September 18, 2015 Honourable Shannon Phillips Minister of Environment and Parks 208 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Climate Change Advisory Panel Attn: Dr. Andrew Leach, Chair 11th Floor, South Petroleum Plaza 9915-108 Street Edmonton, AB T5K 2G8

Dear Minister Phillips and Dr. Leach, Subject: Climate Change Discussion Document Submission The Alberta Chapter - Canada Green Building Council thanks you for the opportunity to participate as a stakeholder during industry consultations held by the Climate Change Advisory Panel in September 2015. We applaud the Government of Alberta’s action to create a plan for the province that will reduce GHG emissions and play a meaningful role in addressing climate change on a national and global scale. We are pleased to offer our recommendations on the Climate Change Discussion Document which we have attached to this letter. We have included strategies we feel reflect the best options available to the Province to reduce emissions from the built environment. The Canada Green Building Council and the Alberta Chapter is committed to working alongside the province to support a transition to a low carbon built environment. We will leverage our established presence in the Province and our network of green building professionals as needed. The climate change plan will provide guidance for our organization to ensure that we can continue to lead and accelerate the transformation to high-performing, healthy green buildings, homes and communities throughout Alberta. Sincerely,

Thomas Mueller President & CEO Canada Green Building Council

Tanya Doran, LEED Green Associate Executive Director Alberta Chapter - Canada Green Building Council

c.c. Climate Change Advisory Panel

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Sepember'18,'2015''

Canada%Green%Building%Council%Climate'Leadership'Discussion'Document'Submission''

Introduction*The'Government'of'Alberta'has'an'opportunity'to'demonstrate'strong'leadership'in'

addressing'climate'change'by'committing'to'reductions'in'carbon'emissions.''

Green'building'policies'to'develop'government'institutions'to'LEED'standards'have'

contributed'to'the'path'towards'sustainability.'In'2014,'Alberta'certified'per'capita'

the'second'most'square'footage'under'the'LEED'program'in'North'America'trailing'

only'Illinois.'In'2013'Alberta'was'the'number'one'certifying'region'per'capita.''

However,'Alberta'has'a'long'way'to'go'and'needs'to'champion'new'initiatives'to'curb'

greenhouse'gas'emissions'and'mitigate'the'impacts'of'climate'change.''

The'Canada'Green'Building'Council'(CaGBC)'is'a'notOforOprofit,'national'organization'

that'has'been'working'since'2002'to'advance'green'building'and'sustainable'

community'development'practices'in'Canada'through'marketObased'solutions.'We'are'

an'industryOled'organization'providing'value'added,'market'based'solutions'that'

benefit'the'environment,'economy'and'public'health.'We'manage'the'Leadership'in'

Energy'and'Environmental'Design'(LEED)'rating'system'in'Canada'which'is'

recognized'as'the'international'mark'of'excellence'for'new'and'existing'green'

building'in'over'200'countries.'Our'reach'is'enhanced'by'the'work'of'8'provincial'

chapters,'including'Alberta,'that'provide'regionally'tailored'market'education'and'

advocacy.'''

What'follows'are'the'CaGBC’s'recommendations'related'to'the'built'environment'

which'can'be'found'in'the'Buildings'and'Houses'and'Transportation'and'Electricity'

sections'of'the'Climate(Leadership(Discussion(Document.'

Buildings(and(Houses(Buildings'offer'some'of'the'greatest'potential'for'achieving'significant'energy'and'

GHG'emission'reductions,'at'the'least'cost.'In'fact'conservation'policies'are'3'to'6'

times'cheaper'than'new'energy'supply'to'the'grid.1'At'the'municipal'level,'emissions'

from'buildings'at'the'municipal'level'account'for'upwards'of'half'of'a'city’s'carbon'

footprint.'Edmonton'attributes'38.6%2'percent'of'their'emissions'to'the'built'

environment'while'Calgary'attributes'49%3.''This'is'further'exacerbated'across'the'

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Dunsky Energy Consulting, September 2015, http://www.pembina.org/reports/2015-ab-climate-summit-energy-efficiency-dunsky-role.pdf 2 Edmonton Community Energy Transition Strategy, http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/EnergyTransitionStrategy.pdf 3 Options for reducing GHG Emissions in Calgary – Research Report, page 9 https://www.pembina.org/reports/calgary-ghg-main-report.pdf

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province'where'new'construction'in'Alberta'has'not'been'required'to'meet'energy'

guidelines.'Fortunately'that'is'about'to'change'as'new'regulations'offering'a'

staggered'approach'to'ICI'(Industrial,'Commercial,'Institutional)'and'residential'

buildings'will'see'new'construction'meet'2011'National'Energy'Code'for'Buildings'

(NECB)'requirements.'''

