Management
New refrigerant restrictions set for 2025
Regulators in Canada and the United States are out of sync in banning the R-410A refrigerant that’s currently a mainstay of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump systems.
Existing buildings sector limbering up with AI
Artificial intelligence is proving useful for teaching old dogs new tricks in the existing buildings sector, finding energy savings and emissions reductions in advance of comprehensive retrofits.
Ontario re-evaluates steps for land use change
Proposed new provincial legislation would strip municipalities of their ability to request a record of site condition (RSC) in specified circumstances where the risk of site contamination is deemed to be low.
Sustainable proptech gaining momentum
An expanding roster of tech companies aligned with the sustainable and smart buildings market reflects growing demand from end-users and draws support from increasingly enthusiastic investors.
Clinically fit space on the leasing agenda
A small but noteworthy cohort of tenants will be leasing specialized space as the Ontario government moves toward granting licences for new independently operated surgical and diagnostic clinics.
Canada aims to foster decarbonization capital
The Canadian government promotes a standardized approach for categorizing sustainable investment and verifying its credibility for market participants.
Vacant residential land stirs surtax rumblings
The Canadian government is exploring options for a surtax on vacant residential land through a newly launched public consultation, which is open for submissions until December 31, 2024.
BOMA Canada awards industry’s best for 2024
The Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada presented its national awards on September 25, 2024.
Equity partnerships generate net-zero progress
A newly released primer from the First Nations Major Projects Coalition highlights clean energy opportunities and some illustrative generation, storage and transmission projects.
Fastidious work lies ahead of AI advancement
Early adopters and enthusiasts in the commercial real estate industry cite AI's possibilities for portfolio management, risk management, valuation and assessing investment performance.
Office-using sectors make space for AI expertise
Artificial intelligence (AI) underpins job growth and real estate demand in North America’s most active markets for tech employment, including Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
Multiple failings uncovered in fatal fire probe
Beyond the UK, the report offers lessons for onlookers everywhere about slipshod diligence, inappropriately trained safety administrators and the possible risks of commercial pressures in certification processes.
New water use initiatives afloat in summer 2024
New water use initiatives from the Canadian government and the Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate (OSCRE) have been unveiled for public input over the course of summer 2024.
Energy data refines ESG performance metrics
Energy efficiency will gain standing in the 2025 GRESB assessment when the global benchmark for ESG performance of commercial real estate portfolios introduces revised scoring for its energy performance metric.
Short-term rental registry stuck in manual
Toronto relies heavily on manual review processes for oversight of approximately 8,400 registrants currently approved to offer short-term rental accommodations in their principal residences.
New green buildings strategy mostly a rehash
The Canadian government’s newly released green buildings strategy contains little that is actually new for commercial real estate or public sector facilities.
Salvaged steel fit to fortify decarbonization
The cost case for salvaged steel looks promising even with an embryonic supply chain and a raft of logistical complexities to recover and then reuse structural members in new construction projects.