Exploring a new agenda for corporate sustainability

Exploring a new agenda for corporate sustainability

For hundreds of CEOs, 2017 galvanized their speaking out when changes in public policy ran counter to company values on diversity, social issues or how to address climate change. However, the role of business in society isn’t on every CEO or Board agenda; nor is sustainability routinely considered a cornerstone in business strategy.

Business Ethics – The Future of Sustainable Business Report

Pension funds’ long-term push for sustainability

There was a lot more than profit at stake for Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan when it struck a deal to invest in mining giant Glencore PLC. In a sign of a shift in the way big institutional investors think about the way they deploy capital, the pension fund’s investment committee’s many discussions about the royalty and streaming arrangement, announced in early December, were loaded with questions about health, safety and environmental issues.

Globe and Mail – Globe and Mail

TowerWise helps fund four Toronto multi-res energy retrofits

Toronto-based The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) will partner with Natural Resources Canada and the Independent Electricity System Operator(IESO) to help fund energy retrofits in four Toronto and Hamilton multi-residential properties. The demonstration projects are the next phase in TAF’s TowerWise program.

Sustainable Biz Canada

Time to give funds for other sustainable ‘real assets’ a closer look

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), $3.5 trillion of clean energy investments is needed each year through 2050 to offset the rise in carbon emissions. An underinvestment in global infrastructure has restricted reliable access to key resources such as energy, sanitation and water. A recent study, The Financial Performance of Real Assets Impact Investments shows that investments in real asset impact funds can profitably address both issues.

GreenBiz

Smart CRE building tech can reap utility savings of up to 18%

Smart building technology is producing energy savings of 8% to 18% in the commercial building sector, according to a report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. While large showcase buildings have been the first to deploy smart building technologies, the potential for savings is great among other subsectors including Class B offices, small chain and independent retail stores, middle-tier franchise hotels, and regional nonteaching hospitals.

BDC Network

The top 5 green building stories in 2017

Buildings are the sites of human work, leisure, and rest, and unless one has chosen to live off the grid. Though an integral part of modern human life, buildings also have a massive environmental footprint—to the tune of 40 per cent of energy consumed worldwide, and 40 per cent of global emissions. But the sector is moving to reduce its environmental impact.  Here are the top 5 green building stories from 2017.

Eco Business

Association calls for greater use of district cooling and microgrids

The International District Energy Association (IDEA) is calling for more focus and energy being put towards district cooling systems and microgrids. With over 50% of the global population now living in cities and forecast to grow to over 70% by 2050 (more than 7 billion people), it is vitally important that cities deploy district energy systems to minimize waste and optimize energy and water use.

Energy Manager Today

	Why is wood burning counted as green energy?
	It was once one of Europe’s largest coal-burning power stations. Now, after replacing coal in its boilers with wood pellets shipped from the U.S. South, the Drax Power Station in Britain claims to be the largest carbon-saving project in Europe. About 23 million tons of carbon dioxide goes up its stacks each year.
	Yale 360, December 20, 2017

 

Edmonton celebrates first LEED Silver NHL arena in Canada

In December, Edmonton’s Rogers Place became the first National Hockey League (NHL) facility in Canada to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. Since opening in 2016, the home arena of the Edmonton Oilers has demonstrated efficient systems for lighting, heating, cooling, and ventilation in building design.

Construction Canada

Strategies for equitable, sustainable cities

The New York City High Line is a section of the New York Central Railroad, an elevated freight rail line, located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Today the Highline is an iconic urban green space that has inspired cities around the world to incorporate the built as well as the natural environment in their economic development plans such as the Atlanta BeltLine, the 606 in Chicago.

Green Biz

Canada needs to clean up its carbon act, says OECD

The OECD’s third Environmental Performance Review of Canada says that although Canada has reached a stage where it can grow its economy without driving up energy use, air pollution and emissions, it remains the second most carbon-intensive OECD country (after Estonia) and the fourth-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. 

Globe-net.com

Can the GRI and SASB reporting frameworks be collaborative?

Dunstan Allison-Hope: You both recently stated that “rather than being in competition, GRI and SASB are designed to fulfill different purposes for different audiences. For companies, it’s about choosing the right tool for the job.” Can you share what you mean by this?

Green Biz

February 2018 updates to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

Important updates to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager are being launched on February 11th, 2018. These changes will help ensure the accuracy of the program. 
* The scoring model for commercial office buildings will be updated based on the data from the 2014 Survey of Commercial and Institutional Energy Use (SCIEU).
* Updates to the adjustments that Portfolio Manager uses to account for parking and pools.
* Addition of an adjustment factor for data centres located in office buildings, allowing data centre energy to be included in the total building consumption.
* Source energy factors for electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, propane, steam, hot water, and chilled water will be updated to reflect the latest data.

Canada Green Building Council

How blockchain transforms energy markets

Blockchain seems to be everywhere these days. Not only is it the basis for cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, it’s now being touted as the next big thing in peer-to-peer transactions for shopping, government services and more. Where do you see the greatest opportunity for blockchain in the energy sector?

GreenBiz

Annual revenue for the ESRI sector to exceed $23-billion by 2026

According to recent research from Navigant, annual revenue for the energy storage and renewable integration sector will exceed $23 billion by 2026. Utility-scale and behind-the-meter applications are likely to experience the strongest growth. The report states that the costs to develop new renewable energy projects continue to drop around the globe while incentives continue to increase. 

Energy Manager Today

Low-carbon sources generated more UK electricity than fossil fuels in 2017

The UK electricity sector passed a string of other symbolic markers in 2017, from its first coal-free day since 1882 to new records for wind and solar generation. This lead NGO WWF to dub the year the “greenest ever” for electricity – with prime minister Theresa May tweeting her support.

Eco Business

	Montreal’s ban on plastic shopping bags begins
	Montreal implemented its long-planned ban on plastic bags on Monday, making it the first major Canadian city to do so. The ban covers the distribution of lightweight plastic bags with a thickness of less than 50 microns as well as biodegradable bags.
	Canadian Grocer, January 2, 2018

 

Market Trends and Research

Albertans to receive a rebate to offset the increased carbon tax

Albertans will begin receiving carbon tax rebate cheques sometime in the next week, deputy premier Sarah Hoffman said New Year’s Day, the same day a 50 per cent increase in the tax went into effect.  About 60 per cent of Albertans will automatically receive a rebate in their bank accounts to offset the costs of the carbon tax, the government says.

CBC

Municipal Policy and Urban Issues

Urban farms can help plant seeds for cities’ growth around them

On two acres within Detroit’s North End, the Michigan Urban Farm Initiative grows 300 varieties of leafy vegetables that it distributes free to 2,000 families who live within two miles of the farm. Like many urban farms around the country, MUFI has spurred redevelopment in its surrounding communities.  Urban farms have been impacting cities’ agribusiness—and, on some cases, their redevelopment—for decades.

BDC Network

Other

	Sustainable Biz followers on Twitter
	Follower The Buildings Performance Institute EU is a Brussels based think-tank delivering policy analysis, advice and implementation support for buildings energy performance.
	Follow BizSustainably, the most comprehensive news feed on Twitter for Canadian business concerned about sustainability.