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The Chair of the World Green Building Council, Kevin Hydes joined Toronto Mayor, David Miller and Scarborough-Agincourt Councillor, Norm Kelly along with Tridel President, Leo Delzotto today to announce the selection of Tridel’s Metrogate condominium community, in Scarborough as one of Toronto’s first projects to be included in the new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Neighbourhood Development (ND) Pilot Program.
The LEED ND Pilot Program is being developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in partnership with the Congress for New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council and is expected to be a historic model of international collaboration. The LEED ND rating system will evaluate communities based on four criteria: smart location and linkage to the community at large; the neighbourhood pattern and design; green construction and technology; and innovation and design process.
“The LEED for Neighbourhood Development program is designed to go beyond the single green building approach and focus on design and development – on a community-wide scale,” said Kevin Hydes, Chair of the World Green Building Council. “Our pilot projects are pioneers – paving the way for the development of smarter and healthier communities.”
Metrogate will be located at Kennedy Road and the 401 on a previously developed 17-acre brownfield site and the development proposal consists of approximately 2,200,000 sq. ft. of residential and commercial space. There will be a mix of building types, six residential towers and one office tower, as well as a 1.7 acre city park and two day care facilities. Ultimately over 2,000 residential homes will be developed in the Metrogate community.
“We are very proud that our Metrogate community has been accepted into this challenging pilot project, and how beneficial our results will be for subsequent development projects across the country,” added Tridel President, Leo Delzotto. “There is obviously still a lot to be learned and Tridel is committed to doing its part.”
While Metrogate is one of only two communities in Toronto to participate in the pilot project, it is among 371 throughout North America who applied. The pilot project is expected to conclude in 2008 and based on feedback gathered during the pilot, the rating system will be revised to improve its effectiveness and applicability to the marketplace.
“Tridel continues to be a local, national and international leader in the area of environmentally friendly residential development," said Toronto Mayor, David Miller. "The days of urban sprawl are over. It is intensification and re-use of land in cities to create green communities with access to public transit that is the way of the future and Metrogate is just the project to showcase this kind of innovative approach to development.”
“We are delighted that such important new initiatives in environmentally friendly development are being employed in Scarborough, and would like to thank Tridel once again for taking a leadership position in community development, added Norm Kelly, City Councillor for Ward 40, Scarborough-Agincourt. “Tridel you are always ahead of the game. Congratulations!”
A Naturally Better Commitment
Tridel is Canada’s largest green condominium builder with 12 hi-rise residential communities currently on the market, or expected to launch in 2007, which are designed to achieve LEED certification by the Canada Green Building Council, including over 2,500 Tridel ‘Naturally Better’ suites already sold in Toronto.
Each new Tridel green condominium community will, among many other features, use 30% less energy than code compliant buildings. This is equivalent to taking approximately 100 cars off the road, per year, per building. Hence, for the Metrogate community in its entirety, a total of 500 cars off the road per year.
Tridel’s commitment to sustainability, an essential pillar of their culture, led to the development of ‘Naturally Better,’ a program designed to promote healthy, environmentally friendly, sustainable condominium living. This commitment begins with Tridel selecting land in urban communities to take advantage of existing infrastructure and services, especially mass transportation. When ready to build, each construction team faces a strict mandate, including at least a 75% waste diversion rate and using recycled materials that are locally manufactured or harvested. Additionally, Tridel continues to pursue innovative financing arrangements and has invested in comprehensive research and development to ensure products used on all projects meet LEED requirements.
Tridel is also keen to promote environmental stewardship among its condo purchasers and offers numerous environmental features. Some of these include: heat recovery on exhaust air to reduce heating and cooling costs; high efficiency boilers offering 85% efficiency or better, to reduce gas consumption and utility costs; ENERGY STAR® appliances; long-lasting compact fluorescent lighting in common areas and hallways; landscaped rooftop terraces and reflective, light-coloured roofing materials to reduce the urban heat island effect where possible. In many new communities, Tridel is also promoting auto-share programs, choosing locations near public transportation and increasing bicycle racks to promote alternative forms of transportation.
In addition, water saving toilets, faucets and showers, low maintenance plank floors, recycling facilities and increased natural lighting will be in place to reduce electricity consumption and increase personal comfort. Residents benefit from environmentally preferable corridor carpeting, wall coverings, adhesives, coatings and paints with low volatile organic compounds that help to minimize toxic odours, both in their suite and in the buildings common areas.
About the Green Building Councils
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's leading non-profit composed of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and non-profit organizations working together to transform the way buildings are designed, built and operated. Green buildings are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Since its founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 10,000 member companies and organizations, a 90-person professional staff, a broad portfolio of LEED green building products and services, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org) and a network of over 70 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups.
The World Green Building Council is a union of national councils whose mission is to accelerate the transformation of the global property industry towards sustainability. Current members are GBCAustralia, CanadaGBC, EmiratesGBC, IndiaGBC, JapanSBC, MexicoGBC, New Zealand GBC, TaiwanGBC, United KingdomGBC and the USGBC. Collectively, these nations represent over 50% of global construction activity, and touch more than eight thousand companies and organizations worldwide.
Tridel
Tridel is Canada’s leading developer and builder of condominium residences with more than 70 years of homebuilding experience. To date the Tridel Group of Companies is responsible for producing over 66,500 homes, and continues to lead the industry in innovation and green technology, construction and design. In recognition of Tridel’s outstanding service to its homeowners, Tridel has received many coveted awards including the City of Toronto 2006 Green Award for Energy Conservation and the GTHBA’s inaugural High-Rise Green Builder of the Year Award.
To learn more about Tridel’s green initiatives, please visit www.naturallybetter.ca.
