1. Green Buildings and a
Sustainable Society
Gord Miller
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario
Green Building Festival
October 27, 2007

2. The Building Industry is Greening!
 it’s an exciting time in the building
industry in Ontario

3. The Building Industry is Greening!
 it’s an exciting time in the building
industry in Ontario
 more new energy efficient, green and
LEED qualified buildings than ever
before

4. The Building Industry is Greening!
 it’s an exciting time in the building
industry in Ontario
 more new energy efficient, green and
LEED qualified buildings than ever
before
 much more needs to be done before we
can claim we are achieving sustainability

5. The Planning Paradigm
 the existing provincial policy and
planning system are not encouraging
the kind of change we need

6. The Planning Paradigm
 the existing provincial policy and
planning system are not encouraging
the kind of change we need
 we must find a way to integrate design,
engineering, policy, public health, and
taxation with the planning system
around a clear vision of sustainability

7. Changing the Planning Paradigm
 we need creative thinking and action …

8. Changing the Planning Paradigm
 we need creative thinking and action …
– abandon parcel focused planning

9. Changing the Planning Paradigm
 we need creative thinking and action …
– abandon parcel focused planning
– encourage district heating

10. Changing the Planning Paradigm
 we need creative thinking and action …
– abandon parcel focused planning
– encourage district heating
– grey water reuse and rainwater capture

11. Changing the Planning Paradigm
 we need creative thinking and action …
– abandon parcel focused planning
– encourage district heating
– grey water reuse and rainwater capture
– real incentives for energy conservation

12. Changing the Planning Paradigm
 we need creative thinking and action …
– abandon parcel focused planning
– encourage district heating
– grey water reuse and rainwater capture
– real incentives for energy conservation
– walkable access to employment & shopping

13. Changing the Planning Paradigm
 we need creative thinking and action …
– abandon parcel focused planning
– encourage district heating
– grey water reuse and rainwater capture
– real incentives for energy conservation
– walkable access to employment & shopping
– integrate living systems into built systems

14. Changing the Planning Paradigm
 we need creative thinking and action …
– abandon parcel focused planning
– encourage district heating
– grey water reuse and rainwater capture
– real incentives for energy conservation
– walkable access to employment & shopping
– integrate living systems into built systems
– incentives for home offices

15. A Tremendous Opportunity
 But despite the policy needs …

16. A Tremendous Opportunity
 But despite the policy needs …
 There is a huge opportunity for both
government and the private sector in
retrofitting and renovating the existing
built stock

17. Retrofits and Renovations
 the energy savings of retrofitting
hundreds of thousands of wasteful
buildings are immense

18. Retrofits and Renovations
 the energy savings of retrofitting
hundreds of thousands of wasteful
buildings are immense
 much of these energy reductions can be
shaved off peak

19. Retrofits and Renovations
 the energy savings of retrofitting
hundreds of thousands of wasteful
buildings are immense
 much of these energy reductions can be
shaved off peak
– reducing coal burning and thus GHG

20. Retrofits and Renovations
 the energy savings of retrofitting
hundreds of thousands of wasteful
buildings are immense
 much of these energy reductions can be
shaved off peak
– reducing coal burning and thus GHG
– reducing the need for new generation

21. Retrofits and Renovations
 the energy savings of retrofitting
hundreds of thousands of wasteful
buildings are immense
 much of these energy reductions can be
shaved off peak
– reducing coal burning and thus GHG
– reducing the need for new generation
– making the case for conservation

22. Retrofits and Renovations
 retrofits conserve existing materials
– reduce waste disposal
– reduce the need for new wood, steel and
concrete
– preserve heritage values

23. But the System Favours New Build

24. But the System Favours New Build
 municipal building/zoning standards
must be challenged …
– rules on building form
– rules on minimum unit sizes
– parking requirements lenders must be
educated

25. But the System Favours New Build
 municipal building/zoning standards
must be challenged …
– rules on building form
– rules on minimum unit sizes
– parking requirements lenders must be
educated
 innovative building form and creative
models of living arrangements will be
the financially successful approaches

26. But the System Favours New Build
 the province has to realize the potential
and bring in supportive policy

27. But the System Favours New Build
 the province has to realize the potential
and bring in supportive policy
– open the building code process to allow
innovation to low and rapid uptake of new
technologies

28. But the System Favours New Build
 the province has to realize the potential
and bring in supportive policy
– open the building code process to allow
innovation to low and rapid uptake of new
technologies
– tax incentives or relief reflecting the savings
in deferred infrastructure

29. But the System Favours New Build
 the province has to realize the potential
and bring in supportive policy
– open the building code process to allow
innovation to low and rapid uptake of new
technologies
– tax incentives or relief reflecting the savings
in deferred infrastructure
 carbon offset funding can help with
suboptimal ROI

30. The Challenge …
 is to change the system …

31. The Challenge …
 is to change the system …
 the status quo has many friends

32. The Challenge …
 is to change the system …
 the status quo has many friends
 governments will not change things
unless there is a push from the industry

33. The Challenge …
 is to change the system …
 the status quo has many friends
 governments will not change things
unless there is a push from the industry
 at the provincial level you can use your
EBR rights

34. Thank You For Your Attention
The ultimate test of a moral society is the
kind of world that it leaves to its children.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian (1906-1945)