CONSERVATION AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT

May 2010
Curtailing Growth’s Footprint Developers Apply LEED Across a Wider Landscape
Engineers and urban planners are historic, but not necessarily harmonious partners in forging the built environment. The evolution of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program is a good example of how the two disciplines can constructively critique and complement each other.

April 2009
Ontario Pushes Green Energy: Implementation Details Still Missing from Sweeping Legislation
Ontario’s new Green Energy Act is multi-faceted legislation to promote conservation, demand management and the economic viability of renewable energy sources, including the establishment of North America’s first feed-in tariff to set prices and simplify market entry for large and small-scale generators alike.

July 2009
Curtailing Growth’s Footprint Developers Apply LEED Across a Wider Landscape
Engineers and urban planners are historic, but not necessarily harmonious partners in forging the built environment. The evolution of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program is a good example of how the two disciplines can constructively critique and complement each other.

October 2009
Shining Example National Retrofit Program Cuts Costs and GGH Emissions
Lighting plays an important role in any energy conservation strategy. Buildings account for almost half of the country’s annual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, Natural Resources Canada reports that lighting accounts for the single largest portion of electric bills for commercial users – as much as 30%.

July  2008
LEED Evolves to Capture Broader Base Pilot Project Participants Applaud Process
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has set an ambitious goal for a 50% reduction in energy and water use in 100,000 industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) buildings and 1 million homes by 2015.

September  2008
Designers Need Broader Base for Crime Prevention Behavioural Study Goes Beyond Eyes on the Street
Behavioural-based design is a strategic design approach that aims to understand the predictable ways that people interact with their environment, and to develop the most appropriate physical settings for inducing desired behaviour. The concept evolves from the longstanding theories of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) but goes beyond the constraints and limitations of CPTED theory and its three main principles of natural surveillance, access control and territorial reinforcement.

October 2008
Industry Standard Adopts New Brand Name-BOMA BESt Streamlined Format for Environmental Performance Certificiation
New refinements to the emerging industry standard for measuring and benchmarking the environmental performance of commercial buildings are expected to make it more accessible and help a broader range of property managers and building operators set targets for improvement. The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada recently launched BOMA BESt - a revamped amalgam of its original Go Green and Go Green Plus certification programs.

April 2007
Smart Energy Management=Reduced Operating Costs Portfolio-Wide Approach Yields Results
A complex and volatile energy commodity market complicates the already delicate balancing act of keeping operational costs low and tenant satisfaction high. Add pension fund ownership into the equation, and risk tolerance becomes particularly low.

July  2007
Construction Growth Continues at a Modrate Pace Dollar Rises, Commodities Prices Expected to Stabilize
There will be no looking back for Ontario's non-residential construction sector according to recent figures released by the Construction Sector Council (CSC) and the Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA). One of the key drivers of the construction sector is investment. New commercial construction investment in Ontario is expected to continue to grow at a steady rate, surpassing its growth between 2005 and 2006 (7.2%) and estimated to increase to 7.7% between 2006 and 2007.

October 2007
Heat Response Protocols Can Save Lives Housing Stock Data Identifies Vulnerable Populations
Heat is the deadliest of all atmospheric phenomena. As southern Ontario continues to warm, heat will become more and more a public health concern. Heat watch warning systems combined with intervention strategies have been shown to save lives.

November 2007
Larger Companies Tolerate Longer Paybacks Energy Efficiency Investments Widely Anticipated in Upcoming Months
The following are highlights from findings of Johnson Controls' survey of 1,250 executives throughout North America. The survey asked what companies are doing in response to rising energy costs, what sort of payback they expect on investments in energy efficiency, and to what extent they are motivated by concerns about the environment versus pure economics. 

November 2007
OPA Plan Sets Priorities for Electricity Infrastructure 20-Year Targets for Conservation, Generation and Transmission
On August 29, 2007 the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) announced that it had filed its 20-year Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP) with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). The IPSP represents more than two years of industry and public consultations to determine how Ontario should develop, over the long term, electricity infrastructure.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

March 2009
Toronto Waterfront Update Downturns Factored Into Build-out Schedule
A 2,000-acre revelopment schme can hide activity in plain sight. Toronto's waterfront may appear essentially the same today as it did in 2002 when a federal/provincial/municipal revitalization partnership was first announced, but behind-the-scenes work has prepared the way for an envisioned transformation.

March 2009
Developer/Labour Coalition Pushes for Urban Intensification
A coalition of development companies and construction unions has formed to lobby for urban intensification. The group recently released a discussion paper, Building a Sustainable Toronto, which was co-authored by James McKellar, a Professor in the Schulich School of Business at York University and David Amborski, a Professor in Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning.

April 2009
Energy Innovation Preview for the Building Sector
Sustainable Development Technology Canada is an arm’s length federal agency created to support the development and demonstration of emerging innovative technologies related to climate change, air, water and soil quality and renewable fuels. It administers two funds – the $550-million SD Tech Fund and the $500-million NextGen Biofuels Fund – and has allocated $376 million dollars to 154 research proponents over 13 rounds of funding since 2002.

