M II A II R II K
Senior Member
Vancouver building code an example for Toronto
Apr. 28, 2010
Anna Mehler Paperny
Read More: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...g-code-an-example-for-toronto/article1550502/
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Want to see a city with the power to tell developers to go green or go home? Go west. Vancouver’s charter allows it to develop city-specific building bylaws. Since 2006, the city has put mandatory environmentally friendly requirements in place, and it hopes to tighten its energy-efficient rules over the next several months and years. That’s led to a more than 20-per-cent reduction in the carbon footprint of Vancouver buildings. In Toronto, on the other hand, nearly two-thirds of energy consumption come from its temperature-controlled, electricity-guzzling buildings – something the current council has pledged to greatly reduce.
But climate and energy experts point to loose regulations and inconsistent incentives that mean the city, a would-be climate-change leader, isn’t as innovative as it could be. Two of Toronto’s mayoral candidates vow they’d push for the province to give them more powers. But a spokesman for Housing Minister Jim Bradley says there’s a reason the entire province uses the same building code, and the Ontario government has no intention of handing over more power to let Toronto put stricter green building guidelines in place.
“The ministry would welcome suggestions from Toronto or any other municipality.… It’s important to note, though, that energy efficiency – as well as accessibility, structural sufficiency, fire protection, et cetera – are qualities that all buildings across Ontario should possess. These are not issues specific to a single municipality or region of Ontario,†spokesman Joe Kim said. He noted that the province started including a provincial component in its building code last year that will place more stringent environmental requirements on buildings after 2011.
Proponents of provincewide building codes note that it makes more sense for developers to know what they’re getting into from one city to another. In addition, architect Dermot Sweeny pointed out, more environmentally zealous cities can pay for their enthusiasm with higher opportunity costs, and find economically minded businesses going elsewhere. “The greenest building code in North America†is how sustainability development program manager David Ramslie refers to Vancouver’s green homes program, which requires all one- and two-family homes to be equipped for solar power and electric cars; to include energy-saving windows, an insulated foundation and dual-flush toilets.
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Apr. 28, 2010
Anna Mehler Paperny
Read More: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...g-code-an-example-for-toronto/article1550502/
########################################
Want to see a city with the power to tell developers to go green or go home? Go west. Vancouver’s charter allows it to develop city-specific building bylaws. Since 2006, the city has put mandatory environmentally friendly requirements in place, and it hopes to tighten its energy-efficient rules over the next several months and years. That’s led to a more than 20-per-cent reduction in the carbon footprint of Vancouver buildings. In Toronto, on the other hand, nearly two-thirds of energy consumption come from its temperature-controlled, electricity-guzzling buildings – something the current council has pledged to greatly reduce.
But climate and energy experts point to loose regulations and inconsistent incentives that mean the city, a would-be climate-change leader, isn’t as innovative as it could be. Two of Toronto’s mayoral candidates vow they’d push for the province to give them more powers. But a spokesman for Housing Minister Jim Bradley says there’s a reason the entire province uses the same building code, and the Ontario government has no intention of handing over more power to let Toronto put stricter green building guidelines in place.
“The ministry would welcome suggestions from Toronto or any other municipality.… It’s important to note, though, that energy efficiency – as well as accessibility, structural sufficiency, fire protection, et cetera – are qualities that all buildings across Ontario should possess. These are not issues specific to a single municipality or region of Ontario,†spokesman Joe Kim said. He noted that the province started including a provincial component in its building code last year that will place more stringent environmental requirements on buildings after 2011.
Proponents of provincewide building codes note that it makes more sense for developers to know what they’re getting into from one city to another. In addition, architect Dermot Sweeny pointed out, more environmentally zealous cities can pay for their enthusiasm with higher opportunity costs, and find economically minded businesses going elsewhere. “The greenest building code in North America†is how sustainability development program manager David Ramslie refers to Vancouver’s green homes program, which requires all one- and two-family homes to be equipped for solar power and electric cars; to include energy-saving windows, an insulated foundation and dual-flush toilets.
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