Cleaning up commercial buildings

Bob Page, chair of NRTEE, speaks at the "Geared for Change: Energy Efficiency in Canada's Commercial Building Sector" news conference.

Photos courtesy Sean Kilpatrick

If a new set of policies is adopted, the Canadian commercial building sector's emissions could be cut in half—rising 100 per cent instead of 200 per cent by 2050. The proposed policy pathway put forth by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) would allegedly enable commercial buildings to make up almost 10 per cent of reductions in the country's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the next 40 years.

Waterproofing know-how flows into Hamilton region

At its February 19 lunch meeting, the Hamilton/Niagara Chapter of Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) is offering an hour-long presentation on selecting the best waterproofing system.

Lecture series added to Toronto Chapter's No Frills Show

Construction Specifications Canada's (CSC's) Toronto Chapter has added a lecture series to its annual No Frills Trade Show. The event, held on March 2, allows architects, engineers, interior designers, and specifiers to get all the latest manufacturer information and network with colleagues in a single afternoon.

Concrete recognition in Ontario

Held in December, the 2008 Ontario Concrete Awards honoured projects for their remarkable use of concrete as a primary construction material.

New energy code for residential projects?

As the design/construction industry and general public alike continue to focus on sustainability and cost efficiency, the need for responsible energy consumption has come to the forefront. Now, with the next edition of the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB) scheduled for 2011, input is being sought for a new code to deal with similar requirements in residential projects.

West Coast woes and eastern promises

The global economic slowdown has hit B.C.'s construction industry hard. Last month alone, the province lost 7000 construction jobs with the postponement of condominium and other housing projects due to developers hesitant to proceed amidst plummeting real estate values and cautious consumers.

Best practices for staying warm

The 2010 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) might encourage specific best practices for mechanical insulation. The Thermal Insulation Association of Canada (TIAC) is lobbying for inclusion of a one-line reference to its manual for national insulation standards in Section 6 of NBC.