We cover news focused on Canada as well as international topics. Some of the topics we cover include: announcements of a big policy change, new energy-efficiency incentive programs, research into new green building materials being developed, reports about the growth of the green building industry.
A new Vancouver pilot plant is turning forestry waste into biodegradable “wood foam” that could eventually be used for building insulation as well as protective packaging. The material was developed through a partnership between the University of British Columbia and
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is putting architects and engineers on notice that the province expects publicly funded construction projects to use Ontario-made materials wherever suitable local options are available. As Ontario Construction News reported, Ford criticized design teams that specify
The federal government is putting $34.2 million into 141 climate resilience projects in 128 communities across Canada, funding work ranging from climate-risk studies to drainage upgrades, shoreline restoration and extreme-heat protection. The investment, announced Aug. 12 by Environment and Climate
A commercial-scale plant in northern Spain is transforming captured carbon dioxide and industrial waste into low-carbon construction materials, offering a possible model for reducing the construction sector’s dependence on mined resources. Located at the Port of Bilbao, the AGGREGACO2 project
Canada is preparing for a major expansion of renewable electricity as the country attempts to meet rising power demand, electrify more of its economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the rapid growth of energy-intensive data centres, particularly in natural
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have developed a 3D printing method that uses live bacteria to turn compacted sand into solid, load-bearing bio-concrete structures without conventional cement. The work, published in npj Advanced Manufacturing, could point towards lower-carbon construction
A new affordable housing project in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, is aiming to show that low-cost housing and net-zero construction can work together. Heartland Housing Foundation is building 83 new net-zero homes in the city’s Sherridon neighbourhood, with support from Sustainable
Federal forestry minister Tim Hodgson says Canada’s forestry sector is facing a crisis that cannot be blamed on U.S. tariffs alone, warning the industry needs structural change to remain competitive. Sector Faces ‘Turning Point’ Speaking in Langford, B.C., during a
The global building and construction sector is not reducing emissions quickly enough to meet international climate targets, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC). The report
One of Canada’s largest battery storage facilities has officially entered commercial operation in eastern Ontario, marking a major milestone in the province’s efforts to modernize its electricity grid and prepare for rising power demand. The Napanee Battery Energy Storage System,
