Buildings are the top greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters by sector, but also, they provide a greater opportunity for municipalities to reduce their emissions. Benchmarking allows for the identification of opportunities for change to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of municipal services. Read More
Check out great highlights from our expert Jani Loots, Senior Director, Sustainability and Technical Programs, BOMA Canada. She walked us through the BOMA Canada Circular Economy Guide. This guide is a first step in helping their member firms begin their journey towards adopting circular economic practices in their assets.
Windfall Ecology Centre and ClimateWise Business Network congratulate the winners of the 2022 York Region Sustainability Awards. On September 29, 2022, we gathered at the magnificent Aurora Armoury to celebrate outstanding climate action efforts in York Region. We are proud to unveil and celebrate our 2022 York Region Sustainability Awards Winners!
In our second year post-launch, the ClimateWise Building Challenge has doubled its municipal number of buildings to a total of 118. The additions include fire halls, libraries, administrative offices and recreation complexes. York Region municipalities are really taking significant leaps toward climate action. More
The fourth in the webinar series 'Better Understand your Energy Consumption and What is Driving your Energy Use' presented why submetering tenant spaces is a priority for both tenants and landlords. View Webinar 4 PDF. Stay updated on upcoming webinars.
The third in the webinar series 'Green Leases: How to Achieve Cost Savings and Sustainability Goals' presented how innovative Green Leases can create win-win agreements for building owners and business tenants. View Webinar 3 PDF. Register for Upcoming Webinars.
On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, during Council meeting, announced Vaughan's recognition at the ClimateWise 2021 Awards. He said: I am pleased to announce the City of Vaughan has received the Mayor's Energy Challenge Advocate Award from the ClimateWise Business Network for our dedicated support of the Provincial Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking initiative
. More
Green Economy Canada (GEC) has announced a $3.9million Electric Vehicle(EV) charging station incentive program. Application is open to all legally incorporated or registered for-profit or not-for-profit organization in Canada.
Catch all the fun and exciting moments from the unforgettable virtual ClimateWise 2021 Achievement Awards, held Thursday, December 9, 2021!
This year's achievement awards go beyond commemorating sustainability efforts by also celebrating the resilience of those that rose above the tides of the pandemic in the past year and prioritized climate action against all odds. Hence, the 2021 Award Event's Theme: A Celebration of Achievement in Challenging Times. Meet our winners.
The ClimateWise 2021 Achievement Awards event held Thursday, Dec. 9 was nothing short of remarkable moments recognizing the tremendous efforts of emerging leaders in sustainability and climate action within York Region. The virtual event brought organizations, business owners, employees, and industry stakeholders together to celebrate achievements of public and private sector organizations.
Join us on Thursday, December 9, 2021, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm as we toast to achievements in challenging times and recognize industry stakeholders for different milestones. Attendees at the event will be treated to entertaining performances by the lovely Donner Huber as Shania Twin, our co-host for the day.
In a recent report focused on Canada's Net-Zero future, the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices places emphasis on the importance of transforming the country's economy in the transition to a low-carbon future.
In January of 2021, 407 ETR joined the Climatewise Business Network. In just six months, 407 ETR has made substantial progress towards setting a Greenhouse Gas reduction target under the ClimateWise Emissions Reduction Framework.
The City of Toronto has released its much anticipated net-zero policy strategy for existing buildings. The comprehensive report was 18 months in the making by an expert team from Windfall Ecology Centre, the Integral Group, WSP, and Reep Green Solutions. It lays out an ambitious policy framework and pathways to net-zero for all buildings in Toronto by 2050.
Participants in the ClimateWise Building Challenge can now opt into BOMA Toronto's race2reduce building challenge with a single submission, allowing them to compete for recognition both regionally via the ClimateWise Challenge and provincially via the coveted race2reduce Commercial Real Estate Trailblazers (CREST) Awards.
In our second year post-launch, the ClimateWise Building Challenge has doubled its municipal number of buildings to a total of 118. The additions include fire halls, libraries, administrative offices and recreation complexes. York Region municipalities are really taking significant leaps toward climate action.
On the commercial side, we have had a significant increase of buildings joining our Challenge. CIBC has entered 10 bank branches into the challenge through the Tenant Space Recognition Space pilot program.