July, 2009
Demographics Drive Real Estate Prospects Mature but Expanding Economy Supports Canadian Investment
Investing where demographic demand is strong and deep is far more rewarding over time than investing markets with little or no growth. Looking forward, the greatest urban population increases will occur in the worlds three largest countries: China, India and the United States.

March 2008
Sudbury Rocks, Regina Rolls Resource Demand Revives Dormant Real Estate Markets
Boom towns dot the map of Canada these days as worldwide demand for a range of commodities drives resource based economies. Rapid take-up of long vacant office space and serviced industrial land defines the recent real estate market in two of the most striking examples - Regina and Sudbury.

March 2008
Subsidized Housing a Source for Energy Savings Municipalities Mandated to Report Conservation Progress
The Hamilton City Housing has introduced a $1.9 million multi-faceted energy management plan, combining energy-efficient initiatives with renewable energy systems to minimize consumption and reduce environmental impact. 

April  2008
Incentives Support Energy-Efficient New Construction Programs Focus on Reducing Peak Electricity Demand
Two new incentive programs to support energy-efficient design and construction represent a welcome extra perk for developers and building owners.

March 2009
Incentive Steers Projects Into Hot Water Grant Threshold Raised in Response to Economic Doldrums
Large-scale solar hot water projects now qualify for meaningful funding from Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) incentive program since the recent significant increase in the maximum allowable grant from $80,000 to $400,000.

April 2009
Making the Connection to Incentive Programs Energy Efficiency Contractors Network
In Ontario, an ever increasing number of resources have been devoted to energy efficiency, particularly in the electricity sector. 

May 2008
Minister Meets Conservation Emissaries Commercial Sector Fundamental to Provincial Strategy
Energy retrofit incentives like those now available for commercial electricity customers in Toronto could soon be offered throughout the province. Senior real estate executives heard the pledge at a recent roundtable session with the Minister of Energy, Gerry Phillips, held as part of Ontario's inaugural Energy Conservation Week, May 25-31.

November 2008
Corporate Citizenship Pays Off Demand Response 3 Pursues Commitment to Shed Peak Load
Demand Response 3 (DR3) is one element of the Ontario Power Authority's (OPA's) three-part initiative to reduce demand on Ontario's electricity system during peak periods. Effective management is needed to ensure that Ontario can meet its electricity needs without having to turn to more costly suppliers.

November 2008
Solar Flairs Improve Infrastructure Aesthetics Project Designed to Generate Interest in Renewable Energy
Solar cells designed to resemble sunflowers have bloomed in Mississauga. However, their primary function is not to generate power, but to generate interest in green issues and enhance the landscape where they are placed.

September 2007
Natural Threats in an Urban Scenario Extreme Weather Strains Municipal Resources and Taxpayers
Over the past 20 years, there has been growing evidence that the climate is changing. Its impact is noticeable internationally, nationally and locally.

November 2007
Solar Incentives Compared Canadian Programs Lag Behind U.S. and Europe
Tax treatment of solar equipment and the level of government incentives will likely play a major role in the market breakthrough of solar power. Here are the four most common types of solar power incentives, and how Canada's programs stack up against those in the United States and Europe.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

January 2008
Real Estate Reflects Evolving Definitions of Cost and Value Sustainability and Staffing Top Operational Concerns
The spectre of mandatory emission reduction policies isn't necessarily daunting for the senior executives who participated in a recent discussion of current issues in real estate operations. Panelists representing major Canadian property/facilities management firms outlined their companies' pursuit of improved environmental performance and suggested that legislated requirements could simplify the economic case for some investments.

April 2008
Sustainable Building Envelope Applications Improved Performance Reduces Operation Costs
Upgrading the building envelope is often an effective method of achieving better performance while reducing operational costs and ensuring that systems and assemblies surpass their intended service life. Developers seeking to make their buildings more sustainable should select systems that result in low operational and maintenance costs. Using materials with low embodied energy and/or renewable resources is ideal.

April 2008
Charting 25 Years of Conservation Progress New Technologies and Attitudes Deliver Energy Management Results
Remember the mid-1980s: $10,000 bought you a desktop PC with 256 k of ram; receptionists answered telephones; faxes curled into a scroll on the floor. De-lamping, replacing 40 W tubes with energy saving 34s, and manual control systems were ubiquitous.

October 2008
Enabling Work Across the Broader Enterprise Corporate Real Estate Accommodates Evolving Business Dynamic
Rapidly emerging issues like climate change, energy management and carbon footprint reduction have changed the direction of corporate real estate at a pace not foreseen just a few years ago. The inaugural State of the Industry Report, 2007/2008, from the international association of leading corporate real estate and workplace executives, CoreNet Global, takes themes and projections derived from a 2004 CoreNet Global research project and tracks the progress toward and derivation from those earlier assumptions about the industry's goals and its performance in the wider social and economic context. The following is an excerpt from the report - Editor.

