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Windmill and Leader Lane partner on CLT condo

2 years ago

Windmill Developments and Leader Lane Developments have announced a joint venture to develop three infill multi-residential projects in west Toronto. In the process, they’ll become the first developers to bring prefabricated, cross-laminated timber condo projects to the city.

Victoria-based LlamaZOO‘s ‘Guardian’ software platform, a cultural data preservation and land management software tool designed for First Nations, recently marked its official launch.

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As experts acknowledge that building resilience to climate change can no longer place second, Canadian companies and organizations are steering the ship towards a brighter climate future. Areas in healthcare, agriculture and flood mitigation and conservation are being explored.

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Many could be forced to lose their homes in coastal cities and weather-affected areas. This, according to a UN report that urges governments to prepare for future threats, like dwindling freshwater supplies or irreversible ecosystem damage.

Anchor Corp

Edmonton-based Innovative Fuel Systems Ltd., (IFS) has added Certarus Ltd. to a growing list of clients for its Multi Fuel Technology Platform, which is designed for use in heavy-duty fleet vehicles.

Guelph, Ont.’s Current Water Technologies received a contract worth about $250,000 from Highland Engineering Inc. in Michigan to aid in the development of its patent-pending Amm-El H2 technology.

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A consortium of businesses — called Building the Clean Hydrogen Economy — has joined to create projects that use clean hydrogen to decarbonize heavy transport. The group is currently conceptualizing three pilot programs, and more than 20 organizations have joined.

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Uniper’s partnership with Salzgitter AG has experts wondering if producing cheap green hydrogen is a near-future possibility. As wind and solar power are getting more affordable, green hydrogen production is creating unique opportunities in transportation and electricity markets.

Social Purpose Real Estate Financing

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A proposal for mandatory energy-performance audits of residential homes prior to sale is being met with consternation. While time-of-sale labelling is a part of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act targets, some say the measure could affect property values.

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In California, wherein the City of Berkeley banned new gas hook-ups in 2019, further progress has been made in the U.S.; more than 42 cities have done the same since. Experts believe that Canada would do well to take notice.

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Solar panels have played a huge role in powering agricultural, and winery operations in Canada, and Calgary-based SkyFire Energy is one company that’s using the technology to reduce operational costs and save money in other industries, including transportation and retail.

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Canadian Solar has agreed to develop and build a 381 MWp Morada do Sol project in Goiás, Brazil. Construction is expected to start in 2024, and the project is expected to reach commercial operation by January 2025.

Sustainable Biz Canada

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Communities in wildfire-affected areas are relying on microgrids to deal with critical outages during extreme weather-related events. One San Diego desert town’s officials recently used them in 2013 to keep fire and police, hospitals, and schools services afloat.

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Different levels of government in Canada are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on managed retreat buyout programs in parts of B.C. and Alberta, demolishing communities in extreme weather-affected areas and leaving residents to question flood mitigation and rebuilding efforts.

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Allowing people to build on flood plains or in fire zones is creating unnecessary disaster risks, according to a disaster expert who led recovery teams after the devastating 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

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The erosion of Newfoundland’s coastlines is affecting more than just the living, according to one geographer. There are several cemeteries where gravesites are in danger of being eroded, as climate change’s impact creates real-life consequences for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Energy Profiles

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A European Commission’s proposal to create a plan that forces companies to stop human rights and environmental violations in their value chain has been met with criticism. European business leaders say the goal is unrealistic and will harm small businesses.

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Europe now finds itself discussing whether weapons should be listed as ESG assets, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A group convened by the EU recently published its blueprint for the kinds of activities that might be deemed socially sustainable.

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Russia has made an estimated US$1.1 billion on its oil and gas exports, according to a report from Corporate Knights. It suggests that revenues from exports to the EU are up and are helping bankroll Putin’s war.

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Germany has presented legislation to rapidly accelerate its investment and expansion of wind and solar power. As concerns of an energy crisis occurring in Europe, the commitment could triple their total onshore wind and solar facilities.

Industry Events