PAGE A2 – May 2009 – The GTA Construction Report
Editor’s
Publisher’s
column
viewpoint
Matthew Desrosiers
By Chase
Where were you on Earth Day? Golf is in the air! Now that winter is finally What is planned now for May? Off to Barrie
I was in Ottawa attending an open house for the city’s first LEED (Lead- over, Canada’s second season has started. That May 7 for a Barrie Construction Association
ership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes Gold certified second season is Construction Season. members meeting at the Robert Simpson Brew-
home. Though still under construction, when completed this home will be Things in Niagara are shaping up with the ery which is where I was first introduced to the
the healthiest, greenest and most energy efficient home in Ottawa.
ground breaking ceremony of the new $700 association a year ago. A lot has changed since
The thing that stood out about this project, from talking to the design
million, 975,000 sq.-ft. St.Catharines Hospital then. Coverage in the area is growing, new re-
team, was the flexibility of the LEED program. The homeowners were
and Regional Health-Care Centre. I recall last lationships are being established with the
adamant they wanted the home to be comfortable. They didn’t want all this
August at the Niagara Construction Association Greater Barrie Home Builders Association and
technology and renewable energy systems installed. No solar panels, wind
Annual Golf tournament that representatives as- I am a Director on the BCA board.
turbines, and all those things we read about in net-zero homes.
sured the association that the Plenary Group Last up for May is a developing relationship
Instead, they wanted the house to be low-maintenance, and that’s what
would be looking to local construction compa- between the Niagara Construction Association
has been achieved. This home is super-insulated and the envelope is tight
nies for the work that needs to be completed. and Niagara Home Builders Association for a
as can be. Combine that with a variety of other details that earned them
This will definitely by a nice kick start to the three day Habitat Blitz Build for the fall. I am
LEED points, and they were able to achieve the program’s second-highest
community here. excited as a member of both associations to see
rating.
The 6th Annual OGCA Symposium the potential for a great partnership and exciting
I think this home speaks to the ingenuity of design teams and the con-
wrapped up at the end of April and was another way to show the people of the Niagara Region
struction industry as a whole in today’s sustainable building market. LEED
set the standard and even penalized them 15 points for the size of the home,
great networking event. Next up for the OGCA what they have to offer. I will keep you posted
yet the team worked within specific parameters to achieve certification.
is the launch of their Awards this fall in Ottawa as this progresses.
That seems to be the reputation of our construction industry here in On-
and a format for the annual symposium to move Chase is the Director of Marketing and
tario. Give them a challenge, and sit back to watch how they achieve the
to a bi-annual basis. The event is great for me Client Relations for the Construction News and
goal.
since I get to meet a lot of contractors in a re- Report Group as well as the Associate Publisher
What we don’t want to do is restrict this ingenuity
laxed setting away from the office and all the for the GTA Construction Report and Ontario
. That could be a killing
blow to our industry, and it might start with sustainable design.
closings. I am looking forward to expanding Construction Report. If you have any recom-
The City of Toronto is looking to pass a bylaw whereby all new additions
coverage of the OGCA and events throughout mendations or suggestions on changes you
and new construction that meet certain size criteria will be required to in-
the rest of the year. It was great being a Plat- would like to make for the papers please contact
clude a green roof. At first look, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea. But after
inum sponsor and seeing our name almost at the him toll free at 1-888-432-3555 ext 211 or
speaking with developers in Toronto, you start to see some of the potential
very top of the list. email him chase@cnrgp.com or visit us online
consequences, and it’s not just dollars.
at www.cnrgp.com
The City is looking to go green at the risk of completely handcuffing
developers and designers. The bylaw would force project dollars into green
roofs instead of other sustainable initiatives that might better suit the project.
The example I was given was that of rainwater collection for flushing toi-
lets. Green roofs seriously hamper the effect of this initiative because the
greenery traps water before it can be collected. The bylaw could take this,
and possibly other options, away from designers.
So what am I trying to say here? That developers are good and green is
bad? No. That green roofs have no merit? No. That the City of Toronto
should rethink their approach to sustainable bylaws? Well... maybe.
The major issue here is trying to mandate very specific details of sus-
tainability, when there are many ways to achieve similar goals. Politicians,
some environmentalists, their hearts are in the right place, but sometimes
they leave their minds out of it. Green roofs aren’t the only solution. They
The GTA Construction Report is published monthly by Mekomedia Enterprises Inc., Suite 202,
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The City of Toronto fancies themselves leaders in the green movement, 401/Warden Exit. You can subscribe to GTA Construction Report for $37.50 per year plus GST.
and want to lead by example with this bylaw. Perhaps in their rush to lead,
To change your address or cancel a subscription, please email subscriptions@cnrgp.com or fax
they never stopped to look back at all the green and sustainable achieve-
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ments that have been made without green roofs. Nowhere in the LEED pro-
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We welcome your news about upcoming projects, company anniversaries and special events.
gram, for example, does it say a building can only be certified if it has a
Fax your news releases to 613-224-1076. Daily update data on upcoming projects, including
green roof. contact names and phone numbers, is available from F.W. Dodge. For more information, phone
So going back to the ingenuity of Ontario’s construction industry, per 613-727-4900 ext 4902 or 493.-
haps Toronto and other cities considering similar bylaws should talk to the
developers and designers, and set a very high bar for sustainable construc-
tion instead.
Then, sit back and watch us clear it.
President: Mark Buckshon
Publisher: Chase
Editor: Matthew Desrosiers 888-432-3555 ext 111
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