Canadian cities commit to net-zero carbon buildings by 2030

Canadian cities commit to net-zero carbon buildings by 2030

Canada contains less than 0.5 per cent of the world’s population, yet it contains 18 per cent of the cities which promise to ensure new buildings operate at net-zero carbon by 2030. Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal have all made the pledge as part of the World Green Building Council Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. The program will officially kick off Sept. 13 at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.

Sustainable Biz Canada – World GBC – CP Executive

Ottawa’s 100 Murray pushes for ‘zero carbon’ building

To cut energy costs and promote a sustainability agenda, Sun Life Financial Inc. and its real estate subsidiary, Bentall Kennedy, launched an experiment with a commercial building in Ottawa’s ByWard Market. Aiming to reduce the six-storey building’s “carbon footprint” to as close to zero as feasible, the companies approved a two-pronged strategy.

Globe and Mail (Subscription required)

B.C. cities, developers brace for rising water levels

Climate change is a double challenge for communities in southwestern B.C. that cluster at the mouth of the Fraser River and across the broad delta of rich soils its waters have deposited over millennia. The benchmark floods of 1948 and 1894 remain influential in the imagination of those charged with protecting the region from devastating water damage.

Western Investor

Ottawa asks for assessment of climate change risk

Ottawa has posted a tender asking engineering firms to assess how climate change and extreme weather will affect some of Atlantic Canada’s major ferry terminals, airports and the Confederation Bridge. The tender posted last week seeks analysis on the vulnerability of the infrastructure to rising sea levels, harsher storms and changing waves.

Globe and Mail

Sea level rise will take bite out of U.S. real-estate value

As sea level rise driven by climate change continues to impact many coastal areas of the U.S., real estate values could begin to tumble. Flooding has worsened in many coastal communities, but not just during extreme events like hurricanes, but also during periods of heavy rain, and even high tides. Researchers are now able to pinpoint what individual properties could be underwater in a certain time frame.

The Weather Network US – Business Insider

How corporate action is driving a water-secure future

Flowing through every part of our economy, water is a fundamental necessity for lives and livelihoods. Access to safe, resilient water supplies is essential to economic prosperity, health and development, not to mention to environmental sustainability. Yet, word from the UN’s High Level Political Forum is that the world is far from on track to achieving our water goals.

CDP News

Global water testing market to reach US$4.5B by 2024

According to a new Zion Market Research report, global water testing and analysis market was valued at approximately USD 3.2 billion in 2017 and is expected to generate revenue of around USD 4.5 billion by the end of 2024, growing at a CAGR of around 5.0% between 2017 and 2024.

Globe Newswire

	Passive House Canada conference 2018
	Passive House Canada is collaborating with UN Economic Commission for Europe Committee on Forests, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Canadian Wood Council, to hold concurrent conferences in Vancouver, November 7 to 8, 2018.
	Passive House Canada Conference

 

Ancaster property owner fined $420K for illegal clear-cutting

An Ancaster real estate agent and property owner has been slapped with a $420,000 fine for the illegal clear-cutting of trees four years ago. James McNiven was charged for chopping down trees in a woodlot at McNiven and Golf Links Roads, near the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster. A city bylaw that prohibits heritage trees larger than 45 cm in diameter from being cut without a permit.

CBC

Green pathway along Finch LRT gains traction with city

City hall has given a big boost to a bold proposal to build a series of connected green spaces and a multi-use transportation lane next to the Finch LRT which would accommodate alternative forms of transportation in the Jane-Finch and Weston Road area. The Mobility Greenway would add an extra lane between the sidewalk and road to run alongside the 21-kilometre corridor.

CBC

The race to build a wind behemoth

Some of the world’s top manufacturing companies are embroiled in a fierce competition. Who can build the most powerful offshore wind turbine? Industrial giants are racing to build skyscraper-size turbines that can generate 10 megawatts apiece or more, a symbolic threshold for the wind industry. The more powerful the turbine, the cheaper it can generate electricity from a single location, generally speaking.

Toronto Star

IKEA Canada installs solar panels on Alberta stores

As part of its long-standing commitment to renewable energy, IKEA Canada announced that solar panels are being installed on its stores in Edmonton and Calgary. Both systems are currently being installed and are expected to be operational by end of the year. The IKEA Edmonton system will be one of the largest commercial rooftop solar systems in the city, with 2,905 panels and 1180 megawatt hours capacity.

Canada Newswire

Chicago offices are greener again

Chicago is the greenest U.S. city to work in for the second year running, with about 70 per cent of its office space certified for environmental efficiency, a new study shows. The Windy City’s percentage of green offices is up from about 66 percent last year, placing it ahead of San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minneapolis/St. Paul, according to an annual ranking by CBRE Group Inc.and Maastricht University.

Bloomberg

Edmonton faces ‘struggle’ cutting carbon emissions

The city hopes a new program encouraging businesses to cut energy consumption will help Edmonton meet greenhouse-gas reduction targets, but city councillors caution reaching those goals won’t be easy. “They will require a real capital outlay, and that will be a struggle,” Coun. Ben Henderson said Wednesday following the kickoff of the Corporate Climate Leaders Program.

