FAQs

What does it mean to build green?

Construction activities can place considerable demands on the environment as a whole and surrounding natural ecosystem. Design and construction professionals have the opportunity to minimize the impact construction projects have on the environment.

The essential aim of environmentally sustainable development is to design and construct buildings in a way that reduces or eliminates the use of non-renewable resources, minimizes environmental impact, and creates high performance structures that are healthy for all who work, live and play in them.

What is LEED^© certification?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^©) Green Building Rating Systems™ are the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and adapted by its Canadian counterpart the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), LEED^© certification is a point-based rating system assessing the environmental performance of buildings. The LEED^© rating system provides the building industry with consistent, credible standards for what constitutes a green building. Points are earned for building attributes considered beneficial to the environment and the building occupants. A project can be certified on four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified.

What are the benefits of building green?

There are many long-term and social benefits that result from building a high performance structure. Some of these benefits include:

Decreased capital cost and long term cost savings
Improved stakeholder relations
Reduced operating costs over the long term
Access to prime locations and pre-developed infrastructure
Compressed project schedules
Reduced costs for redevelopment
Incentive programs
Enhanced ability to rent or sell space
Improved marketability
Free publicity and media coverage
Improved employee morale/productivity
Improved public profile and community relationships
Reduced liability
Higher building valuations
Support from government agencies

I'd love to build a high performance space but is it affordable?

Traditionally building development was driven by the initial costs of development without factoring in the long term social, environmental and economic costs. The benefits of optimal building operations, especially in terms of life cycle cost are substantial over the lifetime of the building.

It is often the little things that make the biggest difference. Building high performance developments is very affordable when considered in aggregate. With the right management/guidance a project can actually cost less in the long run.

How green do I need to go to satisfy my customers?

There are very often limits to building green. Customers understand that building a completely LEED^© certified structure may not be feasible or economical. By pursuing a balanced approach to sustainability, developers can show their customers that they are environmentally responsible and committed to doing all they can to achieve green.