Month: August 2023

Here are some ideas that Paul Lowes would like you to examine when it comes to the future of residential home building.

The impact of climate change has reached a point where it can no longer be ignored. Federal and Provincial governments have implemented rebates and taxes, to incentivize industry and citizens to do their part to address climate change. Most companies in North America have implemented strategies and targets to mitigate their impact on the environment. Companies express these efforts in Environmental Social Governance (ESG) policies and reporting. Nowhere is this movement more profound than the construction industry.

Builders, manufacturers, and governing bodies all recognize the significance of their part in helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the residential and commercial construction industries.  These organizations work towards implementing building codes that are designed to build homes with lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Manufacturers are tasked with producing products with lower Global Warming Potential (GWP). Builders must meet the evolving regulatory requirements of the municipalities in which they build; The Low Carbon Home Builder Coalition (LCHC) constructs homes that reduce operational energy and water consumption with products that have a low GWP.

If you are interested in learning more about your company’s carbon footprint, Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and the Low Carbon Home Builder Coalition, please think about joining us for a Sustainable Housing Foundation Fall dinner meeting, Tuesday September 26th 2023 at Thornhill Golf and Country Club. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-housing-foundation-dinner-tickets-673167912347?aff=oddtdtcreator and be sure to include your meal choice. Attendance is limited, please sign up no later than September 12^th 2023.

Building a Sustainable Housing Industry

Affordability, or the lack thereof, has been front of mind for a long time.  Our industry has been screaming it from the rooftops for many years.  We’ve seen the tsunami coming, and the current Ontario government has finally decided to make some welcomed changes with Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022.  Increasing supply will help with affordability.

One factor limiting the supply of new homes is a shortage of skilled labour in the GTA. The Honourable Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, announced April 24, 2023.  This funding will provide in-demand residential construction training to a new cohort of unemployed and underemployed job seekers to shrink the skilled trades gap in the province. The Job Ready Program provides builders with prescreened prospects and the necessary on the job training with support for a paid placement for a three-month test drive. For future employees, it starts with a one-hour info session and candidate interviews as a resource for builders.  The program design is to mitigate risk for both parties.

If you are interested in learning more about the Job Ready Program, please think about joining us for a Sustainable Housing Foundation Fall dinner meeting, Tuesday September 26th 2023 at Thornhill Golf and Country Club. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-housing-foundation-dinner-tickets-673167912347?aff=oddtdtcreator and be sure to include your meal choice. Attendance is limited, please sign up no later than September 13^th 2023.