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Building industry remains vital part of net-zero initiatives

2 years ago

The net-zero movement is critically important to slowing down climate change and global warming because the building, infrastructure and construction industry is a massive contributor to the carbon footprint, says one of Canada’s global ambassadors for sustainable design.

A residence at St. Mary’s University in Halifax will soon be the site of the tallest building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) façade in North America, a system designed by Mitrex Integrated Solar Technology.

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A study from Mackenzie Investments suggests that Canadian continue to show interest in sustainable investments. Almost 60 per cent of investors currently hold sustainable investments or are planning to, and 71 per cent plan to increase their holdings.

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PSP Investments, the manager of several federal employee plans, released a climate-action strategy on Thursday that stops short of a “net-zero” commitment. Instead, the pension manager will take on carbon-intensive investments and get the companies to reduce their environmental impact.

Energy Profiles

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Amory B. Lovins is known as the Einstein of energy efficiency. His earth-shaking ideas on energy security, efficiency, and renewables have changed the field for more than 40 years. His thoughts continue to change hearts and minds today.

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Sales of homes with EV chargers in the GTA and Vancouver area grow by 15 per cent and 16 per cent, according to a report. And as automotive companies push toward a greener future, the housing market has taken notice.

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While B.C. has started down the path to developing a hydrogen economy with opening of a dedicated agency and strategy, observers agree that other global economies are further along the road.

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Li-Cycle has announced that it has completed an agreement with LG Energy Solutions to become its preferred lithium-ion battery recycling partner in North America. LGES, LGC and Li-Cycle continue to explore additional opportunities globally.

Anchor Corp

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Members of the public, supported by two environmental groups, are asking the Competition Bureau to investigate the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) for alleged misleading advertising regarding its climate commitments.

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As gas prices soar, a familiar but little-used technology — industrial heat pumps (IHP) — offers a compelling path to greater electrification and energy security, according to a report published last month by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

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The arrival of a remote microgrid can dramatically change a community, especially for those that previously had no electricity or depended on diesel fuel generators. Here are the stories of five remote microgrids and how they changed people’s lives.

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One of the companies that had planned to build an open-pit coal mine in the Rocky Mountains has signed an agreement with an Alberta government agency to work toward converting the project to renewable energy.

WiredScore

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Corporations continued to ink new renewable energy deals during the first quarter of 2022, but spiralling costs for power purchase agreements (PPAs) are making deals harder to find. Here’s an analysis of renewable energy procurement trends in Q1 2022.

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To succeed in less than nine remaining years, the U.S. must double down on clean electricity and convert it into emission reductions elsewhere, by electrifying transportation, buildings and some industrial processes.

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U.S. President Joe Biden extended tariffs on imported solar panels in February to protect domestic manufacturing. At the same time, the Biden administration is urging an expansion of renewable energy and energy security. Could tariffs slow down development?

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Home to Europe’s first passive house, first feed-in tariffs for producers of renewable energy and an exceptionally strong Green Party, Germany has been pushing the climate envelope. The country is looking toward a 100 per cent renewable grid by 2035.

Yardi Energy Suite

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Excitement about kelp farming is sky-high. That’s because it can draw down carbon and restore the health of coastal ecosystems. To unlock a kelp market that could grow to $37.8 billion by 2028, experts say supply chain infrastructure is needed.

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Thanks to the dizzying array of alternative milks available in U.S. supermarkets, more Americans than ever are breaking up with Bessie. Globally, though, people are drinking more milk, and it’s this trend Israel’s Wilk has its eye on.

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People say they want to eat more plants, but meat consumption is still rising. That’s what makes the beef and sustainability discussion so complicated and contentious — looking for answers? Here are six questions to keep in mind.

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In an open letter to Vanguard CEO Tim Buckley, over 100 organizations representing over six million people called on the world’s second-largest asset manager to shift away from business as usual and address the urgency of the climate crisis.

Industry Events