News Brief
Strategies for a Low-Carbon Economic Recovery
The CaGBC wants to leverage the recession to jump-start green building.
The report offers three core recommendations for catalyzing that transition:
- Workforce development should focus on sustainable construction skills and professional development. The report calls for funding existing green training programs (like those offered through CaGBC, Passive House Canada, and other organizations) as well making big investments to create new programs—like a sustainability certificate for construction workers.
- Retrofit investments should include incentive programs for deep energy retrofits through various financing instruments.
- New construction using federal funds should be required to move toward zero-carbon operations, and the federal government should offer grants for both private- and public-sector buildings to help cover the average 8% first-cost premium on low-carbon buildings. A percentage of the grants should be reserved until one year of performance data demonstrates that projects achieved their energy goals.
“As a foundational sector of any economic recovery, the construction industry can be quickly mobilized with shovel-worthy projects that will generate jobs, create healthy places for Canadians to live and work, and help mitigate the worst impacts of climate change,” the report concludes.
For more information:
Canada Green Building Council
cagbc.org
Published July 7, 2020 Permalink Citation
Melton, P. (2020, June 19). Strategies for a Low-Carbon Economic Recovery. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/newsbrief/strategies-low-carbon-economic-recovery
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