Sustainable Buildings Canada develops practical guides and technical resources to support building professionals in delivering high-performance, low-carbon projects. Our publications draw on lessons learned through our programs, industry collaborations, and experience working with designers, builders, owners, and policymakers across Canada.
Whether focused on best practices, regulatory compliance, building performance, deep energy retrofits, or emerging technologies, our guides are designed to help project teams make informed decisions and apply proven approaches throughout the design and construction process.
Many of these resources have been developed in support of specific SBC programs and initiatives, while others address broader industry challenges and opportunities. As our work continues to evolve, we remain committed to sharing practical knowledge that advances sustainable building design across Canada.
If there is a topic you would like to see covered in a future publication, we welcome your suggestions.
Developed under Natural Resources Canada’s GCWood program, this resource captures feedback from 25 industry stakeholders on the current state of midrise mass timber construction in Canada. It outlines the following Key insights:
Minto has been investing in electricity and natural gas reduction measures at their commercial buildings and multi-unit residential buildings for decades, and are now turning their attention towards the goal of achieving net zero carbon (NZC) by 2050.
These guidelines provide a proven strategy for major energy efficiency retrofits, which includes benchmarking with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.Since major retrofit projects are often driven by a desire to improve energy efficiency as well as regular asset renewal, they are best implemented using a systematic approach – to eliminate waste, improve efficiency and right-size equipment.
The Enbridge Savings by Design (SBD) program as delivered by Sustainable Buildings Canada (SBC)includes an integrated design process (IDP) component to help builders improve energy
Thermal bridging is important to consider for all buildings as it can have a significant impact on a building’s thermal enclosure performance. It is an especially important part of energy modelling retrofit projects as modelling typically requires calibration to utility bills or measured end-uses. For buildings considering a deep energy retrofit such as
SBC is pleased to release its latest Guide for undertaking Existing Building Design Workshops and related Energy Modelling Requirements. This report will shortly be followed
Natalia Ortiz, student of Project Management Environmental (PME) program in Seneca Polytechnic, has an Environmental Engineering background completed at Universidad El Bosque in Colombia. She has always been involved in sustainability roles and projects that included Environmental Management Systems implementation, Water Treatment Systems’ design and operation, Hazardous and Conventional Waste management and minimization practices, as well as Ecosystem’s Conservation and Energy
Efficiency programs.
For the PME – Applied Project Management Course, Natalia developed a Green Roof Assessment Tool for Seneca Polytechnic’s Office of Sustainability, with the aim to provide green roof technology recommendations best suited to a particular scenario, taking into consideration multiple aspects of green roofs and buildings; infrastructure, design, materials, environmental factors, and costs, as well as the Toronto Municipal Code – Green Roof bylaw. Natalia also has a scientific journal publication as the main author of the project “Selection and sizing of industrial wastewater treatment units required at the
new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) aircraft facility owned by Avianca S.A. in Rionegro Antioquia” in the El Bosque University Journal of Technology.
Natalia strongly believes there are several research topics left to be developed, and the importance of
working towards Sustainability from different backgrounds, knowledge, and cultures to build strong, productive, and resilient communities.
With the vision of growing cities and infrastructure along with nature, always preserving and respecting the ecosystems’ attributes and services, Natalia would like to keep researching and acquiring more experience in Sustainability roles.
Emily is a second-year PhD student in Geography at the University of Toronto, and a co-operator of a small home renovation company, Magnus Home Improvements. Her research seeks to determine how single-family homes can quickly and best be retrofit to achieve Toronto’s emissions reductions targets – including net-zero by 2040 – as part of the TransformTO climate action plan. Specifically, she will assess the impact of municipal home energy reporting and disclosure programs, as well as produce recommendations for growing the retrofit labour force in ways that attend to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Further, her research seeks to understand how home retrofit activities can be regenerative and produce net-positive impacts for humans and the environment towards transformative, place-based sustainability. When not at her computer, Emily can be found cycling with her kids to and from school or making funky sounds on her analog synthesizer.
Bofa is a sustainability professional with over seven years in the energy and environment industry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Energy and Petroleum Studies from Novena University in Nigeria and graduate certificates in Energy Management and Environmental Project Management from Seneca College in Toronto. In 2020, he graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Master of Environment and Business degree. He is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Building Science program at Toronto Metropolitan University, researching whole-life carbon reduction in new construction and building renovations.
Bofa‘s work experience is primarily in the built environment, working in the private and public sectors in roles that involve structural and environmental assessment of building structures, HVAC engineering design and sales, and facilities management. Bofa is a member of several industry associations, such as the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the American Society for Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Project Management Institute (PMI). SBC’s bursary will go a long way in supporting Bofa‘s research and his desire to learn.