We've been in this game long enough to know that real sustainability goes way beyond slapping solar panels on a roof and calling it a day. It's about fundamentally rethinking how buildings interact with their environment - and yeah, actually measuring the results.
Look, we're not gonna pretend every project can be net-zero. But what we can do is be honest about the environmental impact from day one and design with reduction in mind. Over the past decade, we've learned that the most effective sustainable design happens when you integrate it from the very first sketch - not as an afterthought.
Every location's different. We spend time understanding local climate, solar patterns, and wind before we even think about building orientation.
We track embodied carbon in materials and aren't afraid to call out greenwashing when we see it in product specs.
We run simulations throughout design phases so clients know what they're getting into before construction starts.
We actually check back to see if our predictions held up. That's how we keep getting better at this.
Here's what we've managed to achieve across our completed projects since 2020
Average carbon reduction vs. baseline code compliance
kWh generated from integrated solar systems annually
Water use reduction through smart fixtures and rainwater harvesting
Construction waste diverted from landfills
* Based on aggregate data from 23 completed projects. Includes embodied carbon in materials, construction emissions, and 25-year operational projections.
Honestly, certifications can be a bit of a mixed bag, but when done right, they push projects to perform better
We've been navigating LEED since it came to Canada. Yeah, the paperwork's intense, but it forces a level of accountability that's hard to argue with. Plus, clients appreciate the third-party validation.
This one's tough to achieve, not gonna lie. The energy targets are seriously aggressive, especially in Toronto's climate. But when you nail it, the buildings just perform differently - super comfortable, minimal energy use.
This is basically the Olympics of green building. We've got a couple projects going for it now. It demands net-positive energy and water, which in our climate means you really gotta commit. It's ambitious as hell.
For commercial projects, we regularly hit Energy Star benchmarks. It's more straightforward than LEED and focuses purely on operational efficiency - which honestly, is what matters most long-term.
Being local, we're all over the Toronto Green Standard. It's mandatory for new construction here anyway, but we typically aim for Tier 2 or 3. It aligns well with how we already approach design.
We've experimented with a lot of renewable tech over the years. Some stuff works brilliantly, some doesn't pencil out yet. Here's what we're actually specifying and installing on projects right now.
Solar's gotten so much better and cheaper. We're doing rooftop, facade-integrated, and even parking canopy installations. With Ontario's net metering, the payback's usually 8-12 years now.
Ground-source heat pumps are killer for both heating and cooling. Yeah, they're pricey upfront, but the efficiency's unbeatable. We've done vertical boreholes and horizontal loops depending on lot size.
Battery tech's finally getting practical. We're pairing them with solar to handle time-of-use rates and provide backup power. The economics are tight but improving every year.
Sometimes the best tech is no tech at all. We design for natural airflow whenever possible - operable windows, stack ventilation, cross-breeze optimization. Reduces mechanical load significantly.
Embodied carbon in materials is a huge deal that doesn't get enough attention