'

Recommendations(Alberta'has'an'opportunity'to'prioritize'energy'efficiency'programs'and'legislation'for'

its'built'environment.'There'are'a'number'of'strategies'that'it'should'consider'in'

order'to'gain'the'greatest'benefit.'%%Create%incentives%and%to%increase%energy4efficiency%upgrades%and%retrofits.%While'new'construction'is'important,'the'biggest'challenge'and'opportunity'exists'in'

the'retrofit'market'through'improvements'to'the'existing'building'stock.'As'such,'

there'has'been'a'growing'focus'on'the'existing'building'environment'and'retroO

commissioning'as'the'largest'opportunity'for'reducing'energy'consumption'and'GHG'

emissions.''

Programs'such'as'LEED'for'Existing'Buildings'Operations'and'Maintenance'(EB:O&M)'

are'helping'to'drive'activities'in'this'space,'particularly'in'the'nonOresidential'sectors.'

LEED'EB:O&M'requires'owners'to'apply'advanced'building'operation,'maintenance'

and'retrofit'practices'to'improve'the'performance'of'buildings.'Minimum'

requirements'for'and'measurement'of'energy'is'a'key'requirement'for'a'LEED'

designation.'Recertification'is'required'every'five'years'to'ensure'performance'is'

maintained'or'enhanced.!As'one'example,'the'Toronto'Atmospheric'Fund’s'green'loan'program'has'helped'encourage'energy'efficiency'retrofits'in'Ontario.4'While'

improvements'in'technology'can'lead'to'lower'energy'use,'it'is'critical'that'new'

technology'improvements'are'accompanied'with'commissioning'with'includes'

training'for'operations'staff'and'tenant'engagement'programs.''

Prioritize%a%pathway%(beyond%energy%consumption)%to%low%impact%buildings.%'The'Government'of'Alberta'should'consider'policies,'research'and'practices'for'all'

new'building'construction'in'Alberta'to'meet'the'highest'energy'efficiency'standards'

and'lowest'carbon'footprint.'The'movement'to'minimize'the'consumption'of'energy'

in'new'residential'and'nonOresidential'buildings'is'a'priority.'However,'holistic'

approaches'to'building'design'and'construction'including'water'efficiency,'waste'

recycling'and'material'selection'are'also'vital'in'creating'low'carbon,'healthy'

buildings'and'communities.''

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!4 See: http://www.c40.org/case_studies/toronto%E2%80%99s-atmospheric-fund-makes-sustainability-affordable

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With'regard'to'energy'efficiency,'we'encourage'the'government'to'pursue'key'policy'

levers'such'as'the'building'code'including'immediate'adoption'of'National'Codes.''We'

also'encourage'the'Province'to'consider'provisions'that'would'allow'municipalities'to'

increase'the'thresholds'required'for'energy'efficiency,'perhaps'through'a'multiOtiered'

performanceObased'stretch'code.''

To'demonstrate'its'capacity'to'lead'by'example'we'encourage'the'Government'of'

Alberta'to'ensure'that'all'publically'owned'and'funded'projects'adhere'to'the'highest'

standards'for'carbon'emissions.'To'do'so,'the'Province'must'first'take'into'account'

the'depth'and'breadth'of'options'available'to'reduce'carbon'emissions.'Carbon'is'

embedded'in'decisions'regarding'materials,'water'and'waste.'According'to'

Architecture'2030,'up'to'15O18'per'cent'of'a'building’s'carbon'footprint'is'associated'

with'construction'materials.'The'government'should'leverage'existing'programs'that'

produce'low'impact'buildings.'For'example,'the'LEED'program'in'Alberta'has'

demonstrated'what'is'possible'when'it'comes'to'the'development'of'low'carbon'

intensive'buildings.'This'has'resulted'in'some'of'the'most'advanced'and'globally'

recognized'sustainable'buildings'and'communities'in'the'world'(e.g.'University'of'

CalgaryO'Energy'Environment'Experiential'Learning'Building,'Eight'Avenue'Place,'

Centennial'Place'and'the'Mosiac'Centre'(targeting'LEED'Platinum'and'Living'Building'

Petal'certification).'

