June 20, 2024 12 Noon to 5 PM Flemingdon Golf Course, Toronto The annual Green Builder Challenge Golf Tournament, hosted by the Sustainable Housing Foundation’s President John Godden, is happening on Thursday June 20th in the afternoon and you are invited to attend. Lunch and beverages will be provided before the first T-off time at 1 PM so come early and enjoy a relaxing lunch on the patio and great networking opportunity with your colleagues from the sustainable building industry…
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The Myths of Powering Our Net Zero Future – by Paul De Berardis
Depending on where you are in Canada — or even Ontario, for that matter — the direction from all levels of government is that we are progressing towards a net zero future to combat climate change. The Government of Canada has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, which means our economy either emits no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or offsets its emissions. This will ultimately lead to the mass electrification of all industries and sectors, which, for our…
Read the full articleGWP & Accountability, Sustainable Engineering Practices By Paul Lowes
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. Topics include: Manufacturer’s…
Read the full articleSustainable Thought Starter – Counting Carbon for the LCHC
This year, like many others, was my first time attending the Low Carbon Home Builders Coalition. It was a great opportunity to network with other professionals such as Builders, Manufacturers, Contractors, City Officials, and many other industry stakeholders who share the vision of creating sustainable and affordable housing for our province. There were many great speakers at this event talking about Codes, Carbon, and the future of our housing. Furthermore, highlighting an important topic that was discussed is Combination Hybrid…
Read the full articleSustainable Thought Starter – ESG, GWP and The Low Carbon Home Builder Coalition
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…
Read the full articleSustainable Thought Starter – Building a Sustainable Housing Industry
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…
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Introducing the Low Carbon Home Builder’s Coalition Here’s a question worth asking. In Ontario, we have a surplus of off-peak electricity and challenges with fresh water supply and waste treatment capacity. What could be the best way to manage our energy and water needs and reduce CO2 emissions? For the answer, let’s look to the Low Carbon Home Builder Coalition (LCHC). The idea behind the LCHC is to annually benchmark as many homes as possible to see how…
Read the full articleSustainable Thought Starter: Local Leadership – Rewarding Leadership and Creative Thinking
What makes good leadership? We know that poor leadership usually consists of simplistic thinking or fundamentalism. In contrast, balancing pros and cons — and preserving balance and choice — is key to effective leadership. In training sessions, I usually ask the participants “yes” or “no” questions — but I rarely get commitment to either response. Maybe people are afraid of suffering the disapproval of the group. There’s nothing wrong with not knowing the answer, but asking yourself the question is…
Read the full articleClean Energy and Renewables – By Christian Rinomato and Grace
What if we could live in a world powered by clean energy? The members of the Sustainable Housing Foundation will be hosting a webinar to try and answer this question by understanding the application of Renewable Energy in the home building industry. The virtual webinar will be hosted via Zoom on May 17th, 2023 from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Please join us and register at eventbrite via Topics include: The countries setting targets for a Net Zero world by 2050,…
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By Christian Rinomato of RGC Energy What if we could live in a world powered by clean energy? That reality is not too far off. Globally we have seen an incredible increase in the use of renewable energy through sources like solar and wind. As countries set targets for a Net Zero world by 2050, more and more capital is directed at new clean energy projects. Global events have also set us off in this direction such…
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