We look forward to welcoming more commercial buildings across York Region.
In January of 2021, ClimateWise Business Network proudly welcomed 407 ETR as a member. In just six months, 407 ETR has made substantial progress towards setting a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target under the ClimateWise Emissions Reduction Framework.
Speaking on joining the ClimateWise Business Network, George Lovell, Director of Health, Safety and Environment, 407 ETR, said, We're thrilled to embark on this journey and are grateful for the opportunity to tap into the vast resources, knowledge and expertise we are gaining through this partnership
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He added, The support and guidance from ClimateWise Business Network will help us mature our environmental reporting and further our progress in sustainability
. You can find out more about the 407 ETR sustainability actions by going to the 407 ETR 2020 Sustainability Report.
ClimateWise Business Network used its new carbon accounting tool to assist the 407 ETR in developing a GHG baseline. We also employed MURAL, a collaborative online tool to engage 12 executives of 407 ETR in a two-hour online working session that set the foundations of the 407 ETR GHG reduction action plan.
Aspects of the action plan are already being implemented with the launch of a Green Vehicles Working Group. The working group's role is to develop a green vehicle strategy for 407 ETR to help achieve the proposed corporate goal for greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 relative to the 2018 baseline. 407 ETR is currently in the process of setting an GHG reduction target.
Hot off the press, 407 ETR just announced a GHG reduction target of 25% by 2030 relative to the 2018 baseline. Congratulations 407 ETR.
To learn more about becoming a part of the ClimateWise Business Network:
Contact Harry French (ClimateWise Program Manager) at:
hfrench@windfallcentre.ca
The second in the webinar series "Why Building Tenants Should be Thinking about Climate Risk" informs commercial building tenants (SMEs) on mitigating their cost and supply risks by being more climate knowledgeable. View Webinar 2 PDF. Register for upcoming webinars.
The first in the webinar series "A Roadmap to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction - Benefits for Your Business" delved into the influences and trends impacting businesses. The speakers gave insights into how commercial building tenants can collaborate with landlords to achieve a low carbon workplace, modernize lease arrangements, energy-efficient best practices and other important topics. PDF. Upcoming Webinars.
The free ClimateWise Building Challenge webinar series will provide your business with the tools and intelligence to take the needed action on climate change. The first in the series tagged; A Roadmap to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction - Benefits for Your Business, will guide you in an understanding on the influences and trends that will impact your business operations.
When it comes to energy performance, building owners and tenants have similar building goals; both want to save money, be recognized for corporate responsibility efforts, engage stakeholders and have transparent access to energy consumption. Submetering provides a single solution for all of these needs. See Details of Webinar 4.
York Region municipalities and businesses have heard the call to action to participate in the ClimateWise Challenge. We are excited to welcome 60 municipal buildings and 15 commercial buildings into the free, friendly award and recognition competition. Click the link below to read which York Region municipalities and businesses have joined.
Our second webinar informs commercial building tenants (SMEs) on mitigating their cost and supply risks by being more climate knowledgeable. In 2021 the City of Toronto advanced three big moves to decarbonize buildings in our City, including existing buildings, future construction, and the City's portfolio. These initiatives are an introduction to what other municipalities will be doing soon. More details.
The third webinar presents how innovative Green Leases can create win-win agreements for building owners and business tenants to benefit from environmentally friendly upgrades and behaviours. More details.
With more than 20 years leading environmental sustainability programs and supporting communities within York Region, Windfall Ecology Centre is creating pathways to build back better through the launch of the ClimateWise Building Challenge.
We are pleased to announce that 407 ETR has joined the ClimateWise Business Network as a member. 407 ETR is on a mission to set ambitious and realistic sustainability targets. The partnership with ClimateWise provides access to an extensive member network to learn best practices, create a culture of sustainability and help develop greenhouse gas reduction goals.
A new greenhouse gas intensity metric will be rolled out to Canadian users of the Energy Star Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool. The new metric will provide an ability to compare your building’s total GHG intensity against a similar regional reference building. Natural Resources Canada is hosting a complimentary webinar to introduce the new metric and discuss what it means for your buildings.
