Category: Sustainability

Key Takeaways:

• The 14-storey tower will consist of 109 studio homes.
• The final design was delivered by Stantec and Bird’s Stack Modular business.
• The project is valued at $50 million.

The Whole Story:

Bird Construction will help build a 14-storey modular project in Vancouver – the tallest of its kind in Canada.

The company announced it has been awarded a construction management services contract for BC Housing‘s Permanent Supportive Housing Initiative, located on East King Edward Avenue in Vancouver. The 14-storey modular project is valued at approximately $50 million.

The project is part of a joint agreement between the city of Vancouver, BC Housing, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to deliver a minimum of 300 permanent supportive homes on five city-owned sites. The East King Edward Avenue building will consist of 109 studio homes, with the base of the building holding a commercial kitchen, dining room, multi-purpose room, and tenant laundry. The building will be collaboratively operated by Vancouver Native Housing Society and Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society.

The project design was supported by Bird’s pre-construction design services, with the final design delivered by Stantec and Bird’s Stack Modular business. The seamless exterior design will include elements that represent Coast Salish and Urban Indigenous Peoples, with the facade highlighted by timber-like panels and blank exterior wall space for culturally themed murals. It will follow the Passive House green building design standard, and the prefabricated modular construction method is expected to reduce construction waste, expedite the construction process, and reduce costs.

According to Bird, the volumetric steel modular tower offers 14 floors of units on a rapid, repeatable scale. The team stated that the approach allows for customization to meet the community’s needs and creates a look and feel comparable to current purpose-built apartments. They added that he modular approach substantially reduces construction time, facilitating faster occupancy than traditional builds and reducing the impact on the local community during construction, while ensuring strict quality control, rigorous safety standards, and significant energy performance in line with Passive House standards. 

They believe that these benefits position modular construction as an efficient solution to Canada’s housing crisis and long-term care capacity challenges, as well as for the delivery of other vital infrastructure with repeatable requirements.

“We are proud to be selected to provide our forward-leaning accelerated construction method to communities in need of housing. Modular construction is gaining considerable momentum in North America and our Bird Stack team has been actively demonstrating the benefits to build more efficiently and fast-track delivery of important infrastructure to the market,” said Teri McKibbon, president and CEO of Bird. “The strong design partnership, coupled with early engagement and collaboration between the project partners and the community, has ensured this vital housing initiative will move forward.”

Key Takeaways:

• Buildings are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto.
• grants of up to $500,000 will be awarded to each of the buildings to offset the incremental design and construction costs required to achieve maximum emissions reductions.
• participants are currently finalizing their designs.
• Once complete, the city will develop and publicly release comprehensive case studies.

The Whole Story:

Toronto has revealed the eight buildings participating in the Deep Retrofit Challenge (DRC), a competition-style program with up to $5 million in funding up for grabs.

The funding comes from Natural Resources Canada provided through its Green Infrastructure – Energy Efficient Buildings Program. 

Through the DRC, grants of up to $500,000 will be awarded to each of the buildings, seven of which are privately-owned, to support deeper-than-planned energy retrofits. The grants will offset the incremental design and construction costs required to achieve maximum greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions.

“Reducing emissions from buildings across Toronto is a critical piece of the City’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy and something we must do quickly to address the climate crisis,” said Jennifer McKelvie, deputy mayor. “Through the Deep Retrofit Challenge, we are accelerating emissions reductions and creating pathways for other buildings to follow. Reducing emissions to net zero will require significant community-wide action and investments by other levels of government.”

Launched in 2022, the DRC aims to accelerate emissions reductions from buildings in Toronto and identify pathways to net zero that can be replicated in other buildings across the city. The retrofits are intended to advance the goals of the TransformTO Net Zero Climate Action Strategy, including the city’s target to reduce community-wide emissions to net zero by 2040, and serve as a catalyst to accelerate deep energy retrofits.

Officials noted that Toronto’s community-wide emissions must be cut in half in the next seven years – by 2030 – to reach the trajectory needed to reach net zero by 2040. Buildings are the largest source of GHG emissions in Toronto today, generating approximately 58 per cent of community-wide emissions, primarily from the burning of natural gas for heating and hot water. The City controls only about five per cent of community-wide emissions directly through its own buildings and operations, making a community-wide effort essential to reaching net zero emissions.

DRC participants are currently finalizing their designs. The process includes an integrated design workshop, energy modelling, the final selection of energy conservation measures and payback calculations. To remain eligible for funding, participants must deliver a final design to the city that verifies that their proposed projects will meet all DRC program requirements, including:

• Minimum 50 per cent reduction in the building’s GHG emissions.
• Minimum 50 per cent reduction in total energy use intensity.
• Payback period of 20 years or less.

Retrofits will be completed by early 2025. Once complete, the city will develop and publicly release comprehensive case studies on completion of the retrofits, including the retrofit designs, utility savings, project costs and lessons learned.

Applications for the DRC were accepted from Aug. 26 to Oct. 31, 2022. The city received 14 applications and accepted 11 conditionally, with eight building owners now fully committed.

More information about participants and their projects is available on the city’s Deep Retrofit Challenge webpage. To receive updates about the projects, residents can ask to be added to a mailing list by emailing drc@toronto.ca.

Here are the challenge participants:

350 Bay Street (Dream Office REIT)
Building type: Commercial Office
Year built: 1928
Number of storeys: 13
Number of units: 12
Gross Floor Area (m2): 5,406
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 53%
Estimated total energy use intensity reduction: 73%
Total DRC incentive: $500,000

723 Bloor Street West (Dream Unlimited)
Building type: Multi-unit residential
Year built: 1920
Number of storeys: 4
Number of units: 16
Gross Floor Area (m2): 1,604
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 72%
Estimated total energy use intensity reduction: 53%
Total DRC incentive: $229,384.75

88 College Street (The Governing Council of the University of Toronto)
Building type: Commercial office
Year built: 1882
Number of storeys: 2
Number of units: N/A
Gross Floor Area (m2): 1,748
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 95%
Estimated total energy use intensity reduction: 72%
Total DRC incentive: $285,326

1-15 Field Sparroway; 2-10 Tree Sparroway (Toronto Community Housing)
Building type: Multi-unit residential
Year built: 1973
Number of storeys: 3
Number of units: 175
Gross Floor Area (m2): 17,414
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 82%
Estimated total energy use intensity reduction: 50%
Total DRC incentive: $500,000

633 Northcliffe Boulevard (Northcliffe Inc.)
Building type: Multi-unit residential
Year built: 1968
Number of storeys: 11
Number of units: 86
Gross Floor Area (m2): 6,973
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 76.5%
Estimated total energy use intensity reduction: 52%
Total DRC incentive: $500,000

177 St. George Street (Dream Unlimited)
Building type: Multi-unit residential
Year built: 1963
Number of storeys 8
Number of units: 65
Gross Floor Area (m2): 3,902
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 54%
Estimated total energy use intensity reduction: 74%
Total DRC incentive: $500,000

145 Woodward Avenue (145 Woodward Ave Inc.)
Building type: Multi-unit residential
Year built: 1955
Number of storeys: 3
Number of units: 11
Gross Floor Area (m2): 870
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 80%
Estimated total energy use intensity reduction: 57%
Total DRC incentive: $151,750

61 Yorkville Avenue (Minto Apartment Limited Partnership)
Building type: Mixed-use (multi-unit residential and retail commercial)
Year built: 2003
Number of storeys: 18
Number of units: 181
Gross Floor Area (m2): 19,490
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction: 82%
Estimated total energy use intensity reduction: 51%
Total DRC incentive: $383,750

Earth Day, April 22, is nearly upon us.

It’s is a time to reflect on the planet and ways that we can make it better. As the globe is facing the impacts of climate change, the construction sector has its own role play in reducing its environmental impact. Here are 11 companies that are doing their part to reduce, reuse and recycle rather than throw away and start from scratch.

Unbuilders

It’s not demolition. It’s deconstruction. Unbuilders is a team of former-carpenters, roofers, framers, and tradespeople who have transitioned to recycling buildings. The B.C.-based company deconstructs and salvages most of the building’s components yielding less than 5% waste on average. On each project, Unbuilders diverts 50 tonnes of waste and salvages 10 tonnes of lumber.

CarbonCure

CarbonCure wants to transform one of the most-used materials on the planet: concrete. The Nova Scotia company creates carbon removal technologies that introduce recycled CO2 into fresh concrete to reduce its carbon footprint, without compromising performance. Earlier this year, CarbonCure announced it was part of a project team that captured CO2 via direct air capture and permanently stored it in concrete for the first time. 