November 2008
Toronto Brings Multi-Res Sector into Waste Diversion Program Property Managers to Receive Instructions this Fall
Multi-unit buildings make up about 50% of Toronto's households, but, collectively, apartment and condominium dwellers recycle only about 13% of their waste. Recycling in the multi-residential sector is underdeveloped and falls well short of curbside collections from the single-family residential sector.

November 2008
Waste in its Place Vacuum System Prevents Garbage, Recycling Cross-Contamination
Waste management is a critical issue in cities across the country. The issues of landfill scarcity and lax recycling efforts are often in the press, but despite all this focus on waste, improvements are gradual and time is short.

November 2008
Meteoric Green Movement Takes New Trajectory Existing Buildings a Launch Pad for Initiatives
Change is the only constant in today's business and real estate environment. In the past year oil has peaked at more than $140 a barrel and then dropped to just above $60, global stock market indices have shed 30% to 40% of their value, and the Canadian dollar has slid from near par to the $0.80 US range.

FEDERAL

March 2009
Emissions Soar in Policy Vacuum Early Adopters Need Support, Laggards Need Edicts
A combination of incentives and regulatory measures form a proposed federal policy pathway for greenhouse gas emission reductions in commercial buildings.

PROVINCIAL

March 2009
Accessibility Compliance Deadlines Approach Customer Service Standards are First of Five Pending Regulations
Many business operators may be surprised when the full import of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and its related regulations become clear. It would be prudent for businesses to begin planning and budgeting now for the required changes that will come into effect over the next three years.

April 2009
Application Exhaustion Experience Dictates Guarded Approach to Grant Programs
Applicants awaiting a response to proposals they submitted to the Ontario government’s Municipal Eco Challenge Fund (MECF) in early October finally got news in late March – news that the program had been cancelled. That’s less than 12 months after the $14-million program to support infrastructure projects that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions was first announced..

April 2009
Regulatory Neglect Thwarts Sub-metering Rental Housing Industry Awaits Defensible Rules
Electrical sub-metering is effectively on hold in multi-residential rental buildings following a recent opinion from the Ontario Energy Board’s Chief Compliance Officer, but the seeming setback could be a step toward the clear rules for implementing the technology that landlords, tenants’ groups and energy conservation proponents have long advocated.

June 2009
Speedy Passage for Green Energy Act Amendments Address Concerns and Clarify Intent
Ontario’s Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009, passed third reading in the provincial legislature in mid-May, just 80 days after it was first tabled. The final version contains some amendments, perhaps most notably including a pullback on the originally proposed mandatory disclosure of energy efficiency when prescribed properties were offered for sale and/or lease.

April 2008
Bureaucracy's Electrical Octopus Review Panel Calls for Simplified Chain of Command
A recent advisory report to Ontario's Minister of Energy recommends a mroe streamlined approach delivering conservation and demand management programs. The report also calls for further consolidation of local distribution companies (LDCs) and advises that Ontario Power Generation (OPG) needs a clear determination of its furture role as developer of generation facilities and retailer of electricity.

April 2008
Respite for Multi-Res Electricity Consumers Few Institutional Players Stay with Regulated Price Plan
Most multi-residential electricity customers can look forward to continued discounts on spot market prices thanks to the Ontario government's recent move to indefinitely extend the sectors eligibility for the regulated price plan (RPP).

May 2008
More Certainty for Brownfield Redevelopment Limiting Liability for Innocent Parties
When the Ontario government enacted the Brownfields Statute Law Amendment Act (Brownfields Act) in 2001 more certainty was injected into the process of redeveloping properties known as brownfields that are perceived to have environmental contamination. Parties- including property owners, developers, lenders and receivers- were provided certain protection against regulatory cleanup orders and cost liability.

September  2008
Ontario Reverses Holdout Stance on Sprinklers Mandate for Multi-Res Begins April 2010
Ontario will join every other Canadian province and US state when a requirement for sprinklers in new multi-residential buildings above three storeys goes into force in April 2010. The new Regulation, which amends the Ontario Building Code (OBC), was announced in June 2008. Meanwhile, an earlier private member's bill that would give municipalities the authority to mandate sprinklers in all new residential construction is still before the Ontario legislature and could become law in the future.

October 2008
Rental Housing Providers Embrace Practice Standards Self-Regulation Augments Customer Service
In an industry where bad landlords consistently gain notoriety and good landlords seldom make headlines, the Federtion of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) has launched an effort to distinguish and brand professionally managed buildings. Mandatory standards of practice, training requirements, adn third party audits and verification are the basis of FRPO's first-of-its-kind certification program, which was introduced in Toronto in late June.