'

Introduce%a%mandatory%energy%benchmarking%and%disclosure%program.'Alberta'has'generated'a'good'deal'of'momentum'toward'reducing'energy'

consumption'and'eliminating'greenhouse'gas'emissions'that'result'from'building'

operations.'Alberta’s'municipalities'have'been'utilizing'the'Taking'Action'to'Manage'

Energy'(TAME)'Initiative'operated'by'the'Municipal'Climate'Change'Action'Centre'

(MCCAC)'to'understand'and'improve'the'energy'efficiency'their'facilities.'

Through'the'program,'municipalities'invested'$4.6M'in'energy'efficiency'retrofits,'

saving'communities'$400,000'per'year'in'energy'costs'and'2,350'tonnes'per'year'in'

greenhouse'gas'emissions.''

While'there'is'momentum'toward'energy'conservation,'lack'of'data'and'data'

transparency'continues'to'present'a'challenge'that'can'inhibit'the'success'of'

conservation'programs.'We'know'that'buildings'can'be'designed'and'operated'more'

efficiently,'however'we'lack'information'about'which'buildings'are'performing'badly'

and'why.'

Energy'benchmarking,'reporting'and'disclosure'requirements'help'overcome'the'data'

transparency'challenge.'Building'owners'use'a'common'tool'to'calculate'energy'use'

and'compare'their'building’s'consumption'against'other'buildings,'and'against'

themselves'over'time.'Reporting'energy'use'to'a'government'body'ensures'that'policy'

makers'have'the'information'they'need'to'make'significant'improvements'and'

address'inefficiencies.'Disclosure'of'data'to'the'public'provides'information'to'owners'

and'tenants'and'can'help'guide'investment'decisions.''

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CaGBC'is'proposing'a'provinceOwide'approach'to'benchmarking,'reporting'and'

disclosure'that'builds'upon'‘lessons'learned’'from'the'United'States'and'Europe.'A'

provinceOwide'benchmarking'initiative'would'provide'uniformity'to'requirements'in'

communities'across'Alberta'and'aid'in'implementation'by'local'governments.'Alberta'

cities'range'significantly'in'size'and'capacity'to'develop'and'deliver'complex'

environmental'policies.'A'provinceOwide'initiative'aims'to'provide'that'much'needed'

capacity'to'participating'communities'to'remove'barriers'to'introduction'of'these'

requirements.'The'CaGBC'also'encourages'the'province'to'look'beyond'its'borders'

and'consider'the'impact'of'its'program'nationally'so'that'owners'with'portfolios'in'

many'cities'across'the'country'can'benefit'from'a'consistent'approach'to'managing'

energy'use'across'portfolios.'The'CaGBC'is'leading'a'consultation'process'to'develop'

principles'for'energy'benchmarking'and'reporting'that'can'be'applied'nationally.'We'

encourage'the'contributions'of'the'Alberta'government'and'look'forward'to'future'

collaborations.''

Education,(Outreach(and(Green(jobs(The'global'green'and'sustainable'building'industry'is'forecast'to'grow'at'an'annual'

rate'of'23'percent'between'2014'and'2017.5'Countries'around'the'world'are'actively'

supporting'and'investing'in'their'green'building'sectors,'knowing'that'developing'

domestic'leadership'can'help'to'position'them'for'greater'economic'development,'job'

creation,'and'for'capitalizing'on'the'export'market'growth'opportunities.%

Alberta'has'a'particular'opportunity'to'claim'a'place'as'a'leader'among'Canadian'

provinces'with'regard'to'green'building.'In'2014,'1.8'%'of'the'labour'force'in'the'

province'was'employed'in'the'green'building'sector.'(This'is'the'equivalent'of'nearly'

45,000'jobs.)'Additionally,'over'$3.635'billion'dollars'can'be'attributed'to'the'GDP.'''

Alberta'has'an'enormous'opportunity'to'do'more'in'order'to'grow'its'green'building'

sector,'become'an'international'leader,'and'further'seize'the'strategic'opportunities'

tied'to'investments,'job'creation,'and'exports.'What'will'be'required'is'a'strategic'

approach'at'the'provincial'level'that'involves'investing'in'innovation'and'industry'

development'as'well'as'training'the'new'workforce'with'the'skills'they'need'to'propel'

the'green'building'sector'forward.'