GRT

GRT’s recycling facility in Nanaimo takes contaminated soils and muds bound for landfills and cleans them. The material can then be used to make clean clay and gravel for landscaping, construction and even capping landfills. It is one of only three soil reclamation companies in North America. 

ESGold Corp.

This mining company plans to take processed tailings from its Montauban project in Quebec and combine them with an organic Polymer. They can then use the mixture to create building materials with shapes including, bricks, cinder blocks, paving stones, patio tiles, Parking Columns and Highway Jersey Barriers used to define traffic lanes. 

Wall to Wall

When Christina Wall couldn’t find any option for budget renovators to reuse construction materials, she decided to do it herself. Wall to Wall in Prince George is a hub for those looking for used construction materials like nails, light fixtures, air duct covers, cabinets and more. According to the Prince George Post,  since 2019 Wall has collected and sold more than 47 tonnes of construction material that was bound for the dump. 

Lafarge Canada

Last year Lafarge Canada announced it had fully transformed its Brookfield Cement Plant’s cement production in Nova Scotia to produce a reduced carbon portland limestone cement – branded as OneCem – the company’s eco-efficient alternative. It is one of several plants that Lafarge has converted over the past few years. 

New West Gypsum Recycling

Saint-Gobain’s subsidiary, CertainTeed, announced this month it had achieved a major milestone: returning one million tonnes of recycled gypsum back into production. The company’s Delta, B.C. facility achieved this by partnering with New West Gypsum to process old gypsum into new products. New West has facilities all over Canada and internationally. 

Renewal Home Development 

Where some see the past, Renewal Home Development sees the future. The Vancouver company seeks to save, relocate and repurpose high-value homes for new owners in coastal communities in the Pacific Northwest. Renewal estimates that as much as 20% of the 3,800 single family homes slated for demolition each year across coastal B.C. are in good to excellent condition and worth trying to physically relocate and repurpose.

Nexii

B.C.-based green construction company, Nexii Building Solutions Inc. has achieved the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Gold Certification for Zero Waste for its Squamish Manufacturing Plant. This achievement makes Nexii the first construction manufacturing company in North America to receive this prestigious recognition. In addition to leading the industry on Zero Waste certification, Nexii designs and manufactures its products for deconstruction and reuse.

North Star Clean Technologies

North Star recently received an Environmental Awareness Award from the Waste Management Association of B.C. (WMABC) for its efforts to recycle roof shingles. The company’s proprietary reprocessing technology recovers 100 percent of the constituent components of asphalt shingles, otherwise destined for landfill, for reuse in the circular economy.

Key Takeaways:

• Retrofitting can provide significant opportunities to lower a building’s embodied emissions compared to a new build.
• The slab and foundation walls demonstrated the largest carbon savings potential when reused.
• The operational emissions of 20 years of continued use for this home equals the embodied emissions of 4 new net-zero homes.
• The embodied emissions invested in upgrading the home through a deep energy retrofit or a full reconstruction can be paid back in 5 years or less by the energy savings of a new high-efficiency home.

The Whole Story:

Is it better for the planet to build a home from scratch or retrofit?

A recent case study conducted in North Vancouver, B.C., consulting firm Carbon Wise explored the benefits of deconstructing and retrofitting an existing home versus constructing a new building.

The goal was to determine which option yields a smaller carbon footprint and aligns with the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) net-zero standard.” by “The goal was to determine which option yields a smaller carbon footprint when targeting the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) net-zero standard.

Looking at embodied emissions

Traditionally, green building policies have prioritized operational emissions (energy use during a building’s lifetime). However, as energy efficiency improves, embodied emissions (those associated with material production and construction) become more significant. 

Researchers used the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to investigate the complex relationship between embodied and operational emissions over time.

The study compared two options: demolishing the existing structure to build a new one, and doing a deep energy retrofit that attempts to reuse as much of the original material as possible. The results showed that retrofitting can provide significant opportunities to lower a building’s embodied emissions compared to a new build.

The authors explained that the key to this approach is the ability to design structures that make the best use of existing materials. In the case study, the most impactful elements of the home were the roof and foundation. The slab and foundation walls, in particular, demonstrated the largest carbon savings potential when reused.

Energy savings can come quicker than you think

The study noted that for homes with poor operational energy performance, net energy savings can be realized in a relatively short time frame through either demolition and reconstruction or deep energy retrofit. The embodied emissions invested in upgrading the home through a deep energy retrofit or a full reconstruction can be paid back in 5 years or less by the energy savings of a new high-efficiency home.

Researchers found that a deep retrofit, particularly one using carefully selected low-carbon materials, can result in significantly below-average embodied emissions (120 kg CO2e/m2) compared to the average of 193 kg CO2e/m2 for a new home in the city of Vancouver. Concrete is the highest emitter, and minimizing its use can result in substantial emissions savings (in this case, approximately 8 tonnes of CO2e).

The study found that with simple material substitutions, a 40-80% reduction in embodied emissions can be achieved. For instance, the case study highlighted that the careful selection of low-carbon building materials and the reuse of exterior walls, interior walls, and other components played a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact.

Results don’t mean it’s a magic bullet

The researchers noted their conclusions may vary in regions where electricity is not generated from renewable sources. Nonetheless, the case study highlights the importance of considering both operational and embodied emissions when aiming for a sustainable and energy-efficient home. 

According to the study, the choice between renovating and rebuilding is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but understanding the environmental impacts of each can inform more responsible decision-making in residential construction. By focusing on both energy efficiency and the reuse of existing materials, homeowners can significantly reduce their carbon footprint while also creating a more sustainable future.

What do you do with old post offices, out of service airports, shuttered military facilities, crumbling jazz bars?

For these projects, the answer is to adapt and reuse. Rather than start from scratch, these teams sought to restore and preserve older buildings. This approach not only produces visually captivating outcomes by merging the old with the new, but it’s also good for the planet.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 90% of total construction debris is produced by demolition of existing buildings. Experts believe that reusing existing buildings could bring down emissions by as much as 40%.

The Post – Vancouver

This building, which sits on an entire city block in downtown Vancouver, was once the main regional processing facility for Canada Post and an important example of Vancouver’s mid-century architecture. When the team undertook the revitalization of the Canada Post building, they engaged heritage conservators to retain and restore many of the building’s distinctive elements. These include the blue and terracotta tile façade, the relief sculpture of a postal worker and coats of arms, as well as original artwork and etched windows.

Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples – Edmonton

Clark Builders was tasked with restoring Edmonton’s Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples after it suffered severe fire damage due to an accident in 2020. It required a lot of complex, custom carpentry work. Part of the construction process even involved installing a massive teepee with 32-foot poles under the guidance of Indigenous leaders. 

PHI Contemporary – Montreal

In 2021, Montreal’s multidisciplinary contemporary arts hub PHI launched an international competition for the design of PHI Contemporary, its new home. Located in the Old Montreal historic district, the site comprises four heritage buildings. The winning design, by Berlin-based Kuehn Malvezzi and Montreal-based firms Pelletier de Fontenay and Jodoin Lamarre Pratte architectes, integrates old and new, indoors and out, with an emphasis on giving artists open, unencumbered space to bounce their ideas off of, and making the results readily accessible to the public. The facility is expected to open in 2026.

Waterworks – Toronto

Waterworks was originally designed in the Art Deco style by City Architect J. J. Woolnough. Completed in 1933, it was once owned by the City of Toronto and operated as a public market from 1837 to around 1900. According to Diamond Schmitt Architects, the adaptive reuse of Waterworks includes the full retention and reuse of the machine shop building as a food hall and the retention of the northern portion of the complex to accommodate a mix of uses. The new compatible construction features retail at grade, a full-service YMCA athletic facility on the second and third floors, and a 288 mid-rise condominium above.

King Eddy / Studio Bell – Calgary

The century-old King Eddy blues bar was laser scanned and dismantled and then painstakingly rebuilt, brick by brick as part of Studio Bell and the National Music Centre in Calgary. Each brick was cleaned, stored and placed on numbered pallets so that the building could be reassembled exactly as it was in 1905. Designed by Allied Works Architects of Portland, Oregon, the 160,000 square foot, $168 million Studio Bell opened on July 1, 2016. The King Eddy essentially is the largest part of the facility’s collection of music artifacts.

Cambridge Suites Hotel – Toronto

The original Cambridge Suites Hotel in Toronto was planned by WZMH Architects in 1990. Now, the WZMH team plans to reimagine the mixed-use building to retain the existing 21-story building’s concrete structure while incorporating additional structural and design modifications to support the 50 new stories being added for the residential development.

Stadium LRT – Edmonton

The Stadium LRT Redevelopment involved the refurbishment of the original 1978 Stadium Station on the northeast leg of Edmonton’s Capital Line LRT. GEC Architecture took a traditionally-designed transit station and transformed it into a modern inter-modal transit hub by replacing the grade-separated access and centre-loaded platform.

