Green Exterior

Custom Design Brings Dynamic Lighting to Montreal’s Complexe Desjardins

A new custom lighting design developed by Montreal-based Lightemotion has made its mark in downtown Montreal. Working closely with the facilities team at Complexe Desjardins, Lightemotion has breathed new life into Montreal’s largest mixed use development, totaling 4 million square feet. Located in the Quartier Des Spectacles and facing the recently renovated Place Des Arts, Complexe Desjardins is the latest addition to the Quartier to include a dynamic and innovative lighting design strategy.

 

Electrical Safety Standards

Developing Safety Standards for Electrical Products Referenced in the CE Code

The majority of electrical safety product standards referenced in Appendix A of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, (the Code) are developed by the Canadian Standards Association(CSA). Some referenced standards, related to fire alarm, security or other fire safety equipment, are developed by Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC).

 

Electrical Construction Costs

Construction Costs for Canada’s Electric Utility Distribution Systems, 2014 vs. 2013

Construction costs for the electric utility distribution systems increased 0.1% in 2014 compared with the 2013 Electric Utility Construction Price Index. Higher costs for construction indirects (+4.9%), which include engineering (+5.0%), and administration and overheads (+4.8%), were tempered by lower costs for labour (-2.3%) and construction equipment (-0.9%).

 

Canadian Electricity Generation in January up 1.5%Year Over Year

Canadian Electricity Generation in January up 1.5%Year Over Year

Canada generated 61.2 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity in January, up 1.5% from January 2014. The increase was a result of higher generation levels in Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Exports of electricity to the United States rose by 11.8% to 5.4 million MWh, while imports fell 37.2% to 0.8 million MWh, influenced by the strong appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the loonie. While generation increased, the rise in net exports of electricity resulted in a 0.2% decline in available electricity (56.5 million MWh) in Canada.

 

Energy Efficient Building

Billions in Revenue Forecast for Energy Efficient Building Products and Services

Today’s building stock accounts for a substantial amount of global energy use, putting increased pressure on governments and corporations to reduce their carbon footprints and energy-related spending. As a result, energy efficiency has become a broad-based strategy to solve both of these challenges.

 

Climate Change

Acting on Climate Change: Solutions from Canadian Scholars

In fall 2014, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon exhorted all countries to raise the ambitions of their climate change policies to avoid a global temperature increase of more than 2oC during this century. Since the Rio+20 Conference, he has repeatedly called for a greater contribution of science to resolve environmental problems. Responding to this call, 30 Canadian universities created a collective initiative called Sustainable Canada Dialogues (SCD).

 

IGCC

Streamlining Green Buildings: USGBC, ASHRAE, ICC, IES, and AIA Collaborate on a Single Code

In an unprecedented commitment to cooperation, the International Code Council (ICC), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), American Institute of Architects (AIA), Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), and ASHRAE are collaborating on the next editions of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), ASHRAE Standard 189.1, and the LEED standard.