On January 24, specialists from diverse milieus met to discuss the Building Energy Challenge during the Contech construction industry conference. In attendance were universities, private firms, municipal representatives, Transition énergétique Québec, the Société québécoise des infrastructures, the Agence de l’efficacité énergétique, Natural Resources Canada, building managers, engineers, architects, urban planners, etc. In short, an impressive panel of guests. The event was a success, and we were proud to be one of the organizing partners.
Something important is in the air at the moment. Like you, I imagine, I have noticed a growing movement in favour of better environmental performance in our sector. It is of course not a new trend, but it has been expanding in scope and influence, and that is great news.
The commercial real estate sector is one of the major polluters on the planet. We are not the worst, but nor are we the best. We still have a lot of catching up to do compared to some other cities and countries, particularly if one looks at developments in Norway, Sweden and other countries. There is a rising trend toward zero impact projects and cities.
Events like the meeting in January are important and there should be more of them, as a glance at any environmental news would clearly indicate. We must establish and comply with stricter regulatory standards in order to reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of our buildings.
Given that energy consumption is one of the biggest expenditures for a building, energy performance has a direct impact on a building's value.
Energy transition in our sector is thus fundamental, and BOMA Quebec is committed to contributing to that goal by supporting as much as possible the energy transition projects of its members.
Our industry began pursuing energy transition some fifteen years ago and I have noticed great improvement in energy performance since then. Hats off to you for all that good work!
Apart from LEED certification for new buildings, 15 years ago there were no programs providing assistance to the owners and managers of existing buildings. BOMA was the first organization to propose solutions for its members, and it continues to do so. BOMA BEST® certification, the BOMA Awards and the new Building Energy Challenge are three examples of that leadership.
In 2005 BOMA Canada purchased the licensing rights to the Green Globe Web platform, which then became a tool used by BOMA Toronto. That led us to design the Go Green program, the precursor to BOMA BEST®.
That initiative was a cornerstone, the point of departure for our energy transition efforts, and we now have specific targets, measuring tools, benchmarking devices, etc. We are in the process of establishing new standards and requirements.
With that perspective in mind, the Association is currently working on a project in association with Natural Resources Canada whereby building owners and managers voluntarily provide energy consumption data. In certain jurisdictions providing such data is mandatory, so we are getting ahead of the curve.
Our initiatives are an invitation for a self-regulatory framework in our sector. BOMA Quebec has always pursued a path of continuous improvement, multidisciplinary collaboration and sharing knowledge.
These are additional tools to help us augment our expertise and to set an example in Quebec as regards responsible building management.
PLAN YOUR AGENDA!
Speaking of leadership, 2019 promises to be a full year with the resumption of the Great Speakers series on March 14. Steven Guilbeault, an ecologist, lecturer and a senior consultant at COPTICOM, will be with us for an interview with Simon Durivage entitled Real Estate's Impact on the Environment: Challenges and Opportunities.
On April 25 we will pay tribute to the commitment and efforts of the first participants in the Building Energy Challenge at its first awards gala. 70 buildings are registered at present in the BEC and we are proud of this active, dynamic participation.
And the BOMA Awards gala will take place on May 9 at the Montreal Casino, an evening to celebrate excellence among outstanding players in the real estate industry.
These get-togethers are a great opportunity to meet with your colleagues and peers. I hope to see you there.
Bruno Turcotte, President