Evergreen Brick Works – Toronto

Toronto’s Don Valley Brick Works, founded in 1889, was one of the most prominent brick makers in the country. It supplied material for projects like Massey Hall, Old City Hall, Casa Loma, and the Royal Ontario Museum. LGA Architectural Partners and EllisDon helped transform the deteriorating buildings into Canada’s first large-scale community environmental centre.

Aurora Armoury – Aurora, Ont.

This building was constructed in 1874 for the Department of National Defence to train infantry, conduct town meetings and coordinate military parades. It has since been restored by the Town of Aurora and Niagara College as an outpost location for the Niagara College Canadian Food & Wine Institute. Gow Hastings Architects noted that to celebrate the original agrarian-style building, the design team exposed the large spanning post and beam structure, and refurbished the original terrazzo floor.

Massey Hall – Toronto

Opened in 1894, Massey Hall sorely needed updating for modern audiences, but the project team in charge of its renovation and expansion wanted to maintain its historic architecture. Crews worked to protect the Moorish-styled auditorium, the Art Deco lobby and the Palladian exterior. Stage acoustics were upgraded throughout to enhance sound quality while interiors were recalibrated to original grandeur. Old fire escapes were also removed from the building’s exterior front façade to reveal highly valued heritage materials that lay underneath.

Block 208 – Ottawa

Block 208, also known as the Beater Building, has been subject to extensive modifications over time. Redesigned by Hobin Architecture, today it incorporates two original facades into a new building.  The other facades are composed with a contemporary material palette. Project officials say this is meant to evoke the original vocation of the site.

John Muir Library – Windsor, Ont.

According to architect Jason Grossi, this project necessitated a contemporary response between two heritage designated structures from different epochs (a mid-19th century horse and hay loft stable structure and a fire station from 1921) to form one building. The project was challenged by sandy soil as well as disparate floor elevations.

Hollywood Theatre – Vancouver

Rather than tear down the Hollywood Theatre, one of the last surviving neighbourhood cinemas in Vancouver and an example of the Art Deco style, MA+HG Architects’ design modernized and integrated it into a housing development. The obsolete theatre was transformed into a multipurpose performance venue while maintaining its historic elements.

Bombardier Centre for Aerospace and Aviation – Toronto

Designed by MJMA and Stantec with ERA as Heritage Architects, this adaptive reuse project took the oldest surviving aircraft factory in Canada and transformed it into Centennial College’s facility for Aviation and Engineering Technology & Applied Science. The result is massive. It features more than 40,000 square feet of hanger space and 10,000 square feet of student amenity areas and library resources. It also includes 50,000 square feet of classroom and lab space

Key Takeaways:

• Metro Vancouver homebuilder Adera Development has passed the halfway mark to its goal of creating 1,000 mass timber homes in the region.
• Its latest mass timber projects are being designed to the designed to the international Fitwel rating standard.
• While Adera CEO Rocky Sethi said he appreciates support for mass timber construction from the province, he believes more can be done by various levels of government to create lasting results.

The Whole Story:

Vancouver-based homebuilder Adera Development is at the forefront of mass timber construction in B.C., recently surpassing the 500 mark on its commitment to deliver 1,000 mass timber homes in Metro Vancouver.

The latest homes are coming to market across two communities: PURA in Surrey Central West and SoL in West Coquitlam.

A project bringing one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes to market, SoL represents Adera’s second mass timber community in the area, following Duet CityHomes at Como Lake Avenue. PURA offers one-bedroom to two-bedroom plus den homes set within two six-storey buildings, which include over 12,000 square feet of shared resident amenities within walking distance of Surrey Central Station. Both projects are designed to the international Fitwel rating standard, which considers occupant health and wellness in every aspect of the design.

Both SoL and PURA are constructed utilizing Adera’s SmartWood, proprietary cross-laminated timber (CLT) building material. While matching concrete and steel in strength and durability,  SmartWood sequesters air components, rendering it better for the environment and reducing construction timelines, noise, and labour requirements. Adera’s mass timber manufacturing partners use wood sourced from sustainably managed forests in B.C., thus keeping the supply chain local and reducing carbon emissions with shorter travel times. 

Rocky Sethi, CEO at Adera, said that the new communities of PURA and SoL, once complete, will represent a larger move towards sustainable development in Metro Vancouver.

“PURA is the first mass timber community in Surrey Central, and we can see the interest in mass timber construction picking up across the Lower Mainland,” said Sethi. 

“Metro Vancouver is in the midst of a housing crisis, and developing new communities with mass timber allows for the faster creation of housing supply while leaving a more sustainable impact on the homebuilding landscape than traditional building materials,” he added. “We anticipate the demand for mass timber development in B.C. will continue to grow while awareness is raised around its vast benefits for developers, homeowners, and communities.”

The government of B.C. is working to expand the use of mass timber within the province and, in 2021, launched the Mass Timber Demonstration Program. Under the program, individual projects can receive up to $500,000 to cover permitting, design development, and construction costs using mass timber. While Sethi noted that this is a good first step, he believes more action and cooperation are needed between the various levels of government in order to see lasting results. 

Vancouver-based construction waste disposal company GB Group started back in 2004 with just one truck and 20 bins. Now they have 18 roll-up trucks, roughly 400 bins in all shapes and sizes, and about 35 employees. The family business is run by Bryan VanderHoek and his son Tyler with a focus on supporting employees and advancing sustainability. 

SiteNews: What does sustainability mean to you and GB Group?

Tyler VanderHoek: My family has always been outdoorsy. We go camping all summer, ride mountain bikes and hike, so we believe in treating the outdoors with respect. It’s also why we are starting a brand new tree planting initiative where we plant one tree for every bin used. If you dump a bin with us, we plant a tree. And a tower project can generate 250 bins a year. We want to bring more forest into the world and that’s why it’s cool to us. We have a direct relationship to the environment.

Why do you place so much importance on your employees?

Our drivers are the ones doing the work. If we don’t have them, we don’t have anything. We believe in building careers that people can be proud of. You can roll up in a brand new Peterbilt and make 20 per cent more than our competitors. We like to bring on board young people and then promote them because it is an aging industry. 

What sort of data do you track for clients?

We track every single thing that goes into the bin – cardboard, metal, plastic, garbage. We then provide those metrics in percentages for the clients so they can see what’s in there. Those reports are called LEED reports. We track LEED on every site whether you ask us to or not because then we can provide waste assessments. Seeing higher garbage percentages in a report indicates to us that more materials could be recycled.

Why should companies hire GB Group? And how should they get in touch?

We are truly solutions focused and family driven. We have been doing this for over 20+ years and have the size, scale and specialization that can be counted on for complex projects. Our clients are building some of the biggest projects in Western Canada – and we are trusted to deliver. We are not a big multinational but a family business that always stands behind our brand and people. To get in touch, call 604-468-2467.

Key Takeaways:

• The CO2 was collected using direct air capture technology. 
• The carbon won’t return to the atmosphere, even if the concrete is demolished. 
• The team believes that CO2 storage in concrete could be a major asset to achieve climate goals.

The Whole Story:

Carbon dioxide (CO2) captured via direct air capture (DAC) has been permanently stored in concrete for the first time in a demonstration project led by CarbonCure Technologies and Heirloom.

The team announced that Heirloom captured CO2 from the atmosphere using their DAC technology at their headquarters in Brisbane, California. Technology developed by Nova Scotia-based CarbonCure was used to to inject the captured CO2 into the process wastewater at a Central Concrete batch plant in San Jose, California. Central Concrete used the CO2-treated wastewater to make fresh concrete, which was produced for a range of construction projects across the Bay Area. 

Stored forever 

The team explained that the CO2 is sequestered in the concrete as calcium carbonate, and will not be returned to the atmosphere, even if the concrete is demolished. 

Heirloom runs America’s only operational DAC facility. It uses limestone, an abundant, easy-to-source and inexpensive material, to pull CO2 from the air. 

The team explained that this is done by harnessing a cyclic process. The limestone is broken down into calcium oxide rock and CO2 gas using heat from a renewable-energy powered, electric kiln. The calcium oxide is spread onto vertically stacked trays where it acts like a sponge – pulling CO2 from the air before it is returned to the kiln and the process begins again. The captured CO2 gas is then permanently stored safely underground or embedded in concrete.

Using Canadian technology 

CarbonCure Technologies licenses a suite of carbon mineralization solutions for hundreds of concrete plants globally. CarbonCure’s reclaimed water technology was used to store Heirloom’s CO2 at Central Concrete. The technology injects CO2 into reclaimed water (recycled water collected from washing out concrete trucks) at concrete plants. When injected, the CO2 immediately reacts with cement in the water and mineralizes, permanently storing the CO2 and stabilizing the cement for reuse. The CO2-treated slurry is then used in new concrete mixes.

