Built Green Canada issues challenge to municipalities

OTTAWA—Built Green Canada is issuing a challenge to municipalities to designate the first Wednesday in June as Green Building Day to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable building practices and to challenge municipalities to encourage green building.

In previous years the organization referred to the date as Built Green Day after its own sustainable buildings programs, but it is now extending recognition to those verifying their work through third-party certification.

Participation in the program has grown year over year, a Built Green release said, and “there is room for further collaborative actions between government and industry — collaboration that considers the environment, costs, and the pace of change — given realizing sustainability targets requires the support of private industry.”

“The collision of these factors shines a light on how we can help both builders and municipalities reach environmental targets. We work with builders on their third-party certification to ensure they’re successful and reach required standards — and, we’re affordable,” Built Green Canada CEO Jennifer Christenson said in a statement.

“We want to see municipalities encourage programs that are economical: for the builder and for the homebuyer. And, we want to see acknowledgement for those builders who contribute to climate mitigation, implementing advanced building technologies and verifying their work through our program — and any program that helps them become better builders.”

Green Building Day falls under the time frame of National Environment Week, a federal government initiative established in 1971 to celebrate Canadian environmental accomplishments and encourage Canadians to contribute to conserving and protecting their environment.