November 2008
PCBs Persist Federal Regulations Prompt Storage Site Decommissioning
The Ontario govenment has committed $56 million in funding over two years to remove and destroy PCB- contaminated materials from its Pottersburg PCB storage site in London, Ontario. The 11-acre containment facility is owned and operated by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and consists of four storage cells housing approximately 35,500 cubic metres of PCB- contaminated materials- equal to approximately 2,100 truckloads.

November 2008
Indifference and Bureaucracy Undermine Conservation Efforts Building Code and Energy Efficiency Standards Scrutinized
The number of elecricity conservation initiatives being delivered by organizations throughout Ontario is commendable, given that conservation has emerged as a public policy priority only in the last few years. This alone represents a significant advance in the development of a culture of conservation, as Ontarians from every sector have options to participate.

November 2008
Ontario Needs a Green Energy Act Too Many Barriers For No Logical Reason
Ontario's electricty sector has arguably been pulled back from the brink of disaster, but there is still a risk of setting up the same conditions for failure that gave rise to Ontario Hydro's financial crisis in the early 1990s. There is an incredible largely untapped opportunity to transform Ontario's energy sector into a model of sustainability, an engine for economic growth and rural development, a catalyst for First Nations' particpation and a foundation for consumer empowerment.

March 2007
Tight Schedule for Province-Wide Asbestos Inventory Intensified Scrutiny of Non-Friable Materials Brings New Costs
Workers in full HAZMAT gear turned a recent energy retrofit into a delicate communications exercise for property managers with Peel Region's non-profit housing corporation, Peel Living. The $1.2-million project to convert an electrically heated, 140-unit seniors' housing complex to central natural gas heating began just after Ontario's new asbestos Regulation under the Occupational Health & Safety Act came into effect in November 2005. This compelled more stringent than anticipated controls for the work, which involved drilling through flooring and ceilings that contain asbestos.

September 2007
Revised Timeline for Construction Claims January 2019 the Cutoff for Projects Predating New Act
Like most of the provincial jurisdictions in Canada, certain statutes have been drafted in Ontario that prescribe the time by which a party must commence an action. If a party commences a lawsuit after the expiration of the prescribed time period, it may risk its action being dismissed by the courts.

September 2007
NOVA SCOTIA CONTEMPLATES NEW TECHNICAL SAFETY ACT
Proposed legislation in Nova Scotia would update and harmonize five technical safety Acts and make it easier for rules to be revised in the future. The move follows calls from industry for more flexible legislation that recognizes technological change and allows for innovation.

November 2007
Asbestos Regulation Covers Buildings of Almost All Eras Insurance Premiums Could Reflect Stricter Handling Requirements
Stricter regulation of asbestos in Ontario, found in legislation that came into full effect on November 1, 2007, is likely to squeeze insurance carriers with higher costs for repairing damage after insurable events such as flooding and fires. While the industry may choose to absorb some of these costs, others will likely be passed on to property owners in the form of higher premiums for some properties.

November 2007
Targeting Energy Savings for 2008 2007 Conservation Achievements
The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) delivered programs in 2007 to achieve both short- and long-term electricity savings.

November 2007
Renewable Sources Augment Power Supply Fixed Rates Provide Market Footing for Small Projects
Dozens of small-scale electricity generating facilities are now in development and approximately 23.4 megawatts (MW) of capacity has already come on-line through the Ontario government's pledge to purchase renewable energy at a fixed rate for a 20-year period. The Province aims to add 1,000 MW of power to Ontario's electricity system by 2017 via its Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP), which first began accepting applications in the fall of 2006.

November 2007
New and Pending Safeguards for Species at Risk Compensation for Habitat Protection Still Uncertain
The protection of wild flora and fauna that are considered to be at risk of extinction in Canada - referred to generally as "species at risk" or "endangered species" - occurs under a patchwork of policies and federal/provincial programs that have gradually developed over the last 30 years or so.

MUNICIPAL

January 2008
Pre-Consultation Defines Criteria for Development Applications Oakville Model Streamlines Administration
Municipalities throughout Ontario are establishing new policies for the development approvals process. Planning Act amendments that came into effect in 2007 prescribe information that development proponents must submit to meet provincial requirements.

January 2008
Waning Service Life for Municipal Infrastructure Deferred Maintenance Escalates Renewal Costs
A recent study from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) estimates Canadian municipalities collectively need $123 billion to provide required municipal infrastructure and bring existing assets into a state of good repair.

March 2008
Prosperity Playbooks Experts Weigh in On Toronto's Economic Performance
Two separate specially appointed taskforces have recently released reports and recommendations on Toronto's fiscal outlook and economic competitiveness.

May 2008
Rent Supplements Fit Current Market Dynamics New Construction is Costliest Element of Proposed Strategy
The City of Toronto is currently engaged in a consultation process on housing strategies for 2008-2018. As part of this, it has established several targets to meet housing needs, with the intention of "focusing the action to be undertaken by governments, the non-profit and private sectors and the public, and to measure results."