Central Concrete was the first concrete supplier in the Bay Area to adopt CarbonCure’s technologies for ready-mixed concrete. 

“This demonstration project is a global milestone for carbon removal technology that confirms concrete’s enormous potential as a climate solution that can permanently store carbon in our most essential infrastructure – from roads and runways to hospitals and housing,” said Robert Niven, chair and CEO of CarbonCure Technologies. “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Heirloom and Central Concrete on this groundbreaking world first.”

“The science is clear: In order to reach climate goals we must remove billions of tons of already emitted CO2 from the atmosphere each year,” said Shashank Samala, CEO of Heirloom. “This is an important step toward that future and shows the promise of DAC technologies combined with smart, permanent methods of sequestration.”

Looking to a zero-carbon future

The team stated that the application of a DAC-to-concrete solution is a significant step forward in permanent atmospheric CO2 removal. 

“As the world moves toward zero-carbon energy generation, DAC technologies will play a key role in remediating past emissions, and helping to decarbonize industries as they develop and scale carbon-cutting solutions,” they said. 

They noted that even the most aggressive emissions reduction projections from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will require the removal of 6-10 billion tons of CO2 per year by 2050 to stick to a 1.5 C warming pathway. 

“DAC technologies are some of the most promising methods of carbon dioxide removal, and have recently received large investments from the U.S. government through the Department of Energy’s $3.5 billion DAC hub program and the Inflation Reduction Act,” they said. 

The added that the world’s most-utilized building material, concrete provides an important repository for permanent CO2 storage. With the global building stock expected to double by 2060 – the equivalent of building another New York City every month – concrete presents a key opportunity to store immense quantities of carbon dioxide in our built environment.

Improving the performance of our buildings is a major part of combatting climate change.

According to the World Economic Forum, buildings are responsible for about 40 per cent of global energy consumption and about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.

This has led many to pursue Passive House, a method of design and construction that can create buildings that consume up to 90 percent less heating and cooling energy than conventional work. According to Passive House Canada, it is the only internationally recognized, proven, science-based energy standard in construction.

The history of Passive House in Canada goes all the way back to the 1970s, with the Saskatchewan Conservation House in Regina. The visionary project had no furnace but still performed three times better than traditional builds at the time. According to the University of Regina, it was one of the first conservation demonstration houses constructed in North America.

Since then, Passive House buildings in Canada have got far more ambitious and more high-tech. We went through Passive House Canada‘s database to highlight some of the many projects under construction or recently completed across the country.

University of Victoria Student Housing and Dining – Victoria, B.C.

The Student Housing and Dining project includes two new buildings on campus, and is the largest capital project in the university’s history. The new buildings provide 783 total student spaces, with 398 beds for students in Building 1. In addition to student housing, Building 1 features the Cove dining hall that is open to the entire campus community. Building 2 provides 385 student beds, two 225-seat classrooms, and an Indigenous student lounge and meeting rooms. The project team includes Perkins & Will, EllisDon Kinetic (joint venture), Integral Group, Fast+Epp and RDH Building Science.

Anstruther Lake cottage – North Kawartha, Ontario

Little details are available on this project, other than that it is a cottage designed by MOSS SUND Architects on Anstruther Lake. The lake sits in the the municipality of North Kawartha, Peterborough County in Central Ontario, Canada, between the community of Apsley.

Shady Mile Passive House – Nanaimo, B.C.

This is the second Passive House targeting project of its kind by Ora Homes. The single family home’s main room features an abundance of solar gain through an asymmetry of windows that encircle a fireplace that incorporates a water vapour LED electric fireplace insert. The home has wood cased windows and doors made in Finland by Vetta Windows that are Passive House certified. The architect is Java Designs.

Evolve Vancouver – Vancouver, B.C.

The first of its kind on the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus, Evolve aims to be one of the most energy-efficient multi-family residential buildings in Canada. In addition to being a 110-unit facility for students and staff, it will be used by the school to study the benefits and trade-offs of Passive House construction, and share the learnings for the public good. The project, completed last fall, was designed by ZGF Architects and built by Peak Construction Group.

Passive House: S – Nominingue, Quebec

This 3-bedroom single-family home offers views of Nominingue lake through large windows to the south with a triple glass door leading to a large outdoor terrace. Walls are comprised of double frame in 2×4 with 19″ of cellulose and Eco4 wood fibre panels in exterior intermediate covering. The project includes a 14″ thick insulated structural slab on grade. The developer and contractor is Construction K. Laporte.

The Narrows – Vancouver, B.C.

Bee lovers take note. with green space for pollinator colonies. This one comes Steiner Properties is developing the Narrows is a six-storey, wood-frame building with 48 rental homes. The project sites in Vancouver’s Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood at the corner of Cassiar Connector and East Hastings Street. Cornerstone Architecture also made sure to give The Narrows a large private courtyard.

Brackendale Passive House – Brackendale, B.C.

This one is for the outdoor adventurers. Located near the hiking paradise of Squamish, the design includes south facing windows to soak up low winter sun, while rolling cedar blinds can be adjusted for solar gains in the summer. According to the international Passive House database, the windows on the north side are placed minimally, allowing for cross-ventilation and natural light. The west facade features an oversized lift and slide patio door. This gives the covered deck area a seamless extension of the open-concept kitchen and living space. WHM Structural Engineers is handling the engineering and MIZU Passive House Consulting is the Passive House consultant.

Azilda PH – Sudbury, Ontario

This single-family home is being constructed with slab on grade with insulated concrete form walls using a Legalett Thermal Wall system. The second floor will use Hambro steel floor joist with 4″ concrete topping and typical roof trusses. The design situates the house due south with for forest views. For heating, the home will use two energy recovery ventilators for each unit and heat pumps.

Lakewood – Vancouver, B.C.

This project is a collection of 24 townhomes and is one of two Passive House communities being developed by Dimex Group in Vancouver’s Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood. Dimex says the energy-efficient homes aim to reduce heating costs by $15,000 over 10 years with triple glazed windows, 7 inches of increased airtight insulation and Passive Home heat recovery systems. Gwill Symons is the architect and Solomon Fung is the mechanical engineer.

Bears Paw Heights Passive House – Golden, B.C.

This single family home features structurally insulated panel walls from Collective Carpentry and a heel truss roof. It’s windows are from Innotech. The mechanical systems feature heat pumps and a humidity recovery core. The developer/contractor is Zimmerman Construction

Dulai – Mississauga, Ontario

Passive House 43 Architecture is mixing the old with the new. The firm stated that the Dulai project aims to work harmoniously with the natural environment. The 4000 square-foot home draws inspiration from traditional Ontarian farmhouses, but actively incorporates contemporary styles and modern design strategies which protect and promote the ecology of the surrounding conservation area.

Bird’s Wing Passivehaus + Duplex – Vancouver, B.C.

Now here’s a project that is spreading it’s wings. Naikoon Contracting, the project’s developer and contractor, says the home is positioned in the single-family RS-5 zone over on the West Side of Vancouver. It combines the thermal performance of Passive House with stylish, minimalist design. The design includes two primary dwelling units and flexible lock-off suites. The project team includes One SEED Architecture + Interiors.

Blind Bay PHilo – Carling, Ontario

According to the project’s architect, Passive House 43 Architecture, this generational home aims to preserve and promote the pristine setting of Georgian Bay. The design features framed views to draw attention to the shoreline while a strategic material palette allows the building to blend with the exposed Canadian Shield and dense forest. In addition to Passive House, the building is targeting off-the-grid capabilities. The project team also includes Interactive Construction and Blackwell Engineers.

Pontoon Cove Eco House – Victoria, B.C.

ONE SEED Architecture + Interiors. They wrote that Pontoon Cove Eco House is a modern home perched above the ocean on a rocky point on Vancouver Island. The design embraces sustainability holistically, including environmentally and healthy materials in and out, as well as a photovoltaic array on the roof which should result in net zero operating energy demand. They are are using Passive House certified fiberglass windows manufactured in B.C., as well as a certified front door and huge wood sliders manufactured on Vancouver Island. The home is built above a crawl space, so the design was able to avoid rigid insulation within the primary envelope of the house all-together.

Norra Hem – Lac Supérieur, Quebec

This home’s builder, Constructions PSB, explained that the design was constrained by the specificities of the land so the team opted for an inverted floor plan: bedrooms on the ground floor and living space on the first floor. Large openings are strategically placed to ensure maximum daylight and solar gains despite the complexity of the terrain. The house is mainly heated by radiant heat on the two floors according to dedicated zones, and is equipped with a powerful centralized ventilation system.

