I am writing to you today…

I am writing to you today both as a member of the public and as an energy and sustainability consultant. I have over 10 years of experience working within the GTHA with various municipal standards as well as with green building certification systems.

Municipal standards should not be under control of the provincial government. Local municipalities have the expertise on what priorities and standards are realistic for the local industry to adopt. For example, as Toronto has had TGS for years, builders have been ramped up to the amazing performance they're currently achieving. A jurisdiction new to green standards can't necessarily adopt the same targets without ample notice to the building community.

Green development standards promote healthier buildings, better communities (street trees, local planting), improve stormwater management (reductions in potable water use on site, green roofs, etc.), and drive energy efficiency and our carbon goals. These are vital to creating sustainable communities for current and future generations. On the energy side in particular, the Ontario Building Code has not been updated in almost a decade and does not reflect current building practices or expectations of tenants.

Depending on how certain targets are approached, there can be short-term costs incurred, but the long term benefits far outweigh them. The cost of not having green development standards and the increases in infrastructure, healthcare related costs, and utility bills will directly negatively effect the people living and working in Ontario.