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Around the world, developers have been aligning themselves with sustainable growth solutions for decades through recognized initiatives such as LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). In Canada, on a national and provincial scale, developers have slowly started to incorporate these new design guidelines. Some also maintain accountability through organizations such as BOMA , Canada’s BOMA Best program (A national environmental recognition and certification program for existing commercial buildings).
Within the Niagara Region, the last decade has seen several properties apply green growth initiatives by building according to LEED certification guidelines. Sustainable building development and management practices can be more costly, however the reduced impact on the environment is worth every penny.
The Province of Ontario has enacted its’ own green growth initiative in the Greenbelt Act, which is a specific sustainability plan for over 2 million acres of agricultural land and water land. Created in 2005, its’ purpose is to protect the province’s agricultural and environmental lands against urban sprawl.
Green growth initiatives within Niagara
The Niagara Region is in a unique situation, as it hosts thousands of acres of protected agricultural land under the Greenbelt plan. As a result, much of the regions land is unavailable for redevelopment due to zoning restrictions.
When we look at specific areas in Niagara, such as St. Catharines’ 4th Avenue land, we see development on older agricultural lands that focuses on building with sustainability in mind. Many properties in this location are using smart and green growth initiatives, whether the buildings have been built with LEED certification or have undergone environmentally conscious renovations to reduce the impact on the environment.
LEED Certified Buildings in Niagara
Sustainable urban developments have started to pop up throughout the Niagara Region over the last decade. Below is a list of the properties that have achieved LEED certification in the region as well as their respective designation levels:
Southbrook Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, LEED Certified GOLD
Ball’s Falls Conservation Area, Lincoln, LEED Certified GOLD
Welland Community Wellness Complex, Welland, LEED Certified GOLD
Vale Health and Wellness Community Centre, Port Colborne, LEED Certified GOLD
Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, LEED Certified Silver
NHS St. Catharines Site, St. Catharines, LEED Certified Silver
Deer Park Villa Long-Term Care Home, Grimsby, LEED Certified Silver
Stratus Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, LEED Certified Silver
Brock University International Centre and future builds, St. Catharines, LEED Certified Silver
Canadian Tire, Welland, LEED Certified Silver
BOMA Best Certified
The Pen Centre, St. Catharines
Federal Government (Passport Office), St. Catharines
The future of sustainable building development in Niagara
With developers continually leaning toward smart and green growth, these new standards and types of certification remain top of mind for future developments.
It's important to remember that while admirable, achieving a LEED certification is a large expense for many developments and the developer must be committed to the green growth initiative movement. There aren’t at this time any laws in place that require developers to build to the LEED Standards.
As municipalities like St. Catharines in particular, begin to reach their boundaries on available land for development you start to wonder if available agricultural land might eventually considered for rezoning. In next week's blog we look at whether it is viable to rezone agricultural land in exchange for an environmentally friendly development.