Koshoshiki – Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, B.C.

It’s another one from the team at ONE SEED Architecture. They explained that the name “Kōshōshiki no ie” in Japanese roughly translates to “stilt house” which is apt for this design. The minimalist home is built on a series of posts that give it great views and minimize its impact on the environment. It means less concrete and rigid foam insulation. Creating a structural steel grid on which to sit the house, allowed for floors, as well as the walls, and roof to be prefabricated off-site. This minimized the need for equipment on site and disruption to the surrounding ecosystem.

Neu on 3rd – North Vancouver, B.C.

Who doesn’t love a cool cross section shot? Neu on 3rd includes five buildings with a total of 27 Passive House townhouses. The project features homes with garages, private front doors, and rooftop patios. Each individual home has their own Zehnder HRV system, Passive House rated windows and doors, and double exterior wall construction. The challenge is to incorporate district hot water to the homes and meet Passive house certification. The project team includes architect Marken Design and contractor Levu Development. Western Development is the owner.

Bau-Biologie House – Port Stanley, Ontario

According to Passive House Canada, this project is a design-build ultra-performing home that addresses building biology concerns for the naturopath owners and their family. Design and material selections were also selected to give the owner the opportunity to either manage or physically perform significant elements of the finishing themselves. The family worked with Evolve Builders on the project.

Chamberlain – Victoria, B.C.

Fold Architecture explained that this project enabled a young family to build their dream home by redeveloping an under-utilized urban property. The owner’s wish-list included enlarging the existing home with a garden suite for extended family, a new, three-bedroom revenue suite and an accessory workshop. The contractor on the project is Interactive Construction.

Affinity House – Wasaga Beach, Ontario

Koko and Robert Saar began researching Passive House design and construction in 2016 and eventually decided to build their own by forming their own company, CedarValley Passive Homes. The couple says they faced challenges including delays in window deliveries from Poland, budget overruns, trades needing continuous onsite supervision, birds and cement pouring at -10 C.

Pacific Passive House – Cobble Hill, B.C.

Want to feel motivated and inspired? Consider the story of this project. Lucas Tubman, owner of Limitless Carpentry, built this project with no experience in Passive House design or construction. The house is situated on a three-acre lot oriented due south with a gentle slope making it perfect for a walk-out basement. It has wide open views of Baldy Mountain and plenty of trees for shade and privacy. The lot was originally full of fir and cedar trees. In order to take advantage of the southern exposure and solar gain, the team had to clear half of the lot. The trees were milled, producing 50,000 board feet which is being used as timber framing, siding, flooring, soffit and some ship lap feature walls. The team noted that the main challenge was learning insulating concrete forms. They didn’t adequately stage all 20 tons of rebar which added time and cost to the project as they had to sort through and handle the steel.

Meadowbrook Place – Windsor, Ontario

Meadowbrook Place is a new 145-unit development and Ontario’s largest Passive House. It will provide a mix of market-rate, affordable and subsidized units. The building provides unit sizes that are in the highest demand: bachelor, one-bedroom and three- bedroom units. The architect is Kearns Mancini Architects Inc.

WHA Passive House Employee Apartments – Whistler, B.C. 

Integra Architecture worked with the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) on an employee housing project committed to environmentally sensitive practices. They expected it would be the first multi-family building with Passive House certification in Whistler. The development is located in the Cheakamus Legacy Area. The building consists of 20 rental units that WHA will be able to maintain at a lower cost meaning low rent for local employees. Finding affordable housing for workers that serve the popular tourist area has long been a major issue.

LV Residence Passive House – Vancouver, B.C.

Designed and built by VictorEric Premium Homes, this custom single-family house is situated on a southeast corner site in the Westside of Vancouver. Atop a basement level and two storeys, the roof deck captures views of the Northshore mountains.

Baker House – Gibsons, B.C.

According to Passive House Canada, this single-family home is a collaboration with and for Linda Baker Architect by CX Contracting. The team stated that they were looking for new efficiencies in super-insulated building technique, and so they extended the capabilities of a panel system that CX has been developing for the past six years. They decided to pre-clad the the structural wall panels. Inspired by the Brock Commons building at UBC, the team thought it could be possible to push the boundaries in residential construction and move to an exterior finished system, controlling many of the airtightness issues, in shop conditions. Passive House Canada records noted that the team faced challenges with adhesives, substrates, cladding and temperature/moisture changes, but they are now confident that these issues have been resolved to produce a robust system.

Gerri Carroll Hope Centre – Regina, Saskatchewan

Passive House buildings aren’t just for the rich and famous. They can also help the community’s most vulnerable residents. In 2018, the Gerri Carroll Hope Centre was officially opened. The new 17-unit affordable rental housing development serves individuals who have complex needs and are unable to secure and maintain housing without supports. It was a momentous task the first involved cleaning up a site contaminated with lead and acid.

Ripple House – Gibsons, B.C.

Little details could be found on this project except that the uniquely designed wood-forward project was delivered. The drawing above will have to tell the story. That sure is one heck of a roof.

Blossom Park – Woodstock, Ontario

According to Natural Resources Canada, construction of the Blossom Park multi-unit residential complex was completed in 2020. The building follows the Passive House approach of high levels of insulation and a focus on air sealing the building envelope. For the walls, Christian charity Indwell used the Build SMART prefabricated wall panel system, built offsite in a controlled factory setting and delivered to be assembled at the building site. Passive House-certified triple-pane windows and insulated, thermally-broken doors were selected to complete the envelope. To ensure airtightness, a quality assurance program was put in place, including training for sub-contractors and periodic inspections of envelope detailing. The project was designed by Invizij Architects

Pretty River Passive House – Collingwood, Ontario

This project entailed constructing a 2500-sq-ft,  two-storey contemporary home attached to an existing cedar shingle log house and a new garage via breezeways in the Collingwood area north of Toronto. According to Passive House Canada, the team sought to use conventional framing methods with advanced insulation products to comply with Passive House criteria. The project was designed by William Dewson Architect Inc.

The Heights – Vancouver, B.C.

This 85-unit apartment complex, designed by Cornerstone Architecture, is one of the largest Passive House projects in the country. According to the Pembina Institute, this building uses 35 cm-thick, double R40 walls with a 2×6 external insulated wall, a two inch layer of polystyrene insulation and an inside insulated 2×4 wall where all the plumbing and wiring goes. A continuous layer of polystyrene insulation protects the building from the outside world and all fresh air comes through a heat recovery system that is 85 per cent efficient. Each unit is heated by small electric resistance heaters that use about one third of the energy of a single hair dryer.

Lancaster Passive House – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Lancaster Passive House is an infill project in the Montgomery area of Saskatoon, shows Passive House Canada records.  This project is designed to be a low-energy Passive House building modeled to use 26 kWh/m2 annually. The house is a two-unit building with a large 1650-sq-ft lower area. All the energy required for the build is electric.

Clayton Community Centre – Surrey, B.C.

This is a big one. Clayton Community Centre is North America’s first Passive House certified community centre, and the largest non-residential certified project in Canada. The building combines arts and culture programming including music studios, recording studios and a community rehearsal hall, with recreational activities including a gymnasium and fitness centre, and a branch library. It was designed by HCMA Architecture + Design Business. EllisDon completed the project in 2022.

Alberta St. Passive House – New Westminster, B.C.

This is another mysterious Passive House with little information. All that we know is it was built by Lanefab, an integrated design/build company that crafts custom homes and laneway houses. Their approach to construction and design has been covered by the New York Times, Forbes and TEDx.

Atlantic Coast Passive House – Indian Harbour, Nova Scotia

Finally some Nova Scotia in the mix. This project is a modern style bungalow with a walkout basement located on oceanfront property in Indian Harbour. Passive House techniques allow to be heated with minimal mechanical equipment, including a single mini-split ductless heat pump. According to Sawlor Built Homes, the project’s contractor, the home features a “Butterfly Metal Roof” system that collects rain water from both buildings and stores it in an underground cistern. The cistern is equipped with a water treatment system which then treats the rain water and supplies the house with fresh water. A photovoltaic system on the roof uses cells to convert sunlight into electricity. According to the project’s blog, after one year it achieved a 4,275 kWh energy surplus.

Spire Landing – Vancouver, B.C.

Completed in 2019, Spire Landing is one of Canada’s largest Passive House multi-unit residential developments.  It is situated in the City of Vancouver’s South Side where Fraser Street and East 57th Avenue intersect. This high-performing six-storey rental building consists of 95 rental units and features numerous amenities including shared common rooms, roof-top terrace, and bike spaces. Designed by Cornerstone Architecture, the building combines increased insulation values with high quality air barrier materials and detailing.  The mechanical system consists of multiple heat recovery ventilation (HRV) systems, each unit providing multiple suites with fresh air. Windows and doors are triple glazed, passive house certified and south facing openings have exterior sun shading to assist with solar heat gain.