July 2008
A Foothold for Affordable Housing Brownfields at the Juncture of Prevailing Development Trends
Capital grants coupled with municipal incentives provide the basis for new affordable housing projects on remediated brownfield sites in six Ontario cities. Development proponents have received funding through a special initiative under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

July 2008
Building Permit Delays Persist Municipalities Urged to Engage Registered Code Agencies
Recent reforms to Ontario's Building Code Act have instituted new procedures and schedules for the building permit process. A study commissioned by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario draws the following conclusions.

November 2008
Municipalities Exert Pressure to Protect Water Building Owners Responsible for Safety Installations
Municipalities across Ontario are moving to safeguard the water supply with by-laws that compel building owners to install backflow protection devices on all connections to the municipal water main.

November 2008
Infrastructure Deficit Makes Way for the Deluge Climate Change Elevates Storm Water Management Concerns
Damage from severe weather has been on the rise across Canada, leading insurance industry representatives to urge municipal governments to assess their storm water management systems and begin to plan for unprecedented conditions in the future.

November 2008
Rethinking Ice Control Informed Salt Management Supports Due Diligence
Wintertime can bring safety and environmental interests into conflict on outdoor parking lots, sidewalks and other pedestrian walkways. To prevent slip-and-fall mishaps and guard against liability, property owners/managers and snow removal contractors can be tempted to apply excessive amounts of salt and/or other de-icing products that eventually seep into the soil, water table and watersheds, harming ecosystems and damaging property along the way.

May 2007
Conflict in the Air Second-hand Smoke Rulings Favour Compromise
Drifting smoke may be able to seep throughout multi-residential buildings, passing through open or poorly sealed windows and doors, ventilation systems, ceiling and floor cracks, and even electrical outlets and cable jacks. Air purifiers can dilute drifting smoke, but Health Canada advises that there is no known safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

September 2007
Grow Op Damage Blindsides Unwitting Landlords Municipalities Amassing Derelict Properties
Ontario's legislative response to marijuana grow operations delegates new responsibilities to local governments along with the authority to order a wide range of remediation measures. Buildings could be subject to unsafe building orders, environmental assessments and/or demolition, while building owners, regardless of whether they knew of the illegal activity, face hefty cleanup bills on top of other possible penalties.

September 2007
Toronto Prepares Green Roof By-law Compulsory, Costly Element Could Complicate Integrated Design
Green roofs are an optional and relatively rare element of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified development, but they could soon become mandatory for some new construction projects in Toronto. A draft by-law to establish conditions for requiring and governing green roofs should be ready for the Planning and Growth Management Committee's consideration later this fall.

November 2007
Paint Recovery and Reuse Quebec Exhibits Best Practices for Collection Depots
It has been estimated that as much as 10% of purchased paint is never used. When considering the many millions of gallons sold in Canada in just one year, it amounts to a lot of leftover paint.

OTHER JURISDICTIONS

November 2007
HCFC Phase-Out Schedule Affects Purchasing Decisions Dwindling Amounts of Refrigerant for Industry Use
The Montreal Protocol, an international treaty to protect the earth's ozone layer and phase-out the use of ozone-depleting substances, eliminated the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in developed countries on December 31, 1995.

LEGAL CASES AND COMPLIANCE

September 2007
Court's Decision Prevents Needless Loss of Profit Lease Termination with Compensation Deemed Allowable Breach
It has been generally thought that a tenant who has a lease for a specific term (without the landlord holding any early termination rights) would be able to have the courts protect that term from any actions by the landlord to end the lease early.

TAX ISSUES

July 2009
HST Tax Credits Unevenly Applied: Deferred and Disqualified Contributors Dispute Terms
Large commercial landlords will have to pay more than smaller real estate providers for electricity, gas and telecom services for at least eight years following the adoption of harmonized sales tax (HST) on July 1, 2010. Meanwhile, all rental housing landlords will permanently take on added costs for those commodities, as well as for all professional services that were previously subject to the federal goods and services tax (GST) but not the provincial sales tax (PST).

March 2008
Tax Caps Unbudged After 10 Years Baffling Policy Conceals Entrenched Inequity
Property tax caps first introduced in 1998 to help ease the tax shifts caused by current value assessment (CVA) continue to reward tens of thousands of Ontario's commercial/industrial/multi-residential ratepayers with artificially low taxes. The caps have also become something of an inadvertent obstacle to the provincial government's urban intensification goals since vacant land and surface parking lots are among the major beneficiaries of the policy.

May 2008
Value Volatility Drives Assessment Reforms New Schedules and Appeal Procedures in Ontario and Manitoba
Reassessments now underway in Manitoba and Ontario herald a new schedule for property assessments and a new approach for appeals. The Manitoba government recently introduced legislation to reduce the period between property valuations from four to two years, while the Ontario government has abandoned a previous plan for annual reassessments and is instituting a four-year assessment cycle with a phase-in of value increases over that period.

