 2017

 

Ontario municipalities adopt environmental management standards

There are an increasing number of municipalities in Ontario adopting environmental management standards (EMS) for their wastewater and stormwater systems in the form of ISO 14001, a standard of the International Organization for Standardization. Some municipalities are also voluntarily adopting EMS-related practices to address eco-design, climate change, and life cycle assessment.

Water Canada

Report addresses flood resilience in Bow River basin

The Government of Alberta has begun implementing the advice from a report that identifies ways to improve flood resilience in Calgary and better manage water throughout the Bow River basin. The report, produced by the Bow River Working Group, represents a first step in building multiple layers of resilience throughout the Bow River basin to address both flood and drought concerns.

Renew Canada

Farmers install largest solar-energy system in the Manitoba

A southern Manitoba dairy farmer is about to lay claim to having the largest solar-energy system in the province, but his reign as solar champ will be short-lived. As early as next month, Hans Gorter’s new 175-kilowatt, solar photovoltaic (PV) system near Otterburne will be surpassed by a 200-kilowatt system being installed at the Tallpine Lodges in West Hawk Lake.

Winnipeg Free Press

Miami makes solar mandatory for new houses

South Miami became the first city outside of California to require all new homes to install solar panels on their roofs. Six cities in the Golden State began requiring solar to be installed on new homes over the past few years. But in Florida, where voters killed proposed solar restrictions last year, South Miami is now a pioneer.

Green Biz

	Drones plant entire forest from the sky
	Restoring a damaged ecosystem is time-consuming and difficult work that can take years to complete. Villagers in the Irrawaddy River delta have been hand-planting 2.7 million mangrove trees but they started looking for an easier way to get the job done.
	Inhabitat, August 14, 2017

 

In Denver, it took a village to build a microgrid

The plan for Peña Station NEXT, a 400-acre “transit-oriented” smart city development on the train route connecting Denver to its international airport, emerged several years ago after a key division of technology champion Panasonic picked up and relocated its headquarters there. The much-hyped project is a showcase for the possibilities of microgrids that combine solar panels and energy storage.

GreenBiz

New Zealand GBC raises performance of new homes

The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) has launched a new version of its Homestar rating tool for new residential buildings, with the support of the country’s Prime Minister Bill English.   The new standard, Homestar v4, follows extensive industry consultation and has been re-engineered to align with the needs of those building apartments or homes at volume in New Zealand.

World GBC

GBC Brasil launches net zero building certification

Green Building Council Brasil (GBC Brasil) has launched a new net zero building certification scheme, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from new and existing buildings to meet the Paris Agreement and supports WorldGBC’s goal to ensure all buildings are net zero carbon by 2050. The new standard – the Zero Energy Building Certification – will be given to ‘self sufficient energy’ buildings.

World Green Building Council

La Caisse acquires interest in Boralex Inc.

Boralex Inc. (BLX-T) announced today that Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has acquired all of the Class A common shares of Boralex held by Cascades Inc. representing 17.3% of the outstanding shares for the amount of $287.5 million. Boralex and la Caisse have agreed to explore investing in future projects that are in line with its growth strategy.

Canada Newswire

Market Trends and Research

Net-zero emissions by 2050 could generate 20 million jobs: study

The reduction of emissions has the potential to generate close to 20 million jobs, according to a recent study from the Columbia Institute. According to the study, reaching net zero emissions by 2050 could unlock nearly 4 million in direct building-trade jobs in various areas while creating an additional 20 million indirect, induced and supply-chain jobs. 

Business in Vancouver

Market trends and research

Debunking the 14 myths about why we should go nuclear

As the U.S. electricity sector awaits the release of a Department of Energy study assessing the impact of current market design on baseload generation and grid reliability, Rocky Mountain Institute’s (RMI) co-founder and chief scientist, Amory B. Lovins, has outlined and debunked in asoon-to-be-published Electricity Journal article (PDF) 14 claimed rationales for mandating or subsidizing uncompetitive coal and nuclear plants. 

Green Biz

Commercial real estate

Apple employees are “in revolt” over open offices. Really?

According to Apple expert John Gruber of Daring Fireball, a lot of Apple employees are not happy about the open office plans at the new Apple Park.  One senior vice president is simply refusing to move, but we can’t quote him in this family friendly website, you will have to read it in Dezeen. But design chief Jony Ive is looking forward to the experience.

TreeHugger.com

Renewable Energy

Ontario eyes Quebec as source for clean power

Ontario’s Liberal government is looking at imports from Quebec to provide additional sources of low-cost, clean electricity in order to meet ambitious plans to electrify transportation and space heating in buildings while reducing the grid’s reliance on natural-gas generation.

Globe and Mail

Green building ratings

ASHRAE certifications recognized by DOE for Better Buildings Guidelines

Two ASHRAE certification programs, the Building Commissioning Professional (BCxP) and Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP), have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as meeting the Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines.

BDC Network

Corporate Sustainability

Struggling to weigh sustainability efforts? You’re not alone

If you’re still struggling to find the best way to measure the results of your environmental management efforts, you can take comfort in the fact that you’re not the only one. In fact, a staggering 46% of companies that responded to Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Trends survey said they’re not accurately measuring the impacts of their sustainability initiatives.

Environmental Leader

Finance folks finally focusing on sustainability?

Could it be that finance folks at big corporations are waking up to the fact that sustainability can be a business driver? An article in the Journal of Accountancy – a publication for accounting and finance professionals from corporations, public accounting firms, government agencies and nonprofits – indicates that the topic of sustainability is rising to the surface as something to take note of.

Environmental Leader

Cities and Towns

Storage center a symbol of renewable energy for German town

The new design for an existing storage center in Heidelberg, Germany attempts to take an existing boring cylindrical tower and turn it into a knowledge center, tourist attraction, and symbol of the transition towards renewables. The Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) won a competition that sought a design for an energy park and accompanying energy storage tower.

BDC Network

Transit, bikes and transportation

Toyota, 7-Eleven Japan join forces on hydrogen powered trucks

7-Eleven Japan and Toyota inked an agreement this month to study energy conservation and carbon dioxide emissions reduction in convenience store distribution and operation. To that end, the two companies said they plan to work on developing hydrogen fuel cell trucks and power generators.

Energy Manager

Water Management

Stymied by Water Footprint Assessment? New guide can help

A new handbook is available to help organizations understand how to undertake a water footprint assessment using ISO 14046. Water availability, both in terms of quantity and quality, is recognized as a key global issue by the United Nations. Businesses, communities and customers have started to request quantitative information about how their production processes place pressure on water resources.

Environmental Leader

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