Page 9 - Green Builder July-August 2017 Issue

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Green Building NEWS

The Latest on Sustainability and Renewable Energy Canada’s Green
A First: Renewable Building, Business

Energy Surges Units Join Forces

Ahead of Nuclear

Atomic drops to fourth among the ways New agency will be a key part of the
people power homes and businesses. nation’s efforts to slow climate change.

ENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES are providing more
electricity than nuclear power for the first time
in the United States since the start of the nuclear
Rera, according to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (USEIA). Natural gas is still the No. 1 provider,
followed by coal, and renewable energy sources — a combined
total of biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind — all
of which beat out nuclear energy. CREDIT: FLICKR/FLAZINGO PHOTOS
Nearly 23 percent of all U.S. energy comes from renewables,
compared to 19 percent for nuclear. “In light of their growth
rates in recent years, it was
inevitable that renewable In agreement. Canada’s two major green building organizations
sources would eventually over- are pairing up to promote sustainable construction practices.
take nuclear power,” says Ken HE CANADA GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (CaGBC)
Bossong, executive director of and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) will form
the SUN DAY Campaign, which Green Business Certification Inc. Canada (GBCI Canada),
promotes sustainable energy a joint coalition that will handle current and future GBCI
technologies as cost-effective T offerings. Those include certification and professional
alternatives to nuclear power credentialing services for LEED v4, WELL, SITES, PEER, Parksmart,
and fossil fuels. “The only real CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/FELIX KONIG Zero Waste and GRESB in Canada, according to CaGBC President
surprise is how soon that has Thomas Mueller.
happened—years before most “The urgency of addressing climate change requires bold and
analysts ever expected.” innovative new approaches to doing business,” Mueller says. “Forming
The two energy types have No (more) nukes? GBCI Canada is a critical step in CaGBC and GBCI’s strategy to scale
chugged along as the third and Nuclear power used to be up green building market transformation and impact. Members of
fourth top power sources for considered the energy the CaGBC, and the industry at large, will benefit from this new
years, and were neck and neck source of the future, but it’s organization dedicated exclusively to the delivery, enhanced service
at the start of the year, accord- dropped behind renewables and market support of a broader range of green business solutions.”
for the first time.
ing to USEIA. But the gap be- Meanwhile, CaGBC will continue to offer the Canadian green
tween them has grown once renewables moved in front of building industry education and training, advocacy and research,
nuclear. Renewables’ current 3.7 percent lead is the largest business events and a range of other activities. It will also continue
ever, the association notes. to provide certification reviews and market support for LEED Canada,
The faster pace could stem in part from the rapid closure and deliver and support its new Zero Carbon Building Standard.
of U.S. nuclear plants in the past few years, with six shutting GBCI, which recognizes excellence in green business industry
down permanently from 2013 to 2016. In contrast, only one performance and practice using rigorous certification and
new facility went online, according to USEIA. credentialing standards, will also benefit from the pairing, according
Renewables and nuclear combined are expected to continue to GBCI President Mahesh Ramanujam. “This new venture will serve
to provide about 40 percent of the nation’s power for a to facilitate the growth of USGBC’s LEED program and GBCI rating
few more years, but “the trend lines clearly favor a rapidly systems, and provide additional on-the-ground support for [Canada],”
expanding market share by renewables,” Bossong notes. he says. GB

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