Lennard Commercial Realty, Brokerage

Going Green

Our Going Green eco news covers a variety of ecological and environmental topics and is specially taylored to the commercial real estate industry.

Browse archived articles by year using the links in the left column, or scroll down to view all articles.

Any suggestions or comments? Please send an email to gogreen@lennard.com.

  • Ecological Design

    Posted December 10, 2009, 4:17pm EST
    WHAT IS ECOLOGY? Merriam-Webster describes ecology as " 1) a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments; and 2) the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment."

  • Making a Case for Green

    Posted November 25, 2009, 4:17pm EST
    Energy consumption in both old and new buildings can be cut by an estimated 30 to 50 per cent while producing a favourable return on investments, according to a recent report for KPMG, a leading accounting firm.

  • Calculating the Toll your Business Takes

    Posted November 18, 2009, 4:17pm EST
    In the coming months, an increasing number of small- and medium-sized business operators may find that they are required by law to calculate their facility's carbon footprint.

  • Canada Highly Rated in Improving Energy Efficiency

    Posted November 9, 2009, 4:17pm EST
    Canada shouldn't be portrayed as derelict in the fight to reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions, the International Energy Agency said here Wednesday.

  • Landlords & Tenants Become Allies To Save Energy

    Posted October 23, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    Mississauga civil engineer Michael Laurie may be on to something. The founder and president of PLANiT Measuring got his start drawing up floor plans for real-estate agents and homeowners. Back then he used a tape measure and drawing board.

  • ESRI Canada Strengthens Its Commitment to the Environment with New Green Roof

    Posted May 3, 2010, 11:03pm EDT
    ESRI Canada, which provides enterprise geographic information systems (GIS) solutions, today unveiled its new green roof at the company's headquarters in Toronto. The green roof is expected to produce numerous environmental and business benefits and promote environmental stewardship. ESRI Canada celebrated the event with a reception for its customers and partners. "As a business leader, we are committed to operating in a sustainable and environment-friendly manner," said Alex Miller, President, ESRI Canada. "Our new green roof, along with our other eco-efficiency initiatives, demonstrates our commitment to preserving and enhancing the environment to benefit society and our stakeholders."

  • White roof helps Polaris Realty go LEED-EB

    Posted September 1, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    A roof that needs replacing can be seen as an unwanted expense or as an opportunity to improve a building’s efficiency and durability.

  • Toronto MINI dealership going for green

    Posted August 24, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    Toronto’s Raw Design is creating a green environment for BMW Canada’s first full-service MINI dealership.

  • First Canadian Place: Chilling Energy Use - Equipment Upgrade

    Posted August 10, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    On any given work day, about 84,000 people walk through First Canadian Place in downtown Toronto. Some 10,000 of them work in the 72-storey office building, while the rest are frequenting the more than 150 stores and restaurants below.

  • Wal-Mart To Become Green Umpire

    Posted July 16, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    PepsiCo (PEP) buys lots of renewable energy, while a Coca Cola (KO) plant recycles plastic bottles. Should environmentalists drink Pepsi or Coke?

  • AECL's future in doubt as Ontario suspends nuclear power plans

    Posted July 6, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    The Ontario government has thrown a wrench in Ottawa's plans to privatize Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., demanding the federal government reduce AECL's bid price and clarify its ownership before the province commits to buying new reactors.

  • Commute-free employees save money, environment

    Posted June 19, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    As much as he might like cruising around behind the wheel of his Mazda MX6, Ian Cruickshank opts to leave his car in the driveway two or three days each week.

  • Canada Green Building Council pilot project teaches valuable lessons

    Posted June 5, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    With a Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) pilot for existing buildings scheduled to reemerge this fall as a full-fledged program, several participants say they plan to use the knowledge they’ve gained to work internally on energy and environmental measurement and performance.

  • International green certification option catching on in Canada

    Posted May 20, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    As the need for green buildings continues to grow in the country, so too are the systems required to evaluate and certify them.

  • Tim Hortons Inc. Building $30-Million Coffee Roasting Facility in Hamilton, Ontario

    Posted May 4, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    Tim Hortons has built its reputation and customer loyalty on coffee, from harvesting the world's finest grown beans to creating a proprietary blend that delivers a rich, consistent cup every time.

  • Go green on top, or face $100,000 fine, city proposes

    Posted April 24, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    Toronto is poised to become the first city in North America to make green roofs mandatory on most new buildings and set standards for their construction.

  • RREEF Report: Recession Fails to Diminish Demand for Green Real Estate

    Posted March 31, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    The fundamental shift in real estate markets toward sustainable buildings will experience only a mild disruption from the global recession and credit crunch, according to research published last month by RREEF, the investment management business of Deutsche Bank’s Asset Management division.

  • FLAP number of recorded collisions soars to over 43,000 birds from 162 species

    Posted March 20, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    As of March 11th 2009, FLAP volunteers encountered this season's first migratory bird casualties in the GTA. This brings FLAP's total recorded collisions to over 43,000 birds from 162 species.

  • Municipalities' group to vote on restricting bottled-water sales

    Posted March 9, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is considering a new policy to urge all cities and towns across the country to ban bottled water within their facilities, arguing that the product is bad for the environment.

  • Universities' ivory towers going green

    Posted February 23, 2009, 4:17pm EST
    A green wave is sweeping over Toronto's academic institutions, as staff, students and faculty collaborate on sustainability projects that could inspire a sea change across Canadian society.

  • Wal-Mart Canada opens first environmental demonstration store

    Posted January 23, 2009, 4:17pm EST
    Wal-Mart Canada today announced the opening of its first environmental demonstration store in Burlington, Ontario, which features a first-of-its-kind application of geothermal technology in a large-scale Canadian retail operation and energy-conserving lighting innovations, among many other sustainable features.

  • Amidst Deepening Recession, Green Fights Back

    Posted January 16, 2009, 4:17pm EST
    Despite a slowdown affecting nearly all segments of the commercial property industry, green building is positioned to withstand the deepening economic recession and possibly emerge as a more influential force than before, sustainability advocates say.

  • INDUSTRIAL CHIC: Toronto Streetcar repair sheds get an enviro-friendly makeover

    Posted January 16, 2009, 4:17pm EST
    The Wychwood streetcar repair barns were once a major hub of the Toronto Civic Railway, the forerunner of the TTC. The site of the five attached brick structures - between Wychwood Avenue and Christie Street in what was then the city's north end - also became a sort of mini Union Station in the decades after the buildings were completed in 1921.