Bentall Kennedy, REALPAC, UNEP assess ESG commitment in CRE

BIZ  Real Estate

Buildings account for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of energy consumption, so the property sector must play a major role in carbon emission reductions. The new Global ESG Real Estate Investment Survey Results report updates progress being made.

NYC passes sweeping ‘Climate Mobilization Act’

Real Estate  •  Smart Cities Dive

New York City Council passed wide-ranging legislation to fight climate change known as the “Climate Mobilization Act,” a package of seven bills that supporters said would help build a “Green New Deal for New York City.” The legislation passed by a 45-2 vote, according to multiple reports.

NYC mayor wants to ban new glass skyscrapers

Real Estate  •  Construction Canada

In announcing his Green New Deal on Monday, the NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to introduce a bill banning new construction of glass skyscrapers as part of his efforts to reduce citywide greenhouse emissions by 30 per cent. He says buildings are the No. 1 cause of greenhouse emissions in New York.

Luxury condo buildings guzzle electricity: BC Hydro

Real Estate  •  CBC

A BC Hydro report says newer high-rise buildings use twice as much electricity as highrises built in the 1980s even though the newer buildings are marketed as energy efficient. Luxurious amenities like pools, saunas, fitness centres, and hot tubs are contributing to the dramatic increase in buildings’ energy footprint.

Ottawa spending $277M to renovate Arthur Meighen building

Real Estate  •  CBC  •  Canada Newswire

The Canadian government is spending $277 million to renovate the Arthur Meighen building in midtown Toronto to make it as energy efficient as possible and more accessible to people with disabilities, a federal cabinet minister said in Toronto last week.

Canada improves energy efficiency for York Region buildings

Real Estate  •  Canada Newswire

With funding from Natural Resources Canada of over $340,000, Windfall Ecology Centre will assist York Region’s building owners and property managers to better track and report their annual energy and water consumption and to measure their performance against comparable buildings.

Sponsored by Canada Green Building Council CaGBC’s ‘Disclosure Challenge’ champions building data transparency

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has launched the CaGBC Disclosure Challenge initiative to support and champion the importance of data transparency in the Canadian real estate market and encourage broader uptake of benchmarking programs across the country.

First Capital Realty getting smart about waste

Real Estate  •  SAB Magazine – Spring 2019

Wind resilience standard for homes recommended

Real Estate  •  Canada Newswire

A report from the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) recommends the development of a new national standard of Canada on wind resilience to mitigate residential and small building property damage resulting from natural disasters in Canada.

City of Ottawa declares climate emergency

Real Estate  •  CBC  •  Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa city council has declared climate change an emergency, joining other Canadian municipalities in making the declaration. The vote dedicates $250,000 from the city’s annual Hydro Ottawa dividend to speed up studies aimed at moving the city to renewable energy and meeting greenhouse gas emission targets.

Vancouver, Surrey mayors commit to Smart Cities

Real Estate  •  Business In Vancouver

From driverless cars to ride-hailing spars, the mayors of Vancouver and Surrey appear to be on the same page for a host of transportation issues. The mayors were making an appearance at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade on April 16th to promote their joint Smart Cities pilot.

Vancouver considers regulation of gas-powered cars

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail  •  Globe and Mail  •  CBC

In a major new effort to tackle what it’s calling a climate-change emergency, Vancouver is looking at blocking gas-powered cars from certain parts of the city, discouraging builders from dedicating so much space to concrete-intensive basements, and adding 500 electric bikes to the city’s bike-share program.

Urban park will connect Toronto to Scarborough

Real Estate  •  CBC

Dozens of Torontonians turned out to get a sneak peek of the first plans for a 16-kilometre long stretch of green space that would see pedestrians and cyclists be able to make their way from the downtown core up to Scarborough without ever leaving the park.

Feds support GTA erosion protection projects

Real Estate  •  Construction Canada

The federal government and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) have announced funding for erosion protection caused by intense weather events at 111 locations in the Region of Peel, York Region and the City of Toronto over the next 10 years.

Feds provide funding to reduce Nova Scotia flooding

Real Estate  •  Construction Canada

Two projects in Nova Scotia will receive funding to reduce the impact of coastal flooding along the Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin.

The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are each contributing over $56.9 million to these projects, with the federal contribution coming from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

Relocation of flood disaster victims raised by Quebec MP

Real Estate  •  La Presse

Confronted with its first natural disaster, the Legault government questions the wisdom of maintaining disaster victims in risky areas. The Minister of Public Safety, Geneviève Guilbault, was sent to Beauceville, where the Chaudière River was once again threatening to flood the downtown.

Canadian green bond market expands

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail (Subscription required)  •  Canada Newswire

The Canadian green bond market is expanding as more companies are looking to raise money to fund environmentally friendly projects.  Canadian green bonds – which allow issuers to raise money for environmentally sustainable ventures – have come predominantly from the public sector.

SaskPower 10-megawatt solar project enters RFP stage

Real Estate  •  CBC

SaskPower is now accepting proposals for a 10-megawatt solar project it says will help meet its goal of reducing Saskatchewan’s carbon footprint The request for proposal (RFP) phase of the project opened Tuesday and will remain open until mid-October.

U.S. homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more

Real Estate  •  PR Newswire

More than 80 percent of home buyers say energy-efficient features are important, a truth that’s reflected by data showing homes with solar energy systems fetch higher prices. A new Zillow® analysis shows homes with solar-energy systems sold for 4.1 percent more on average than others nationwide in the past year.