LEED projects in Canada surpass 1 billion square feet

This story first appeared in our sister publication, On-Site.

Green building in Canada has reached a significant milestone, with the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) announcement that there are now more than 1 billion square feet of LEED projects in Canada. This represents nearly 7,000 LEED buildings, homes and communities developed since 2004. This growth can be attributed to the successful and widespread adoption of LEED by Canada’s construction industry, leading to significant innovation and economic development.

As the federal government plans for the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change – which recognizes the building sector as an area critical to the reduction of emissions – the building industry’s widespread LEED experience will be crucial to its success.

“We have just 13 years to reach aggressive national and international commitments to climate change,” says Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council. “Our members, stakeholders and the green building industry have proven that we are ready to take on this challenge. With more than 1 billion square feet of LEED projects across the country, a new more rigorous version of LEED, and the release of a net zero carbon standard for Canada coming mid-year, it is evident that we are ready to hit the ground running and do our part in the countdown to 2030.”

As the world moves toward a low carbon economy, CaGVC is pushing higher standards for the performance of buildings (both new and existing) through LEEDv4. It is also moving ahead with plans to support the industry by providing Canada’s first state-of-the-art guideline and third-party verification for zero carbon buildings. In addition, it is expanding research and consolation on existing buildings to determine how Canada’s infrastructure can be better managed and retrofitted – both to stimulate job growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.