Green Economy Canada, in partnership with Pembina Institute, has launched the SME Net-Zero Pathways: Manufacturing
pilot project . ClimateWise members Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. and Reesor's Market & Bakery join the first cohort of businesses to explore how they can get to net zero emissions.
Green Economy Canada, in partnership with Pembina Institute, has launched the SME Net-Zero Pathways: Manufacturing
pilot project . ClimateWise members Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. and Reesor's Market & Bakery join the first cohort of businesses to explore how they can get to net zero emissions.
Green Economy Canada, in partnership with Pembina Institute, has launched the SME Net-Zero Pathways: Manufacturing
pilot project . ClimateWise members Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. and Reesor's Market & Bakery join the first cohort of businesses to explore how they can get to net zero emissions.
Registration for the 2021 ClimateWise Challenge is now open! If you are a building owner, manager, or tenant, you can take part in this exciting opportunity to take action on climate change while reducing costs and increasing asset value. Register one or more of your buildings today!
Joining us today is Steven Costa, the National Solutions Developer of Energy Storage and Distributed Energy at Ameresco, Inc. Steven will discuss understanding and improving your building's existing energy infrastructure and facility use profiles.
Joining us today is Graham Seaman, P.Eng., LEED AP, CEM, the Director of Sustainability and Asset Management for the City of Markham. Graham will discuss the municipal energy plan and long-term vision to reach net zero by 2050.
City of Markham's Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) – Getting to Zero
Joining us today is Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO for The Regional Municipality of York. Wayne announces his endorsement and support for the ClimateWise Challenge and speaks to the steps York Region has taken to tackle the climate crisis.
Reesor's Markets has been awarded a membership subsidy from TD Bank to continue thier sustainability efforts in 2021. Recognizing the significant challenges COVID-19 has had on businesses, Green Recovery Membership Subsidies were established to support membership fees of small and medium-sized organizations across the Green Economy Canada network
Join in on the fun! A virtual preview introducing the ClimateWise Building Challenge, hosted by ClimateWise Business Network, will begin on November 30. The weeklong preview will include presentations with messages from key industry and municipal figures in York Region.
We're thrilled to be working alongside BOMA Toronto to deliver the ClimateWise Building Challenge to achieve economic and environmental benefits.
Are You a Business Owner? Wondering how your business can go green and save money at the same time? Join ClimateWise Building Challenge and Markham Small Business Centre, MSBC, on October 13, 2021, for an information-packed Sustainability Webinar on how your business can save money by creating a Green Action Plan.
Save the date! Green Economy Canada is hosting their second webinar on the Sustainable Development Goals on February 25. This is a great opportunity to learn how your business can set targets, measure progress, & report on your Sustainable Development Goals.
Jeff Ranson, Regional Director for the Greater Toronto Area chapter of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), joins us today for day two of the ClimateWise Building Challenge virtual preview.
Kicking off our weeklong virtual preview and celebration of the ClimateWise Challenge is Mayor John Taylor from the Town of Newmarket, Ontario and Brent Kopperson, Founder and Executive Director of Windfall Ecology Centre. Mayor Taylor speaks on the importance that municipalities in York Region place on energy reduction practices invites all York Region Mayors and commercial business to participate in this initiative as we collaborate in the transition to a low carbon economy.
ClimateWise Business Network, the Windfall Ecology Centre program hosting the ClimateWise Building Challenge, is a recognized Regional Partner of the BOMA Toronto race2Reduce program.
As a Regional Ally, ClimateWise offers enhanced outreach and support to public and private sectors in York and surrounding regions and provides resources to help them move their organizations toward more sustainable and low carbon operations.
The collaboration between BOMA Toronto and ClimateWise brings synergy and economies of scale to the mutual efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission from the buildings sector.
Reporting to the ClimateWise Business Network Program Manager, the Event Coordinator will be responsible for assisting with event coordination by managing attendee administration, budgets and liaising with venues including logistics design and management of on-site and virtual sessions.
The Atmosphere Fund (TAF) announced a $40 million Canada fund in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, City of Toronto, and the Government of Canada, bringing the total assets to $90 million. The significant green impact fund will drive further collaboration with cities across the GTHA community as well as Canada on bold new climate actions.