Vancouver Fire Hall 17 – Vancouver, B.C.

According to architect HCMA, Vancouver Fire Hall 17 is the first building of its kind in Canada to earn the Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) design certification, and the first project to be certified in B.C. It offers a 99.67 per cent reduction in operational carbon emissions compared to the existing Fire Hall 17. It is also one of 16 projects to pilot the Canada Green Building Council’s new ZCB standard.

Key Takeaways:

• SNC-Lavalin is partnering with Ontario Power Generation to build Canada’s first grid-scale small modular reactor. 
• The project will be built using an alliance contracting model that includes Aecon and GE-Hitachi.
• Officials say projects like this are critical for reaching Ontario’s zero-emission power goals. 
• It will be Canada’s first new nuclear reactor in 30 years. 

The Whole Story:

Candu Energy Inc. a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group has entered into an agreement with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to deliver the Darlington New Nuclear Project.

The project is spearheading the deployment of the GEH BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor (SMR) before the end of the decade. It will be the first grid-scale SMR deployed in Canada.

“SNC-Lavalin is a strong proponent for the necessary role of nuclear power in the Net Zero energy mix,” said Ian L. Edwards, president and CEO, SNC-Lavalin. “As we’ve laid out in our Engineering Net Zero report, Canada’s 2050 Net Zero commitments will require large-scale electrification of transportation, buildings and heavy industrial processes. That electricity needs to be generated from clean, reliable, and cost-efficient sources, whose employment in the energy mix will not weaken energy security. Our involvement in what will be Canada’s first SMR to come to market, and its first nuclear new build in roughly 30 years, reaffirms SNC-Lavalin’s leading position in the nuclear energy market, for both existing and new nuclear technologies.”

The project will be delivered using a six-year alliance agreement approach. SNC-Lavalin said this in itself is an innovation for a nuclear project in North America. As part of an alliance with Aecon and GE-Hitachi, SNC-Lavalin will provide OPG with a diverse range of expertise for the engineering and build of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station’s SMR. This is expected to include deploying project management, licensing, engineering, design, procurement, construction support and commissioning, as well as digital delivery capabilities in both the nuclear island and balance of plant scopes for the project.

“Following our on-time, on-budget success working with OPG on the refurbishment of Darlington’s existing CANDU reactors, we are very pleased to contribute our expertise with our alliance partners on this exciting new build,” said Joe St. Julian, president, nuclear, SNC-Lavalin. “Canada was the second country in the world to ever generate commercial nuclear power. Together with our alliance partners, we will ensure Canada again leads the way to advance an exciting new frontier in nuclear energy. We continue to work with SMR vendors in Canada and around the world to bring more of these reactors online, coinciding with a rise in interest from jurisdictions looking to use nuclear power to decarbonize their energy mix, while maintaining their energy self-sufficiency.”

SNC-Lavalin says it plans to leverage its Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission licensing expertise and experience as a reactor developer. As the original equipment manufacturer of CANDU reactors, SNC-Lavalin is the only company to have a technology pass all three phases of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s pre-project design review, and will leverage its extensive nuclear new build expertise to drive a successful outcome for this first of a kind project.

“SMRs will play a key role in helping to reinvigorate Ontario’s economy and further support the province and Canada as we work toward meeting our climate change targets of zero-emission electricity,” said Ken Hartwick, president and CEO of OPG. “Canada’s ability to lead in global SMR deployment is enabled by our strong nuclear supply chain, as evidenced by the on time, on budget delivery of the existing Darlington Refurbishment Project. Building on our relationship as part of that refurbishment, we are pleased to welcome SNC-Lavalin and its expertise to the team that is deploying the BWRX-300 as the first SMR to be commissioned in North America.”

Canadian Solar Inc. announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary of its majority-owned subsidiary CSI Solar Co., Ltd. has entered into a multi-year investment agreement with the municipal government of Yangzhou City in Jiangsu Province, China. Under the Agreement, CSI Solar plans to add vertically integrated high efficiency wafer, cell, and module capacity, as well as battery system manufacturing capacity, in Yangzhou’s clean energy manufacturing industrial park.

The project plan will be carried out in three phases, with phase I being 14 GW of wafer and cell capacity. 

Phase I is expected to commence production in the second half of 2023, while the implementation of phase II and III is subject to change, at the company’s discretion, based on market conditions and the company’s assessments.  With this announcement and considering the solar supply chain‘s demand and supply backdrop, the Canadian Solar updated its 2023 year-end capacities to 20 GW of ingot, 35 GW of wafer, and 50 GW of cell and modules.

Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 in Canada and is one of the world’s largest solar technology and renewable energy companies. It is a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, provider of solar energy and battery storage solutions, and developer of utility-scale solar power and battery storage projects with a geographically diversified pipeline in various stages of development. 

Key Takeaways:

• The machine will increase the supply and availability of soil erosion control blankets for Western Canada and parts of the U.S.
• BMP Supplies is setting up the machine in an Alberta warehouse with ample supply to hay.
• The machine is set to be up and running sometime next month.

The Whole Story:

A million dollar machine in an Alberta warehouse is poised to upend a commonly overlooked corner of Canada’s construction sector. 

Paul Lindemulder, who works in sales and marketing for his family business, BMP Supplies, explained that his father started the company 20 years ago with one of its most popular products, a catch basin protector. The orange, donut-shaped devices prevent unwanted sediment from going into catch basins. He soon began creating other devices, like turbidity curtains that prevent runoff into bodies of water like lakes.

But one sought after product remained elusive for decades: soil erosion control blankets. 

“That was always the dream,” said Lindemulder. “In this industry it’s kind of the big product that is most common because it is used in so many applications. It does a lot more than other products. It’s a dream product to release for a company like ours.”

The blanket is a fabric roll made with jute or plastic netting filled with straw or coconut to protect soil from wind and water erosion. It is typically used to protect slopes and embankments and can help to reduce runoff and help promote the growth of vegetation.

The process to get the product is complex and expensive. You need three things – an expensive and rare machine that weaves the blankets, a large warehouse to store it and a nearby supply of high-quality hay. Only one other machine exists in Canada and it’s far from many parts of Western Canada. This causes long lead times for orders and high shipping costs. Lindemulder said this has caused many projects in the west that would have liked to use erosion control blankets to forgo them.

BMP is primarily based out of Calgary with two warehouses. Its head administrative office is in Surrey, B.C. As leadership of the company started to transfer over to Jim’s four sons, the company decided it was time for a major play. 

First they secured a 12,000 square-foot building on a five acre site in Brooks, Alta. close to a nearly endless supply of straw. Then they ordered the machine that weaves the blankets. It’s made in Germany by AH Meyer and costs roughly $1 million. The 80-foot long and 20-foot wide machine recently arrived in seven boxes and a team of experts from Europe will help assemble it in Brooks.  

“It’s a game changer,” said Lindemulder, who noted that the Brooks location sets BMP up to supply projects in western North America. “It’s something everyone wants in their jobs but getting it is difficult. That motivated us to get it in the hands of construction companies. It’s great for the environment as it protects sensitive areas and now sites can be specced for this product.” 

Lindemulder anticipates erosion blanket product could begin as early as next month.

“We are getting the word out and letting customers know,” said Lindemulder. “It’s about getting the whole industry to change focus, especially in Western Canada.”

Victoria, B.C. is stepping up its underground infrastructure.

Crews have started work on water main upgrades on Blanshard Street in what is the second year of a decade-long $53.8 million renewal of critical underground infrastructure. The project, which is receiving support from the Government of Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), stretches between Caledonia Avenue through to Fort Street and will continue through summer 2023. 

“Reliable water and wastewater treatment systems protect communities and the environment,” said Dominic LeBlanc, minister of intergovernmental affairs, infrastructure and communities. “We will continue to work collaboratively with local governments to build resilient communities, in British Columbia and across Canada.” 

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto noted that resilient cities have resilient underground systems. “Renewing and upgrading our underground infrastructure is critical to protect our communities and ensure our core water, sewer and stormwater services can be maintained in the event of an earthquake or a climate change event,” said Alto.

In addition to the water main work on Blanshard Street, other large city projects this year include upgrading the Chatham Street Sewer Pump Station, replacing sanitary sewers on a portion of Cook Street and the rehabilitation of a sanitary sewer on Store Street. 

