Look, we're not gonna pretend every building can save the planet overnight. But after 15 years of watching construction waste pile up and energy bills go through the roof, we decided to actually do something about it. Here's what we've learned.
These aren't projections or estimates - this is data from our actual projects across Ontario over the past five years.
Average Energy Reduction
vs. conventional buildsWater Usage Cut
through smart systemsConstruction Waste Diverted
from landfillsGreen Certifications
earned to date
There's a ton of green certification programs out there. We focus on the ones that make sense for Canadian climate and actually deliver results, not just look good on paper.
Five key areas where we're making the biggest impact
We orient buildings to catch winter sun and dodge summer heat. Sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many architects skip this step. Toronto gets cold - let's use what free heat we can get.
Triple-pane windows, advanced insulation, and airtight construction. Yeah, it costs more upfront, but heating bills drop like a rock. One client's saving $400/month - pays for itself in under 5 years.
HRV and ERV systems that recover up to 90% of heat from exhaust air. Fresh air without throwing money out the window - literally. Indoor air quality goes way up too.
We source from Ontario suppliers when possible and spec recycled content materials. Cuts transportation emissions and supports local economy. Win-win situation, honestly.
Green roofs, permeable paving, and rainwater harvesting systems. Toronto's getting intense storms lately - we design to handle it while keeping water on-site where it belongs.
This chart shows the cumulative carbon savings from our projects since 2020. The jump in 2023 came from completing three LEED Gold commercial buildings in one year - that was a crazy time.
That's equivalent to taking 835 cars off the road for a year, or planting 63,000 trees.
We're aiming for 1,200 tonnes of carbon savings this year through net-zero ready designs. Ambitious? Yeah. Doable? We think so.
Where our materials come from and what we're prioritizing in 2025 projects
Honestly? There's still a lot to figure out. But here's what's keeping us up at night.
Solar's great, but what about at night? We're testing battery systems and thermal mass storage. Early results are promising but it's pricey.
Machine learning to predict and optimize building energy use. We've got a pilot running in one of our commercial projects - saves about 15% more energy than standard systems.
Cross-laminated timber sequesters carbon and uses way less embodied energy than concrete. Building codes are catching up - we're ready.
Bringing nature inside isn't just pretty - studies show it improves productivity and mental health. We're integrating living walls and natural materials wherever we can.
Concrete's responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions. New mixes using fly ash and slag reduce that by up to 40%. We're spec'ing it on every project now.