Bentall Kennedy honoured for sustainability focus

Bentall Kennedy honoured for sustainability focus

Bentall Kennedy has been ranked by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) as among the top firms around the globe for its commitment to sustainable investing for six straight years.  Its new “Invest Soundly + Sustainably” report demonstrates why.

Sustainable Biz Canada

Canada’s cities confront climate change

Urban Canadians are feeling the impact of climate change. Flooding in Quebec this spring damaged nearly 1,900 homes in 126 municipalities, causing widespread psychological distress. Summer heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent and severe each year, putting more people at risk of injury and death. Vancouver and Toronto are working to manage these risks. Most Canadian cities need to work harder to include climate change in public health planning.

GreenBiz

New kid on the sustainability block: The facilities manager

When it comes to making eco-friendly buildings a reality you need a good facilities manager. Like a conductor directs an orchestra, the facilities manager increasingly plays a key role in coordinating and maintaining functions in buildings, keeping them energy-efficient and sustainable. Gone are the days where facility managers are “out of sight, out of mind.” 

Eco Business

Microgrids: The key to power resiliency

There are a variety of both practical and technical considerations to take into consideration while advancing power resiliency through microgrids. But you know what’s even more expensive than advancement? Power disruptions. In fact, according to Eaton’s Blackout Tracker Annual Report, electric outages cost the economy $150 billion annually and impact approximately 14.2 million people.

Microgrid Knowledge

3 ways building controls must evolve

With many exciting advances in data analytics, machine learning, grid integration, user interaction and renewable energy technologies entering the buildings industry, it is easy to get caught up in the vision and potential of high-performance buildings. The unfortunate reality is that many buildings designed to high-performance standards struggle to deliver on this vision.

Green Biz

Solar ‘wings’ to top off zero carbon project

Kevin Stelzer, principal at B+H Architects, is frank in describing the challenge of designing one of Canada’s first large-scale institutional buildings – the Mohawk’s Joyce Centre on the Fennell Campus in Hamilton, Ont. – to qualify to meet the Canada Green Building Council’s (CaGBC) new Zero Carbon Building Standard.

Daily Commercial News

Consumer demand driving interest in wood technology

The drive for sustainability in tall buildings has led to increasing interest in the use of timber as a major structural element, even in very tall buildings. Heightened environmental concerns have dovetailed nicely with the development of mass timber construction, much of which uses cross-laminated timber, or CLT.

Journal of Commerce

	2017 on track to make hat-trick of hottest years
	Last month was the third-hottest June on record globally, temperature data suggest, confirming 2017 will almost certainly make a hat-trick of annual climate records, with 2015, 2016 and 2017 being the three hottest years since records began.
	The Guardian, July 19, 2017

 

Tips for saving money on energy bills in multifamily structures

With summer officially here, now is the time most multifamily property owners and managers start thinking, “How can I reduce my energy bill?” Taking steps to make buildings more energy efficient not only has a positive impact on the environment but it can also save a lot of money for property owners in the small-balance market.

Multi-Housing News

Built Green Canada community takes root in Saskatchewan

The first Built Green Canada community in the province of Saskatchewan has been announced. The Autumn Ridge Estates subdivision, just seven minutes north of Regina, has launched the sale of 42 lots, with the provision that the homes built in the community be certified through the organization.

Journal of Commerce

Manitoba reaches LEED certification milestone

Totalling 601,753 square metres of space, these 100 LEED certifications represent Manitoba’s greenest and most sustainable buildings, with 72 certifications in Winnipeg, six in Brandon and the remaining 22 projects spread across the province. The honour of the 100th project goes to Stantec’s new Winnipeg office at 311 Portage St.

Journal of Commerce

How CSR execs redefine the future of the workforce

A growing cadre of activist employees means CSR and sustainability professionals must start thinking of employee engagement as “fulfillment” rather than a tactical roadmap of actions. That means going well beyond laying out an inclusive engagement strategy to making employee health and well-being a core requisite and indicator of success.

Green Biz

	Urban beekeeping comes to the suburbs
	There is a sweet hum in the air in Pointe-Claire and Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue this summer. Both municipalities have installed apiaries — aka beehives — on the roofs of public buildings.
	Montreal Gazette, July 19, 2017

 

IFC to invest up to $6 billion on energy initiatives in India

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group will invest up to $6 billion in the next five years on various sustainable and renewable energy programmes in India, of which 20% will go in building eco-friendly or green homes in the country. Jun Zhang, country head, IFC India said affordable and sustainable homes is a key part of the organization’s strategy in India.