Financial assistance is available to help commercial and institutional building owners and operators implement the ISO 50001 energy management system standard. Implementing ISO 50001 within your organization will result in energy and cost savings and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The third episode of the Getting to Net Zero webinar series will seek to better understand the challenges and opportunities through a panel discussion with local business leaders who are pursuing a net zero strategy. Save your spot today!
ClimateWise Business Network founding member, the Regional Municipality of York, has been named one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2020 by Mediacorp Canada Inc. Mediacorp is Canada's largest publisher of employment-related periodicals.
In 2019, Maple Leaf Foods became the world's first major carbon neutral food company. Patrick Huynh of Maple Leaf Foods will join Stephen Boles of AET Group Inc. to discuss the company's carbon management journey and its benefits.
In the second episode of our popular Getting to Net Zero webinar series, we will present the what, why, and how of carbon offsets. Space is limited and the first webinar in this series filled up fast.
In the second episode of our popular Getting to Net Zero webinar series, we will present the what, why, and how of carbon offsets. Space is limited and the first webinar in this series filled up fast.
For the 2020 reporting year, the Government of Ontario will accept the submission of data to the Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) initiative until October 1, 2020. This is intended to be a one-time relief extension due to COVID-19. The Benchmarking Help Centre remains open to help with Portfolio Manager questions.
ClimateWise founding member Alectra Utilities was selected by The Electricity Distributors Association (EDA) for its 2020 Environmental Excellence award. One of Alectra's signature accomplishments is reducing almost 1500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions since 2016 - representing a 15% decrease in emissions. Congrats!
Officially launched by Newmarket Mayor John Taylor, the Mayors' Energy Challenge sets up a friendly competition between York Region municipalities to aid commercial building owners in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The Toronto Waldorf School is a private, not-for-profit independent school in Thornhill. It operates 12 months a year which includes child care, JK to grade 12 and summer camp. The building is owned by the school, has 73,000 sq feet of usable area space. It is heated electrically and uses no natural gas.
York Region municipalities and businesses have heard the call to action to participate in the ClimateWise Challenge. We are excited to welcome 60 municipal buildings and 15 commercial buildings into the free, friendly award and recognition competition. Participating in the ClimateWise Challenge has many benefits, including regional recognition in the York Region Sustainability Awards and provincial recognition in the Greater Toronto BOMA CREST Awards.
75 buildings from these organizations have committed to climate action:
As a Regional Ally of BOMA Toronto, ClimateWise Business Network invites you to explore the business and environmental benefits of joining the ClimateWise Challenge. Book a consultation by clicking the button below to learn more.
This webinar will present how innovative Green Leases can create win-win agreements for building owners and business tenants to benefit from environmentally friendly upgrades and behaviours. Green leases balance costs and benefits of investments in sustainability to ensure both parties get the savings back based on their investment while taking action on climate change.
Important topics that will be discussed include;
Speakers
Michael Brooks
Michael is the Chief Executive Officer of REALPAC, the senior Canadian trade association for large public, private and institutional investment real estate companies. He has represented the Canadian Real Estate industry in all major policy initiatives with governments at all three levels, including property tax reform, securities legislation, income tax issues, sustainability and ESG, land use planning and regulation, and many other issues since 1997. Michael is also the Author and Editor of the Canadian textbook "Canadian Commercial Real Estate: Theory, Practice, Strategy."
Emily Nield
Emily Nield is an integral member of the Sustainability Department at Epic Investment Services, where she works as the manager of ESG & Sustainability. Emily started her career as a planetary geologist, where she studied the surface of planets and moons in our solar system. During her tenure with NASA, she could no longer ignore the problems on Earth and decided to switch careers and focus on sustainability. Emily achieved her MBA from the Schulich School of Business, where she specialized in sustainability and has been with Epic since 2019.
The following piece was originally published in NewmarketToday.ca
With more than 20 years leading environmental sustainability programs and supporting communities within York Region, Windfall Ecology Centre is creating pathways to build back better through the launch of the ClimateWise Building Challenge.