October 2008
Property Tax Cuts Could Outweigh Incentives Business Group Endorses Simpler Strategy for Economic Development
A report commissioned by the Toronto Office Coalition concludes that a simple reduction in business taxes is the most effective measure a municipality can implement to attract investment and boost economic development. Dr. Enid Slack of the Institute of Municipal Finance and Governance recently conducted an extensive overview of property tax impact studies and analyses of municipal incentive programs to assess the potential outcome of the City of Toronto's newly adopted tax increment equivalent grant program. The following is an excerpt from her findings - Editor.

May 2007
Equity Still Elusive in Property Tax System Reforms Bring Some Cuts and Many Unknowns
Commercial/industrial ratepayers can look forward to some property tax relief from measures introduced in the Ontario budget this spring. Nevertheless, many commercial, industrial and multi-residential property owners will still carry a disproportionate share of the tax burden. Tax caps and clawbacks remain firmly in place, meaning that some taxpayers will continue to pay excessive amounts so that others can be cushioned against tax increases.

May 2007
Toronto Looks for New Revenue Commercial Sector Tagged as Lucrative Source
Business interests are lining up against proposals for new municipal taxes in the City of Toronto. Consultants advise that a slate of nine revenue-raising options that are now allowed under the new City of Toronto Act, 2006 could generate about $339 million annually.

July 2007
Ontario Property Taxpayers Demand New Social Service Funding Formula
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has called on the Ontario government to resume financial responsibility for the social services that now cost municipal property taxpayers approximately $3 billion every year. A resolution adopted at the Chamber's annual conference in May 2007 recommends a three-year phased uploading until the provincial government assumes full funding responsibility in 2010/2011. 

INSTITUTIONAL

October 2008
Solar Reinforces Electricity Supply, Lowers Costs: Grid-Tied System Among Innovative Green Building Features
The new Jean Canfield Building in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the portfolio of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).

October 2008
Alberta's Surplus Applied to Deferred Asset Renewal $9 Million for Building Envelope Projects at University of Calgary
Recent provincial grants for roof replacement and building envelope upgrades will allow the University of Calgary to address some of its most urgent asset renewal needs, but administrators emphasize that the $30 million infusion from the government of Alberta represents only a fraction of required investment.

May 2007
Remaking an Institution Innovative Design Creates Therapeutic Residential Environment
Many managers of aging Canadian health care facilities are beginning to see the benefits of converting old buildings into innovative and green health care environments. At Ste-Anne's Hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, a long- term psychiatric-geriatric facility has been given the feel of a contemporary home rather than a typical health care institution.

November 2007
Land Use Pressures Arise in UOIT's Wake Interim Development Prohibition While City Reassesses Zoning
Located just 45 minutes east of Toronto, Oshawa is in the heartland of Ontario, well situated, according to the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce CEO and General Manager, Robert Malcolmson, for continued economic development.

November 2007
High Density Higher Learning Downtown Setting Requires Creative Responses to Growth Constraints
Business students at the University of Ottawa can find a case study for maximizing the value of a scarce commodity by looking at their impressive new academic quarters in the Desmarais Building. The 12-storey, 226,000-square-foot building, which opened at the beginning of the school year in September, responds to the challenges and opportunities of the University's compact urban setting.

MULTI-RESIDENTIAL

September 2008
Empty Nesters Resettle in Green Surroundings Retirement Residences New Frontier for Sustainability
As a developer with a recognized reputation for green condominiums, Tridel has recently shifted its focus to a new demographic. The company is evolving in a natural progression from building condominiums for empty nesters to building retirement residences for those empty nesters who are ready for the next stage in their lives.

April 2008
Zero Energy = Urban Vitality Design Based on Creative Use of Renewable Resources
The first North American Zero Energy EcoCondo - the Abondance Montreal Project - is targeted for completion in late 2008 or early 2009. It arises from the national Equilibrium Housing Initiative led by Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHMC), which brings the private and public sectors together to develop homes that combine resource and energy-efficient technologies in order to reduce development's environmental impact.

May 2007
No Small Spaces Luxury with Flexibility in Midtown Toronto
If Stanley Grossman had the power to look into the future, One12 St. Clair is exactly what he would have envisioned - a 10-storey glistening glass tower, limestone landscaping, private terraces complete with brushed stainless steel planter boxes, natural gas and water outlets for elegant outdoor entertainment and living, and an opportunity for perspective buyers to define and create their own space.

RETAIL

May 2008
Regional Shopping Centres Stake Out Market Turf Reinvestment Cycle in Progress
Retail renovations are covert oeprations in the most public of places. Nighttime work schedules and meticulous daily cleanup are standard for a jobsite that has thousands of people moving through it during regular business hours.

OFFICE

March 2007
Intensifying for the Interim Calgary Tenants Adapt to Space Crunch
Space and staffing shortages are creating a particular dilemma for Calgary-based facilities managers. Companies are prospering and growing as Alberta's oil and gas sector drives the economy, but most of them have nowhere to move to in a downtown office market where the vacancy rate now hovers around 0.3%. At the same time, employers are trying to recruit and retain workers in a highly competitive labour market, and office amenities are a seen as an important factor in employee contentment.

