Shannon Adams

📢 High performance construction does not have to cost more! 🏢 🤷‍♀️ Ok, so maybe not the most inspiring sentiment, but this report from BC Housing shows that building codes don't have to stand in the way of building affordable housing. 1️⃣ There is no clear correlation or relationship between construction cost and energy efficiency (i.e. higher energy performance does not mean higher construction cost). 2️⃣ There is no trend between construction costs and GHG emissions. 👉 Conclusion: High performance buildings can be built at or below the cost of lower performance buildings when higher performance is considered by an experienced design team from the start of a project. https://lnkd.in/gKmwjqX9

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The federal government is calling on multidisciplinary design teams from across Canada to submit proposals for the inaugural Housing Design Catalogue. By embracing innovative approaches to increase Canada’s housing supply, the federal government is transforming the way homes are built in communities nationwide. Supported by Budget 2024 under Canada’s Housing Plan, the new Housing Design Catalogue will offer standardized housing designs to streamline the design, approval, and construction processes while promoting new and advanced construction techniques. The catalogue will feature various housing types, beginning with low-rise structures such as accessory dwelling units, multiplexes, and other small- to medium-sized buildings. It will also explore opportunities for higher density constructions, including mid-rise buildings, and incorporate new methods like modular and prefabricated homes. Starting in January 2024, the Government of Canada engaged with industry professionals, technical experts, homebuilders, non-profit housing providers, and all levels of government to gather insights on the designs, features, and amenities to be included in the catalogue. These discussions also focused on the catalogue’s adoption and implementation across different regions in the country. The insights from these engagements are summarized in the Housing Design Catalogue – What We Heard Report, which highlights the key points that will guide the government's next steps.

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What Do You Do on Thursday Mornings? 🌟 At CREE Buildings, we start our Thursdays with "Learning Capsules" – 30-minute sessions where team members share their expertise on topics that drive our industry forward. Recently, Pilar Barrantes Gamboa, our innovative Digital Product Designer, who is passionate about making a difference online, led a session on "Digital Sustainability". Pilar’s journey into digital sustainability began with a simple question: Why do we focus so much on the sustainability of physical things while often overlooking our digital impact? "Digital communication saves paper and reduces travel, but every online action—whether visiting a website, sending an email, or using social media—emits carbon dioxide," Pilar explains. The Alarming Facts: ❗ The digital world accounts for approximately 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing the aviation industry. ❗ Data centers, which store our digital data, require 24/7 electricity, leading to high energy consumption. ❗ Over 2 million cables lie on the ocean floor, connecting these centers and creating a significant carbon footprint—enough to reach the moon and back three times! ❗ Charging a smartphone 299 times emits the same CO2 as driving a car for 4 kilometers. Quick Steps to Reduce Your Digital Footprint: 💡 Trim Your Inbox: Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails and delete old ones. 💡 Smart Video Calls: Turn off your camera when it’s not essential. 💡 Tidy Your Cloud Storage: Regularly clear out unused files and avoid duplicates. 💡 Energy-Efficient Devices: Choose and maintain energy-efficient devices. Pilar’s insights have inspired us to think differently about our digital habits and their impact on the environment. Curious for more? Check out Pilar’s detailed insights on digital sustainability: https://lnkd.in/d3X6mc8n Do you have interesting topics? Comment below! We’d love to hear your ideas for future Learning Capsules. #creebuildings #greenbuildings #futureofbuilding #sustainability #digitalsustainability #innovation

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A quick review of public records reveals the following with respect to the Ontario Science Centre: 1. There is an open application with Toronto Building for "sectional roof and deck replacement with new steel deck and new roofing membrane". This was submitted on May 9th. So it seems like plans were already underway to continue to maintain the OSC roof through a program of replacement of roofing sections. The Rimkus report also notes that this has been the ongoing strategy with respect to RAAC roof panels. 2. There are no outstanding Orders from Toronto Building. The City, through the CBO and Toronto Building, is responsible for the enforcement of the Ontario Building Code in Toronto, including the issuance of Orders to Remedy an Unsafe Building. Therefore, the entity responsible for ordering buildings to be vacated in the event of unsafe conditions has not done so. Further therefore, Toronto Building is NOT of the opinion that there are unsafe conditions at the OSC that would justify closing it. So the Rimkus report recommends repair, but not closure. Toronto Building has not ordered the building, or any portion of it, to be closed or vacated. The entities that we trust to keep buildings safe should be trusted. Why has a different position been taken by the Ontario government, despite the expert advice?

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Trending in #CHBAHighlights ⬇️ Canadian buildings of 3 of more storeys require two exits, a rule that has long restricted the types of housing that can be built. Support for single-stair buildings is growing, as they can allow for more family-friendly housing. https://lnkd.in/gUcRwj_X   CHBA’s Technical Research Committee is heavily engaged in a national code change request to permit single exits in mid-rise multi-unit buildings up to 6 storeys. Given Canada’s chronic lack of supply and affordability challenges, CHBA supports this change as it has the potential to lower construction costs, allow for greater design flexibility, and increase housing supply by making the construction of “missing middle” housing more feasible.   CHBA members, subscribe to #CHBAHighlights: https://lnkd.in/gj3C6bXN

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