Live Mint

IFC to invest $1 bn in India for green buildings

With a view to support India’s green building initiative, International Finance Corporation (IFC) is planning to invest over USD one billion in next five years. IFC, a member of World Bank, has planned an investment of around USD 5-6 billion for the next five years in India for participating in the country’s climate change programs, said its Country Head (India) Jun Zhang.

Money Control

Green buildings footprint to triple in India by 2020

Green buildings footprint in India is expected to triple by 2020 from current level of 1.17 billion sq ft said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI).  India accounts for 10-12% of global green building space, in 3rd position outside United States in the world, next to Canada and China.

Economic Times

We are the answer to a sustainable future

For decades, T.H. Culhane has explored the power of sunshine. In light of all he’s learned, how does the future of sustainability look? Bright. If we wisely use what we already have, and recognize the crucial impact each individual can make. Culhane believes in starting with what we already have rather than looking for virgin supplies and resources.

National Geographic

Products, Technology and Design

Restored 200 year old windows as air tight a new ones

Tell those replacement window salesmen to go away; fix your old window instead. One of the first things many people do in a renovation is change the windows. For years, historic preservation groups like the National Trust for Historic Preservation have tried to show that this was an aesthetic and environment crime.

TreeHugger

Market Trends and Research

Seven regions poised to feel climate change pain

It could have been the edge of the Sahara Desert or even Death Valley, but it was the remains of a large orchard in the hills above the city of Murcia in southern Spain last year. The soil had broken down into fine white, lifeless sand, and a landscape of rock and dying orange and lemon trees stretched into the distance.

Ensia.com

How rising seas threaten ancient coastal ruins

Perched on the breathtaking Atlantic coast of Mainland, the largest island in Scotland’s Orkney archipelago, are the remains of the Stone Age settlement of Skara Brae, dating back 5,000 years. Just feet from the sea, Skara Brae is one of the best-preserved Stone Age villages in the world on the northern coast of the Scottish mainland.

Yale 360

Market trends and research

The future is circular: New rules for sustainable purchasing

Our planet and societies are changing in response to environmental pressures, and this change is opening the business community up to new and constantly-evolving risks and constraints. Businesses and other organizations need to be cost-conscious – but some strategies that are cost-saving on the face of things are actually causing us to waste money and resources overall.

Globe-net.com

Renewable Energy

IKEA in contract for more wind farm energy

IKEA is once again turning to alternative energy production with a new agreement to use wind powered energy from a wind farm in Alberta, Canada. The wind farm consists of 20 Siemens 2.3MW turbines. Apex Clean Energy will provide both remote asset management and on-site facility management for the farm.

Energy Manager Today

Siemens closes wind turbine plant in Tillsonburg

Siemens Canada is closing its wind-turbine plant here, slashing more than 340 jobs and shuttering one of the town’s largest employers. The closing comes after weeks of nervous speculation and one day of public debate over the factory, which was locked to employees Sunday night.

Ottawa Citizen – CBC

Municipal Policy and Urban Issues

Ottawa Riverkeeper releases 400 eels, calls for infrastructure changes

On July 12th, Ottawa Riverkeeper released 400 American eels on the shores of Petrie Island, Ottawa, and called for greater action on the part of hydroelectric operators to create accommodating infrastructure for the fresh water species. The eel release was part of a collaboration with the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Water Canada

Transit, bikes and transportation

Electric cars may stall without a battery revolution

All around the world, countries are sounding the death knell for the internal combustion engine. Earlier this month, France announced that it wanted to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040, joining India (2030) and Norway (2025) in envisioning an all-electric future.

The Guardian

Water Management

Can building irrigation systems be wasting water?

More than two trillion gallons of water are still lost every year, and a significant portion of this loss comes from undetected leaks caused by irrigation systems. Common signs of an undiscovered leak include a surprising increase in water usage – even though water use routines haven’t changed – and an equal increase in water costs.

Proud Green Building

How should business react to China’s water crisis?

Home to a fifth of the world’s population, but only 7% of global freshwater supply, China is already at a disadvantage when it comes to ensuring it has enough water to secure its future growth and prosperity. Yet the price of water in China is much lower than the rest of the world – less than 50 cents per cubic meter compared to over $2 globally.

World Economic Forum

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