LEASING

January 2008
What's in a Name? Building Naming Rights as Part of a Lease Transaction
The granting of building naming rights is an inducement used by landlords to secure a desirable, major or lead tenant in a commercial development. For tenants, the ability to have their corporate moniker on a building is an important brand promotion tool.

November 2007
Conflicts Between Permitted Uses and Exclusivity Rights Landlords May Have to Seek Injunctions
Practically speaking, problems arising from badly drafted exclusive clauses can be one of a landlord's worst nightmares. It almost always creates tension in the landlord and tenant relationship and can sometimes create tension between the affected tenants.

TENANT PROGRAMS/RETENTION

January 2007
High Expectations Shape Service Delivery Tenants Take Much for Granted
In a market where building tenants have come to expect a certain level of service, real estate providers are more likely to draw attention for falling behind their competitors than for outperforming them. In a recent discussion of trends, issues and challenges in real estate operations, senior ranking industry executives reported that it's increasingly difficult to impress their clients.

October  2007
Hedge Against the Market Pendulum Build Tenant Loyalty for the Inevitable Downturn
The commercial real estate industry is booming. Robust economies are driving business expansions and the demand for new and existing office space is on the rise. Real estate markets across Canada are experiencing increased rates and lower vacancies. As a result, tenants are finding fewer space options available and discovering landlords who are reluctant to compromise in a landlord driven market.

November  2007
Increasing Tenant Demand for Environmental Performance Green Buildings Gaining Competitive Advantage
Sustainability has become a key issue for office tenants. Results of a recent survey of medium to large-scale tenants in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver show that decisions to relocate or reconfigure office space are largely driven by the desire for a location that can attract and retain staff and offer flexibility to accommodate an expanded workforce. Sustainability is inherent to an appealing location that provides a quality work environment.

COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING

July 2008
On the Road to Green and Gold - BOMEX® 2008 in Vancouver
All eyes are focused westward as preparations continue for BOMEX® BOMA Canada's national conference, taking place in Vancouver September 30 - October 2, 2008. The agenda for this exciting three-day event will exemplify this year's chosen theme of "On the Road to Green and Gold," which highlights the significance of environmental initiatives for the continued success of the commercial real estate industry.

May 2007
Exciting Changes Planned for BOMEX 2007 in Toronto
When BOMEX, BOMA Canada's national conference and exposition, opens this September in Canada's largest city, it will feature an exciting agenda of timely and relevant information sessions, key industry events and worthwhile networking opportunities. Taking place September 18 - 21, BOMEX 2007, with the conference theme Power in Partnerships, is sure to draw delegates from coast to coast to coast.

ANCILLARY REVENUE STREAMS

October 2008
Value Lurks in Unused Spaces Identifying Opportunities for Additional Revenue
The current economic crisis is creating more scrutiny and additional pressure for commercial property managers to find other revenue opportunities and maximize the income potential of their managed assets. An increase in asset revenue not only improves the bottom line, but also increases the value of the property.

January 2007
Due Diligence Checklist Advance Preparation Pays Off when Opportunities Arise
Is selling or acquiring a business in your plans for 2007? If your New Year's resolution involves preparing for a sale or acquisition, you need to be ready when opportunity knocks.

BUDGETS/CAPITAL PLANNING

June 2009
Capital Options Abound Targeted Repairs Can Extend Life Cycle
At the 20 to 30-year mark many building systems begin to wear out and need costly repairs and replacements. Increasingly, stakeholders interested in tenant retention and property value demand capital funds for things such as interior finish updates, as well as sustainable or green initiatives in order to compete with newer, greener buildings, while rising energy costs and tightening compliance issues add to the mounting concerns. At the same time, financiers now scrutinize capital more closely than ever before parting with funds.

June 2009
Commissioning Delivers Performance Assurance Verification a Logical Follow-up to Capital Investment
Building commissioning is steadily gaining momentum as a sustainable construction and management practice that makes obvious economic sense. A design and development approach that emphasizes system integration and premium upfront capital investments to achieve long-term operating savings almost necessarily calls for a due diligence component to ensure the building is performing as envisioned and investors are getting what they’ve paid for.

April 2008
Managing a Volatile Commodity Risk Tolerance Shapes Supply-side Decisions
Talk of energy management tends to bring to mind actions associated with traditional demand-side management (DSM) projects, but energy management also includes supply-side management. That means acting on or reducing cost uncertainty for energy purchased.

November 2008
Expanding Institutions Look for Capital Planning Tools Facility Condition Assessments Support Decisions at Laurier University
Universities and colleges often face difficult choices in deciding what building systems to repair or renew, which renovation projects to complete this year, and when to build new. The institutions' facility managers are responsible for preserving signature buildings and monuments, as well as ensuring all facilities - classrooms, dormitories, libraries, dining halls and student centres - are meeting occupants' needs.

