Winnipeg’s NFI zero-emission bus orders growing

BIZ  Energy, Transportation  •  Clean Energy, Technology  •  National, Winnipeg, International

NFI (New Flyer) Group is experiencing rapid growth in demand for its zero-emission bus products as worldwide momentum builds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CEO Paul Soubry said the Winnipeg-based bus and motorcoach manufacturer is committed to the transition.

CBSR launches 1st Net-Zero Leadership Board

BIZ  Energy, ESG  •  National

CBSR launched Canada’s first net-zero leaderboard board to help curtail global warming by keeping track of and providing information on Canadian companies’ commitments to climate action. The initiative aims to inspire countries worldwide to take action while recording their progress.

Amazon to source power from Canadian solar farm

Energy, Real Estate  •  Financial Post  •  Financial Post

Amazon.com Inc. signed deals to buy power from 14 wind and solar farms across Canada, the United States and Europe, bolstering its position as the world’s largest corporate buyer of renewable electricity.

SustainableBiz vacation week June 28–July 2

BIZ  Social  •  Human Resources  •  National

The staff at SustainableBiz will be taking a break from June 28 to July 2 and will therefore not be publishing articles to sustainablebiz.ca, nor sending our bi-weekly newsletter during that time. We will return on Monday, July 5.

Urban Agency’s bamboo tower design for BC

Real Estate  •  urbanYVR

Urban Agency Architects have unveiled Vancouver Forest — their design for a high-rise, passive house apartment tower, which will be constructed with bamboo. Located in Marpole, it calls for 200 residential units and 43,000 square feet of community amenity space.

Nexii and PEG deliver hotel in record time

Real Estate, Waste  •  GlobeNewswire  •  Sustainable Biz Canada

Nexii Building Solutions Inc. and PEG Companies will deliver the exterior building envelope for the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Nanaimo, B.C. Nexii’s system will reduce the climate impact of the hotel’s construction and reduce on-site construction waste to near-zero.

Sponsored by Skyline Group of Companies When it comes to corporate sustainability planning, “prize effort over perfection”

COVID-19 has caused abrupt and immense changes in corporate direction and operations across Canadian workplaces. However, it has not succeeded in diminishing the call for companies to accelerate their corporate sustainability or ESG (environmental, social, governance) responsibilities.

CRE owners join CaGBC disclosure challenge

Energy, Real Estate  •  CaGBC

Canada Green Building Council’s Disclosure Challenge will publicly share their energy, water and carbon data through the Energy Star Portfolio Manager platform. Canada’s largest real estate owners will participate in the challenge, supporting emissions reductions and energy efficiency improvements.

A for Quebec, F for Alberta in conservation study

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

A Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society report graded Canadian governments based on the country’s target to conserve 17 per cent of its landmass and 10 per cent of its oceans by 2020; only Quebec and the federal government came close to the target.

Saint-Laurent has planted 10,000+ trees since 2008

Real Estate  •  Canada Newswire

Saint-Laurent has planted more than 10,000 trees on its territory since 2008 and was the first in Montreal in 2009 to adopt an urban forestry plan. This not only helps reduce heat islands and better adapt to climate change, but also promotes biodiversity.

GoodLeaf Farms bringing indoor vertical farm for QC

Real Estate  •  Canadian Grocer

GoodLeaf Farms is developing an indoor vertical farm in the Montreal area. The company said produce such as pea shoots, micro radish and micro arugula will be available at grocery stores in Quebec and Atlantic Canada by fall 2022.

NRCB approves reservoir to protect Calgary from floods

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

The Natural Resources Conservation Board approved a reservoir that could protect Calgary from future flooding, ruling that it’s in the public interest. Alberta Transportation proposed the $432-million off-stream reservoir near the rural community of Springbank, Alberta, just west of Calgary.

BC Hydro to drop two gas-powered plants

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

BC Hydro will phase out two natural gas plants as it focuses on hydroelectricity in striving for a greener grid. The provincial Crown corporation will not renew a power-purchasing contract with the plant of one supplier on Vancouver Island.

Ottawa energy co-op seeks $1.3M for wind turbines

Energy, Real Estate  •  Ottawa Business Journal

An Ottawa-based renewable energy organization is trying to acquire two wind turbines along the Lake Huron shore. The Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative is launching an offering to raise $1.3 million to purchase the turbines in partnership with an independent power producer.

Expanded field now eligible for race2reduce

Energy, Real Estate, Waste  •  REMI Network

The race2reduce has incorporated commercial buildings in Toronto’s York Region. A collaboration between the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Toronto and Windfall Ecology Centre, the challenge aims to reduce electricity, gas and water consumption and waste generation.

B.C. startup’s $400M plant to “tame” nuclear fusion

Real Estate  •  Financial Post

Burnaby-based General Fusion wants to master nuclear fusion, essentially the same process that generates heat in the sun. But nuclear fusion is still an emerging technology that has yet to be commercialized, and it produces massive energy.

Michelin’s inflatable sails increase fuel efficiency

Energy, Transportation  •  Performance Sailor

Michelin‘s Wing Sail Mobility project (WISAMO) features an inflatable wing that can be fitted on all types of vessels, including cargo ships. The design harnesses wind power and can increase a ship’s fuel efficiency by 20 per cent.

How to harness air for low-carbon shipping

Energy, Transportation  •  GreenBiz

Guillaume Le Grand has harnessed the power of wind in a trans-Atlantic shipping company that uses wind power instead of fossil fuels. Launched in 2009, TransOceanic Wind Transport is sailing along five routes, transporting goods ranging from wine to cocoa beans.

Human-centered design reduces plastic pollution

Waste  •  GreenBiz

During the G7 summit, the W7 — including women’s rights advocacy groups from G7 countries — set out to ensure leaders commit to tangible impacts on females’ lives. Using a human-centered approach to innovation could reduce marine plastic pollution while empowering women.

Reuse economy could save $5B yearly

Waste  •  Sustainable Brands

This week, Upstream released Reuse Wins — a report showing how a reuse economy is emerging to replace the use of single-use products in food service. The report compares the environmental impacts of disposables versus reusables and projects potential cost savings.