Building, Energy and Regulatory Services

The Building, Energy and Regulatory Services team establishes the synergies to lead the energy management, regulatory compliance, security and emergency preparedness programs. By developing the program strategy, Realty Portfolio Performance metrics and reporting framework, the group monitors and ensures consistent compliance, innovation and improvement in these areas. In partnership with our private sector service providers, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) pursues industry best practices in order to provide healthy, safe and productive workplaces and natural environments.

Building Sustainability 

As an organization entrusted with delivering valued infrastructure, IO is accountable to a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure that all buildings across the IO portfolio are operated and maintained as consistently and efficiently as possible. This mandate is critical for the Building Services team.

LEED Standards 

To further support the government’s green energy objectives, the government has mandated that the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System Silver level be the minimum standard for new construction and major renovations of government facilities. Over the past few years, IO has certified 55 buildings.

LEED program success story: 

Project Name: Walkerton Clean Water Centre

Certification Achieved: LEED NC Gold

Characteristics 

• a low-emission hybrid vehicle for staff use
• a large amount of designated green space
• rainwater harvesting through cisterns, one to supply water for toilet flushing and one to store process water for outdoor irrigation
• ground source heat pump
• demand-controlled ventilation
• solar hot water heating
• Energy – Modeled at 59 per cent better than MNEC

BOMA BESt Standards 

In June 2007, the Ontario government released Go Green: Ontario’s Action Plan on Climate Change where it was formally announced that existing government owned and leased office buildings over 90,000 square feet would be assessed and established with building ratings using the BOMA BESt program by 2013. So far IO has certified 57 buildings under the BOMA BESt program and has received national and international recognition in various categories.

BOMA program success story:

Project Name: 189 Red River Rd., Thunder Bay (Ontario Government Building)
Certification Achieved: BOMA BESt Level 4 (95 per cent).

Characteristics: 

• 189 Red River Rd. achieved the highest ever BOMA BESt score
• A smart lighting system with T8 fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures
• Water conserving fixtures installed (e.g. low flush toilets and faucets)
• Composting and recycling programs for batteries, florescent lamps and electronic waste
• Staff training on implementation of energy reducing strategies for the building systems

New Technology
Developed and managed by the Ministry of Research and Innovation and Ministry of Government Services, the GreenFIT (Focus on Innovation and Technology) strategy is intended to enable Ontario ministries and agencies to become early adopters of innovative green technologies, products and solutions. To learn more about the GreenFIT program, please click here. 

For more information on building and energy services, please click on any of the links below:

Conserving Energy 365 Days of the Year  

IO Managed Regulatory Programs and Green Initiatives