Edmonton Journal

Even highest carbon price in a decade won’t save the planet

Even after reaching their highest in a decade, the cost of carbon in Europe isn’t anywhere close to where they need to be to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon futures in the EU’s Emissions Trading System moved past their highest point in a decade this week, surpassing 20 euros ($23) a ton.

Bloomberg

U.S. oil companies seek climate change protection

As the U.S. plans new defences against the more powerful storms and higher tides expected from climate change, one project stands out: an ambitious proposal to build a nearly 100-kilometre “spine” of concrete seawalls, earthen barriers, floating gates and steel levees on the Texas Gulf Coast. One of its priorities is  to shield some of the crown jewels of the petroleum industry.

Global News

	World Green Building Week – Sept. 24-30, 2018
	This year, we want everyone, everywhere to take action and commit to making a change in the homes they build, lease or live in. We can all do something to make our home a greener, healthier and more energy efficient home. Let’s start now.
	World Green Building Council

 

Products, Technology and Design

N.S. gives stamp of approval for plastics-to-fuel plant

A company that wants to turn plastics into fuel has received environmental assessment approval from the Nova Scotia government. Sustane Technologies Inc. plans to bring in up to 50,000 tonnes of municipal garbage per year and convert it into biomass pellets, diesel and kerosene at a plant near Chester, N.S. Some metals are also expected to be recovered.

CBC

Bay of Fundy tidal turbine not in compliance: Minister

The troubled Cape Sharp Tidal turbine in the Bay of Fundy is not in compliance with its environmental assessment approval, Nova Scotia’s energy minister says. Derek Mombourquette said Thursday that required environmental monitoring isn’t being done, with the massive turbine still sitting active in the waters of the Minas Passage amid questions about the project’s future.

Globe and Mail

Market Trends and Research

Imperial Oil commits to 10% emissions decrease

Imperial Oil is pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity from its oilsands operations by 10 per cent by 2023, through the use of new technologies. The company made the commitment Tuesday at its research centre in southeast Calgary, where a team of Imperial scientists and technicians research and test new ways of improving the environmental footprint and production economics associated with its oilsands operations.

Edmonton Journal

LED lighting to surpass US$54.28 billion by 2022

A new Zion Market Research report notes the global LED lighting market accounted for US$26.09 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach US$54.28 Billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of around 13 per cent between 2017 and 2022. The energy efficiency of LED lights, higher brightness, and a longer lifespan are some of the major reason offers tremendous market opportunities for LED lighting in coming years.

Globe Newswire

Energy-efficient cooling technology demand on the rise

Global district cooling market is expected to register a healthy CAGR in the forecast period 2018 to 2025.  A new market report contains data for historic year 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025. Prominent factors driving the growth of this market consist of hot climatic conditions in the Middle East region, growing infrastructure investments.

PR Newswire

Municipal Policy and Urban Issues

Banff National Park needs holiday from humans

For the teenage Japanese visitor, the liquid candy-like turquoise waters of Moraine Lake framed by saw-toothed crags was entrancing. But recently arriving at the lake that once graced Canada’s $20 bill wasn’t quick, even mid-week. By 8:30 a.m., parking at nearby Lake Louise was full and travelling by private vehicle to Moraine Lake had long been out of the question.

Calgary Herald

Green building ratings

Brent Gilmore appointed as new CCO of CaGBC

The Canada Green Building Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Brent Gilmour as CaGBC’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). As CCO, Brent will play a critical role in executing the strategic priorities of CaGBC, focusing to advance business opportunities and running day to day critical business functions.

Canada Green Building Council

Municipal Policy and Urban Issues

NCC considers film hub in the Greenbelt

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is launching consultations on a proposal to develop a $40-million sound stage campus and creative hub on the site of the former Greenbelt Research Farm. Ottawa Film Office and TriBro Studios, which submitted the proposal, said it would be built at 1740 Woodroffe Ave., across from the Nepean Sportsplex.

CBC – CTV

Thick skin needed to overhaul Edmonton’s garbage system

Edmonton councillors have some tough decisions to make if they want to modernize the city’s garbage collection and disposal system. Councillors will be asked to approve new programs aimed at reducing the amount of garbage going to the landfill — by recycling, reusing and sorting including an organics green bin program and reducing single-use plastics.

CBC

Water Management

Report doubles concerns over grey water in Canada’s Arctic

A traditional hunter in the Northwest Territories says he used to welcome the cruise ships coming into the Beaufort Sea in Canada’s Arctic. But Hans Lennie from Inuvik says that’s changing. “Not as much now. Now that we’ve got all the facts,” said Lennie, who also sits on the Inuvialuit Game Council. Some of his concerns are highlighted in a new report about untreated grey water being dumped by ships passing through.

Globe and Mail

Other

Climate change interfering with birds’ internal clocks

When birds sing outside your window at dawn, they’re responding to internal clocks set to daily and annual rhythms. These rhythms are synchronized largely with the daily rise and fall of the sun, with light and temperature influencing changes throughout the year. But what happens when climate change interferes with these clocks?

Vancouver Sun