Recommendations(Invest%in%research%and%development%for%the%green%building%sector.%The'construction'sector'in'general'(particularly'in'North'America),'has'a'poor'record'

for'investing'in'research'and'development'(R&D).'In'Canada,'construction'ranks'at'

the'bottom'of'all'industries'in'terms'of'its'R&D'expenditures.'Productivity'levels'have'

also'suffered'due'to'the'lack'of'innovation'over'time.'Not'only'does'construction'lag'

behind'other'sectors'in'Canada,'but'when'compared'against'international'

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5 Dodge SmartMarket Report. See: http://construction.com/about-us/press/world-green-building-trends-smartmarket-report.asp

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competitors,'Canada'ranks'quite'low'and'the'amount'of'R&D'investment'in'

construction'has'been'stagnant'since'2001.6%

The'circular'economy,'cradleOtoOcradle,'and'biomimicry'concepts'show'potential'for'

being'integrated'into'practice'in'order'to'optimize'resources'and'minimize'waste.'

Room'to'innovate'on'the'process'materials'side'is'a'key'opportunity'for'Alberta'as'the'

industry'shifts'to'a'lifecycle'assessmentOdriven'approach'in'sustainable'building'

design.''In'Alberta'this'momentum'is'building'through'research'led'by'the'Green'

Building'Technology'Access'Centre'(GBTAC)'at'SAIT'Polytechnic.'The'GBTAC'brings'

researchers'together'with'industry'partners'to'identify'and'develop'environmentally'

friendly'technologies,'processes,'programs,'systems'and'services'to'improve'the'way'

we'build.7'

Enhance%training%for%trades%and%operations%staff.%%What'is'currently'lacking'is'a'multiOpronged'approach'to'training'that'supports'all'of'

the'different'programs'to'help'the'industry'understand,'design'and'build'greener'

buildings.'Beyond'these,'there'are'two'significant'areas'where'gaps'in'education'and'

training'currently'exist'as'it'relates'to'green'buildings.'The'first'one'is'building'

operations.'The'evolution'of'‘smart’'and'connected'buildings'means'that'they'have'

become'sophisticated'computers.'Currently,'there'is'a'dearth'of'qualified'building'

operators;'essentially'someone'with'a'hybrid'set'of'skills'with'experience'on'both'the'

mechanical'side'of'building'maintenance'and'the'operational'side'that'includes'ICT'

and'software'systems.'Firms'such'as'Bentall'Kennedy'and'Manulife'Real'Estate'have'

taken'the'initiative'to'develop'their'own'“apprenticeship”'program'for'bright'young'

technical'folks'as'opposed'to'trying'to'reOeducate'traditional'operators'that'have'

moved'up'from'managing'janitorial'services.'More'is'needed'in'this'space'to'support'

structured'and'modernized'internship,'mentorship,'or'apprenticeship'programs'for'

building'operators.%

The'second'area'where'training'is'required'is'in'the'area'of'building'officials'and'

inspectors.'Energy'efficiency'and'building'performance'is'typically'out'of'the'realm'of'

building'inspectors;'they'are'often'more'concerned'with'health'and'safety'issues.'As'

such,'there'is'a'need'for'retraining'and'refocusing.'Code'interpretations'can'be'

challenging'because'building'inspectors'will'usually'only'allow'explicit'technologies'

and'solutions'described'in'the'building'code'and'may'not'be'knowledgeable'on'more'

advanced'or'higher'performing'solutions'as'they'relate'to'green'buildings.'

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!6 Delphi Group. Green Building in Canada: Assessing the Economic Impacts and Opportunities. (Draft form and not available online till November 2015.) 7 Sait website: http://www.sait.ca/research-and-innovation/green-building-technology-access-centre.php

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Conclusion*Alberta'has'an'opportunity'to'create'a'climate'change'plan'that'is'ambitious,'effective'

and'achievable'while'considering'environmental,'social'and'economic'opportunities'

that'impact'the'build'environment'and'move'Alberta'to'a'lowerOcarbon'future.'As'

experts'in'Canada'on'sustainable'building'practices'and'policies,'the'CaGBC'welcomes'

further'opportunities'to'assist'the'government'with'education'and'strategy'for'

existing'and'new'commercial,'institutional'and'residential'construction.'

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