Photo courtesy GBCI Canada
The Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto has received the world’s first retail certifications and Canada’s first Parksmart certifications from Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) Canada. It earned the Pioneer-level certificate for existing parking structures by achieving more than 90 points for its G Parkade southwest parking garage. Yorkdale’s newly constructed E Parkade east structure has been certified Parksmart Bronze for achieving between 110 and 134 points.
The sustainability measures contributing to these certifications include:
- collection and usage of rainwater through cisterns in the two parkades;
- implementation of energy-saving programmable lighting;
- installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations; and
- repurposing of greywater from a tank in Parkade E for the mall’s washrooms.
For Oxford Properties Group, the centre’s owner, the Parksmart certification process for both projects has highlighted opportunities to maximize and modernize parking assets, ensure strong returns on investment (ROI), and provide an enhanced parking experience for mall patrons.
As the world’s only rating system designed to advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design and operation, Parksmart helps parking structure owners and managers future proof their assets and ensure they are functioning optimally to maximize operational savings.