The ClimateWise Challenge hopes to bring awareness to the climate crisis, drawing in building owners, managers, and tenants to compete in a friendly awards and recognition competition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve building energy efficiency. The initiative is modelled after the successful Energy Star Battle of the Building competition, a U.S Environmental Protection Agency program.
“The ClimateWise Challenge is all about working with building owners, managers, and tenants in a spirited competition to reduce greenhouse gas emission,” states Brent Kopperson, Founder and Executive Director of Windfall Centre. “Competitive building challenges have emerged as a cost-effective way to motivate large numbers of people to take deliberate action to reduce emissions in the workplace.”
The impact of COVID-19 has strengthened the call to action to build back better. The ClimateWise Challenge compliments the climate action efforts made by the Town, including the recent climate emergency declaration and the Community Energy Plan. The pathways that the ClimateWise Challenge provides will reduce building sector energy use, which makes up over 25 per cent of the town’s energy use, through education, innovation, and collaboration.
Windfall Centre is leading this initiative with the support of the York Region municipalities, including the Town of Newmarket's Mayor John Taylor, “I want to congratulate Windfall Ecology Centre for their leadership in this area for so many years and supporting our communities in best practices and guidance around the environment and climate change.”
“I’m asking Newmarket businesses and building owners to step up and do our town proud by participating in the ClimateWise Challenge,” Taylor said.
This free initiative is open to building owners, property managers, and tenants within York Region. Recognition and achievements will be presented throughout the competition at a regional level at the York Region Sustainability Awards. As a regional ally of BOMA Toronto, participants of the ClimateWise Challenge can also be recognized provincially at the BOMA Toronto Commercial Real Estate Trailblazers (CREST) awards.
Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient business economy and environment in the Town of Newmarket, York Region, and beyond.
To learn more about the ClimateWise Challenge and answer the call to take action on climate change, visit www.ClimateWiseChallenge.ca
Windfall Ecology Centre is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to building sustainable communities. We have served the York region community for 20 years.
The ClimateWise Business Network is a program of the Windfall Ecology Centre. ClimateWise Business Network works with local businesses and organizations by providing one-on-one support and guidance in setting environmental targets and seeing the returns of investing in sustainability.
Charting the path for SMEs to reach net-zero emissions
Article taken from Green Economy Canada
Canada has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Yet, how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) — the backbone of our economy — can be leveraged to reach this necessary and ambitious goal has been largely overlooked. To help address this gap, Green Economy Canada, in partnership with the Pembina Institute, has launched the SME Net-Zero Pathways: Manufacturing pilot project.
This pilot project has three phases.
We are currently working with the first cohort of businesses which include: Almac Industrial Systems, Heeman’s, London Brewing Co-operative, Reesor's Markets, Riverside Natural Foods, and Rodlin Instruments. These businesses are seeing a growing awareness of net-zero targets from customers, suppliers, competitors and regulators, but have indicated they need more guidance on how their own operations can reach net-zero and the business case to do so. This pilot will help them develop a net-zero roadmap and give them an opportunity to identify the supports they need to carry out the changes like specific policies from the government, green lending rates from financial institutions, peer-learning from similar businesses, and guidance to leverage and communicate their net-zero commitment to customers.
Wondering how your business can go green and save money at the same time? Join Markham Small Business Centre, MSBC and ClimateWise Business Network for an information-packed Sustainability Webinar on October 13, 2021.
The webinar titled 'How Business Owners Can Save Money by Creating a Green Action Plan' is organized by Markham Small Business Centre, an office of the City of Markham, and co-sponsored by ClimateWise Business Network, the business arm of Windfall Ecology Centre.
Amid increasing environmental challenges from climate change bedevilling industries and the world, businesses are now more than before expected to modify operations that threaten environmental sustainability. This webinar will provide your business with easy and practical solutions to going green, saving money, and exploring the benefits of bringing sustainability to your workplace.
There are two types of eligible recipients for the funding:
The funding will be used to reimburse eligible project costs as follows:
Eligible project expenditures include salaries and benefits, professional, scientific and technical fees specific to the energy management system, fees for data collection, benchmarking and analysis services, metering equipment, as well as other expenditures directly related to the project.
For more information, refer to Financial assistance for commercial and institutional buildings.
