Catherine Willson, Jordan Barris, Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber LLP
On August 3, 2016, eleven of Canada’s leading building professionals and associations wrote to the Canadian government, advocating for recommendations that would improve the energy efficiency of buildings. The eleven organizations say that their proposed plan would reduce energy by 25-50% in 1/3 of Canadian buildings by 2030, and all new construction would be zero energy by that time.
The signatories also advocated for the development of national energy codes for renovations of existing buildings, and reforming tax policy to stimulate investment in efficiency. The implementation of certain ‘energy efficient’ bylaws or updates is something that all construction industry professionals should be keeping an eye out for.
The organizations claim that the energy consumption of buildings accounts for ¼ of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed recommendations align with climate change objectives and the reduction of greenhouse gasses. Naturally, if adopted, these recommendations would have serious ramifications on the construction industry.
While simply causing less harm has been the trend in recent years, this letter represents a shift towards creating a positive impact, opposed to just preventing a negative one.
If any modifications to existing energy laws are made, it could have serious ramifications on the construction industry – as builders, contractors and trades will have to accommodate accordingly. Such laws would certainly regulate the manner in which construction is conducted, and the materials used in certain projects. While these recommendations have certainly not yet been implemented, they represent a shift in the mindset of many industry leaders, and are something to keep on the radar.
A copy of the letter in its entirety can be found here:
Contact Catherine at: willson@gsnh.com, 416-597-6488