A new Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) report released during World Green Building Week is demonstrating how a greener built environment can combat climate change and stimulate economic growth.
The report, titled Building Solutions to Climate Change: How Green Buildings Can Help Meet Canada?s 2030 Emissions Targets outlines the CaGBC?s response to the Vancouver Declaration on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which committed Canada to meeting or exceeding the federal government?s 2030 target of a 30 per cent reduction below 2005 levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The report makes four key recommendations aimed at meeting Canada?s climate change targets while fueling the growth of Canada?s sustainable building industry. Targeting existing buildings with measures that improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, along with innovation toward net zero carbon buildings are key in achieving national emission targets.  The recommendations are substantiated by research from WSP Group and Acton White Associates, commissioned to examine the carbon savings potential of existing buildings and net zero buildings, and also to analyze the required investment and economic benefits. The four key recommendations in the report are:

Meet Canada?s climate change targets by investing in and providing incentives for energy efficiency improvements (including recommissioning, deep retrofits, renewable onsite energy systems, and switching fuel sources to renewable options) in ex...