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
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
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
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
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)