“Strengthening and renewing our underground infrastructure is not only key to protecting the high quality water, sewer and stormwater services everyone relies on every day, it is vital to ensuring the health and resiliency of Victoria for years to come,” said Philip Bellefontaine, director of engineering and public works. “Major projects such as these will minimize future infrastructure costs, serve our growing community and help keep us safe during climate and seismic events.” 

Officials noted that these projects are in addition to the four already completed in 2021 and 2022 to replace or upgrade aging infrastructure, some more than 100 years old, to support growing neighbourhoods. Over the next decade, the city plans to invest nearly $54 million in 78 capital infrastructure projects, a 40 per cent increase in capital infrastructure investments compared to the past 10 years. 

To minimize disruption and maximize public benefit, the City is coordinating the Blanshard Street water main works with other improvements which will include new road paving, replacement of old traffic signal equipment and new road markings to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and easier for traffic to circulate in the downtown. Staff are working with the contractor to minimize traffic impacts where possible, however the public should plan for travel delays resulting from this construction. 

Key Takeaways:

• The University of Toronto is putting researchers and construction industry leaders together to come up with innovative solutions for sustainable infrastructure.
• The team plans to address issues well beyond the traditional bounds of engineering, including explore legal frameworks around housing rights.
• The school believes that by including the industry in the process, the insights gained through their research can more easily be applied.

The Whole Story:

The newest research centre at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering will develop innovative ways to meet the urgent and growing need for infrastructure – without further exacerbating the climate crisis.

The Centre for the Sustainable Built Environment brings together seven researchers from across U of T, as well as a dozen companies in construction and related industries. 

The research collaboration includes Colliers, the Cement Association of Canada, Chandos Construction, Mattamy Homes, Northcrest, Pomerleau, Purpose Building Inc., ZGF Architects, Arup, SvN Architects + Planners, Entuitive and KPMB Architects.

The goal is to identify strategies that will lower the environmental footprint by reimagining how new infrastructure is designed, where it is built and what materials are used in its construction.

“In Canada and around the world, we have a huge housing and infrastructure deficit – there’s a big social need to build much more than we have right now,” said Shoshanna Saxe, associate professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure.

“At the same time, construction resource use accounts for up to a third of total global greenhouse gas emissions each year, a problem that is getting worse. It’s been estimated that if we continue current ways of construction, by 2050 the emissions due to new housing alone will cause us to blow past two degrees of global warming,” she adds. “If we want to avoid that, let alone reach net zero by 2050, we need to find ways to do more with less.”

Saxe and her collaborators – Evan Bentz, Chris Essert, Elias Khalil, Heather MacLean, Daman Panesar and Daniel Posen, all fellow U of T researchers – plan to approach the complex challenge from several different angles. They believe some efficiencies can be found by looking at where new housing is built, as well as what it looks like.

“The average person living in a city consumes fewer resources than the average person living in a suburb, because in a city you have more people per kilometre of sewer, road or electrical infrastructure. There are big rewards for well-designed cities,” Saxe said. “The shape and types of buildings we build is also important. For example, Toronto has a lot of long skinny apartments, where a lot of the space is in the hallway. If we design differently, we can better use that space to provide more housing, or avoid [extra space] all together and save materials, emissions and cost.”

Saxe and her team have also shown that large concrete basements account for a high proportion of the emissions due to construction – building more of the structure above ground could improve the environmental bottom line. Other potential solutions involve alternative building materials, such as new types of concrete that are less carbon-intensive.

The multidisciplinary team – whose researchers cover a wide range of expertise, from carrying out life-cycle analysis of construction projects to defining national carbon budgets – will address issues well beyond the traditional bounds of engineering. For example, the group plans to explore the legal frameworks that translate established housing rights into practical built spaces.

“It’s absurd to say that the right to housing means that everyone has to live in a space the size of a closet,” Saxe said. “But it’s also absurd to expect everyone to have their own 3,500-square-foot house. Can we find a middle ground where everyone can live in dignity, without consuming in a way that threatens the planet?”

By working closely with a core group of construction leaders, Saxe and her collaborators aim to speed up knowledge translation, ensuring that the insights gained through their research can be applied in industry.

“The conversations we have with our partners can inform their design and construction, as well as the conversations they then have with their clients, raising everyone’s level of knowledge and awareness,” she says.

“We hope that by giving people – policymakers, designers and builders – the tools they need to address these challenges of building more with fewer emissions, we can improve outcomes across the built environment and create a more sustainable future for everyone.”

Key Takeaways:

• $7.1 million is being spent on helping 12 First Nations communities in B.C. shift to greener energy.
• The projects include solar farms, biomass heat-and-power systems, and more.
• The funding stems from the province’s Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) program

The Whole Story:

Twelve First Nations communities throughout British Columbia will receive $7.1 million to develop alternative-energy projects and advance energy efficiency through the province’s Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) program, a CleanBC initiative.

“Our CleanBC goal is to reduce diesel consumption for power generation in remote communities by 80 per cent by 2030,” said Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation. “By building partnerships and creating opportunities with Indigenous communities and businesses, we can help people living in B.C.’s hardest-to-reach communities save money, become less dependent on fossil fuels and benefit from cleaner air and water.”

The energy projects range in size and scope, from $350,000 for the construction of a biomass combined heat-and-power system for the Lhoozk’uz Dene Nation (Quesnel area), to $2 million to develop and build a two-megawatt solar farm on Haida Gwaii’s northern grid that will include battery storage.

The $29-million, three-year CEDR program aims to reduce remote communities’ reliance on diesel fuel, and to support projects focused on energy efficiency and/or those that provide clean, reliable energy year round in areas not serviced by grid electricity. CEDR is part of the Province’s Remote Community Energy Strategy.

British Columbia has 44 remote communities, most of which are governed by First Nations. Many of these communities are served by BC Hydro in non-grid integrated areas. Some First Nations own and operate their own diesel generators. In 2019, the remote communities consumed at least 19.1 million litres of diesel, emitting the equivalent of 51,784 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The CEDR program provides funding for clean-energy initiatives to eligible remote communities that are off-grid residential regions that rely on diesel fuel for electricity generation. Remote communities can apply to three funding streams to support them as they progress through various stages of their planning and implementation of their decarbonization projects. Officials say this will help to ensure remote communities have financial supports throughout the life cycle of their energy projects, whether it be at the beginning, early, mid or late stages of planning, or implementation of their decarbonization projects.

To deliver the CEDR program, the province has partnered with the New Relationship Trust to facilitate investments with remote communities for community energy planning, energy-efficiency projects, and renewable-energy infrastructure. In addition, Coast Funds is working with the trust to support applications from First Nations with communities in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii that rely on diesel to meet their electricity needs.

A second round of CEDR program funding will be announced shortly, and applicants are encouraged to connect with the New Relationship Trust and Coast Funds for more details and assistance. Coast Funds and the trust work with all eligible First Nations and remote communities to develop strong proposals that maximize access to CEDR program funding.

“Making the switch from diesel fuel to renewable energy to heat your home or power your lights can be a challenge, especially if you live in a remote or isolated community,” said George Heyman, minister of environment and climate change strategy. “This funding will help First Nations make the shift to cleaner energy alternatives, which will reduce emissions and create economic opportunities in their communities.”

Key Takeaways:

• Top CEOs from real estate and other industries pledge to reduce buildings-related emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030 and be fully net-zero carbon no later than 2050.
• Real estate is one of the biggest sources of global GHG but is often overlooked in wider decarbonization strategies.
• CEOs will also implement the World Economic Forum’s Green Building Principles and Action Plan to make progress on their emissions targets.

The Whole Story:

A group of CEOs is pledging to reduce their real estate emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and reach net-zero carbon no later than 2050.

In a press release, the CEOs stated that buildings contribute 38 per cent of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, meaning leaders across all industries have a critical role to play in lowering their global real estate emissions.

“While real estate represents nearly 40 per cent of all energy-related GHG emissions, the sector is frequently an afterthought when it comes to an organization’s decarbonization and sustainability strategies,” said Matthew Blake, head of financial and monetary systems for the World Economic Forum. “Leaders across all industries have a responsibility to take action on their real estate GHG emissions to ensure progress in the fight against climate change.”

The following companies have pledged to halve their buildings-related emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero building emissions by 2050: Avison Young, Edge, GPFI Group, Ivanhoé Cambridge, JLL, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Schneider Electric and Signify.

The firms noted that they will meet these targets by implementing the forum’s Green Buildings Principles. Released last year, the Green Building Principles: The Action Plan for Net-Zero Carbon Buildings offers this sequence of steps to deliver net-zero carbon real estate portfolios:

1. Calculate a robust carbon footprint of your portfolio in the most recent representative year to inform targets

2. Set a target year for achieving net-zero carbon, by 2050 at the latest, and an interim target for reducing at least 50 per cent of these emissions by 2030.

3. Measure and record embodied carbon of new developments and major refurbishments.

4. Maximize emissions reductions for all new developments and major refurbishments in the pipeline to ensure delivery of net-zero carbon (operational and embodied) by selected final target year.

5. Drive energy optimization across both existing assets and new developments.

6. Maximize supply of on-site renewable energy.

7. Ensure 100% off-site energy is procured from renewable-backed sources, where available.

8. Engage with stakeholders with whom you have influence in your value chain to reduce scope 3 emissions.

9. Compensate for any residual emissions by purchasing high-quality carbon offsets.

10. Engage with stakeholders to identify joint endeavours and equitably share costs and benefits of interventions.

Developed in collaboration with JLL, the World Green Building Council and the Forum’s Real Estate community, the Green Building Principles can be formally adopted by firms and include an Action Plan detailing implementation.

The Action Plan provides globally applicable guidance on best practices to implement the principles for every stakeholder, from owners to occupiers to investors. Signatories will report progress annually as part of their public sustainability reporting and participate in a Practitioners Group to identify solutions around implementation.

“The emphasis on bringing together the world’s leading businesses and public figures to collectively address issues like climate change and driving social change is fundamental to what Avison Young stands for. ESG considerations across the board must be addressed by the real estate sector — buildings have a huge impact on our everyday lives and the planet,” said Mark E. Rose, chairman and CEO of Toronto-based Avison Young. “We are thrilled to adopt the Green Building Principles and demonstrate to our peers that reaching net zero is not only possible but essential for a better built environment and more resilient and successful cities.”

Key Takeaways:

• The project began development in 2017.
• In includes roughly 1.3 million solar panels.
• It’s expected to generate electricity in Alberta for more than 35 years.

The Whole Story:

The largest solar project in Canadian history has reached substantial completion. 

The project team – which includes PCL Construction, Greengate and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners – announced this month that the Travers Solar Project is substantially completed. 

The Alberta project first began development in 2017 and includes approximately 3,330 acres of land located eight kilometres southwest of the Village of Lomond, in Vulcan County. The project is located on privately owned, cultivated and grazing land. It includes approximately 1.3 million solar panels

According to project officials, the site has a strong solar resource, which is characteristic of Alberta’s resource, and the project will generate clean energy over its 35+ year lifetime.

The project is 465 megawatts (MW) in size. Work involved installing solar PV modules, power conversion stations, an electrical collection system, access roads and the construction of the Little Bow Project Substation to connect to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. 

When work began, the project team expected a total capital cost of approximately $700 million. It’s expected to generate enough power for more than 150,000 homes.

Key Takeaways:

• The plant will cease producing general use cement in favour of OneCem, a reduced carbon portland limestone cement.
• It’s Lafarge’s third plant conversion this year.
• Lafarge says OneCem creates 10 per cent less C02 emissions while maintaining performance and durability.

The Whole Story:

Lafarge Canada is continuing its march towards greener cement production. 

The company announced it has fully transformed its Brookfield Cement Plant’s cement production in Nova Scotia to a greener portfolio. From now on, the site’s production of general use cement (GU) ends and will shift to reduced carbon portland limestone cement – branded as OneCem – the company’s eco-efficient alternative. 

Brookfield is Lafarge’s third cement plant to be converted in 2022 and the first Atlantic Market plant to convert – the others being the Bath Cement Plant (Ontario) in June and the Richmond Cement Plant (B.C.) earlier this year.

OneCem is a sustainable product that presents up to 10 per cent lower CO2 emissions while providing the same performance and durability. 

“We have been steadily moving the needle forward when it comes to cement decarbonization and we will continue to honour our commitment in progressing our greener portfolio in Eastern Canada over the coming years,” said Andrew Stewart, vice president of cement for Lafarge Canada (East). “For us at Lafarge Canada, sustainability and profitability go together – our main goal is to keep partnering with our customers to advance sustainable construction and, at the same time, provide innovative world-class products.”

According to Robert Cumming, Head of Sustainability & Public Affairs, Lafarge Canada (East), the company has avoided more than 140,000 tonnes of CO2 in the past four years by converting GU cement to OneCem in its plants across Canada.

“We are excited to take our plant to the next level of decarbonization. Our teams on the ground have been successfully showcasing our company’s values of passion, collaboration, and grit, and we couldn’t be prouder. This is a very important milestone in our Net-Zero journey in Nova Scotia and in Canada as a whole,” said Travis Smith, Brookfield’s plant manager.

Larfage officials explained that OneCem contributes to lowering the industry’s carbon footprint not only during the manufacturing process – while cement may be as little as 11 per cent of a concrete mix, it can account for more than 80 per cent of all energy required to produce concrete. Across Canada, Lafarge has produced over 6 million metric tonnes of OneCem since 2011.

ACCIONA Canada took to the skies to celebrate 20 years of sustainable infrastructure construction in Canada. 

The company partnered with reforestation startup Flash Forest to plant 20,000 trees in B.C. using drones.

Planting from above

By leveraging drone, AI, GIS, and plant science technology, Flash Forest planted Douglas-fir, Hybrid Spruce, Western Larch and Lodgepole Pine in natural disaster-affected areas of the province.

“Having a direct positive impact on the environment we are building within is part and parcel with our Sustainability Master Plan 2025 (SMP 2025),” said Caroline Miwa, director of quality, health and safety, environmental and sustainability for ACCIONA North America. “ACCIONA is building some of B.C.’s largest transportation and clean energy projects, and so the project with Flash Forest in B.C. was intentional and meaningful.” 

ACCIONA has published a five-year SMP since 2010, and it continues its roadmap for every business action worldwide.

“Our sustainability strategy has evolved and strengthened with each edition of the SMP,” said Miwa. “The 2015 edition was focused on measuring key performance Indicators, 2020 aimed to integrate and engage all stakeholders to align our sustainability approach, and 2025 goes a step further to not only minimize our footprint, but to make a positive impact.”

Miwa noted that “Planet Positive” is one of the four pillars underpinning SMP 2025 and supporting the regeneration of impacted forests in B.C. contributes to its global organizational goal of planting and monitoring the growth of one million trees within five years.

She also reflected on the ACCIONA’S long history of infrastructure. 

20 years building Canadian infrastructure

“ACCIONA Infrastructure entered the Canadian market 20 years ago with one of the country’s most iconic hydraulic projects to-date, the Deep Lake Water Cooling System in Toronto,” she said. “The system draws cold water from the bed of Lake Ontario and uses it to cool downtown Toronto office towers – a sustainable alternative to conventional air cooling. The system is still in use today.”

Miwa said that since the start of the 2000s, ACCIONA has continued to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that have a positive impact on the community and environment, from the Saint John Safe Clean Drinking Water Project in New Brunswick which supplies 75 million liters of safe drinking water to the community every day, to the award-winning Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre in Victoria, B.C., to the Broadway Subway Project currently under construction in Vancouver that will take cars off the road and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

More than building projects

She added that ACCIONA’s sustainability efforts aren’t just limited to projects. 

“It is important to remember that sustainability also encompasses community engagement,” said Miwa. “The ACCIONA joint venture delivering the Site C Clean Energy Project in Fort St. John, B.C. founded a Community Investment Program in 2016 that has since donated $375,000 to the North Peace Community Foundation in support of local charities. What’s more, 100 per cent of the donation was generated by our onsite recycling program.”

Miwa added that for ACCIONA, sustainability also means diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I).

“‘People Centric’ is another pillar of our SMP 2025, under which ACCIONA aims to increase the percentage of women in middle and senior management positions every year – across all business lines globally,” she said. “In Canada, we are continuously improving the percentage of women in these positions and are proud that women make up almost 30 per cent of the North America leadership team.”

She added that safe, clean water has also been a major focus of ACCIONA’s efforts. 

On one of its major transportation projects in B.C., tunnel water treatment plants are operated onsite to treat water resulting from tunnelling activities. Treated water is then discharged into sanitary sewage according to the specifications of the city of Vancouver.

Assisted by technology

Advances in technology are helping ACCIONA’s work on the “People Centric” pillar of the SMP 2025 by creating safer job sites and decreasing harmful emissions. They are using drones on site to assist with survey works, which eliminates hazards that our team might otherwise be exposed to. The company is working to electrify its fleet and is even investigating the use of hydro-treated vegetable oil bio-fuel across its operations.

Miwa explained that sustainability should be a concern for everyone in the industry. 

“It is well known that the construction industry is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,” she said. “As contractors, we are in a unique position to educate and influence sustainable decision-making both upstream to clients and peak bodies, and downstream to the supply chain. The industry – at every level – needs to move faster to execute infrastructure that will help restore social and environmental balance and regenerate the planet.”