November 2008
Savings Sans Capital Expenditures Purchasing Strategies and Administrative Vigilance Deliver Energy Payoffs
Through the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification process a building can be built extremely well, while taking into account energy efficiency and conservation. With appropriate retrofits, almost any building can incorporate variable speed drives, lowered lighting power density, higher thermal resistance through the roof and walls, and other projects aimed at reducing energy demand and consumption.

November 2007
Green Roots in the Bottom Line Returns on Sustainability Investment Becoming More Evident
Although accounting for less than 1% of the world's population, Canadians consume 3% of the world's energy. In 2006, 75% of that energy came from fossil fuels that contribute to greenhouse gases, producing 747 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions - an increase of 25% since 1990. Even so, the most energy-efficient businesses already consume 30% less energy than their counterparts and provide an example that others can follow.

STAFFING

September  2007
Backup for Emergency and Revenue Generation Required Asset can be a Business Opportunity
It's no secret that Ontario needs more power. The provincial government is looking for new generation capacity and will invest $40 billion over the next 10 years, partially to phase out coal-fired generators, but also to address the growing demand for electricity.

October 2007
Centralization vs. Flexibility Contradictory Imperatives Drive Corporate Real Estate Decisions
Globalization and outsourcing are driving the centralization of corporate operating models and, in turn, the ways that multinational companies are organized. For corporate real estate (CRE), departmental structures to a large degree mirror these overarching enterprise-level shifts.

October 2007
Temptation Beckons Stressed Employees Lax Oversight Enables Workplace Deceit
Street smarts - or office smarts, store smarts or warehouse smarts - are in order for any business owner. Workplace theft ranging from stolen intellectual property downloaded onto electronic devices in a practice known as "podslurping" to office workers slipping a few pens into their pockets to restock the kids' backpacks takes a toll on the bottom line.

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

HVAC

January 2008
Commissioning Uncovers Optimization Opportunities HVAC and Air Quality are Prevalent Motivators
Few buildings perform as intended. Numerous pervasive and chronic performance deficiencies stem from design flaws, construction defects, malfunctioning equipment and deferred maintenance.

January 2007
Balancing Exhaust and Air Intake Stack Design and Placement Supports Contaminant Dispersion
The optimal design and placement of exhaust stacks to limit contamination of air intakes and other sensitive locations can be a considerable challenge. Buildings may have several different exhaust types that discharge a variety of contaminants, presenting both health and odour concerns.

October 2007
Automation, Lighting and HVAC Deliver Energy Savings Bonus Temperature Control and Comfort Improvements
TransGlobe Property Management Services is a growing company facing the challenge of the upkeep of aging systems, the rising cost of energy, and the pressure to become a more environmentally sustainable company. With a portfolio that includes 24,000 apartments and more than 5.2 million square feet of commercial space, TransGlobe's management team recognized that a plan to manage its energy needs and consumption was required for all its properties.

November 2007
Long Heating Season Defines Canadian HVAC Start-Up Checklists Support Efficient Operation
Semi-annual system start-up checks are one of the best ways to ensure building or plant operations run more efficiently and avoid service outages. And they can also add to a company's bottom-line. Canada has two seasons when HVAC start-up checks are important - cooling in the spring and heating in the fall. Both are critical for a building's HVAC equipment operation and efficiency and both offer opportunities for energy efficiency. 

November 2007
A Green Strategy for HVAC Audits, Equipment, Service and 3Rs Combine for Better Performance
Increased public interest in the environment is leading tenants to seek out greener developments. Property managers are now interested in developing a more sustainable business plan by understanding how technologically savvy tenants choose office and living space. 

LIGHTING

June 2009
More than a Fluorescent Copycat Rapid Advancement a Hallmark of LED Technology
The incandescent light bulb is becoming obsolete in many parts of the world, including Canada, as regulators introduce energy efficiency standards or outright bans, and simple economics undermine the technology’s ability to compete with fluorescents and other more recent lighting innovations. CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and LED (light emitting diode) lighting now jockey for market share.

March 2007
HYBRID LIGHTING STILL LIMITED TO SAFETY AND SECURITY PURPOSES
Wind and solar-power light standards aren't likely to be illuminating urban streets and parking lots any time soon, but the City of Barrie has agreed to test the practicality of the emerging technology for remote locations that would otherwise be in darkness. Throughout 2007, the City's engineering department will be monitoring the performance of a light standard powered with a vertical axis wind turbine and photovoltaic solar panel.

April 2007
Load Shed Under the Radar Temperature and Lighting Adjustments can be Largely Imperceptible
When electricity demand has the potential to exceed supply, brownouts or blackouts may occur and utilities may take steps to deliver additional power or to reduce demand. Commercial building operators are often urged to shed electricity load by dimming lights or increasing set-point temperatures during the cooling season.

CONTROLS/AUTOMATION

September 2008
Simple Technology Opens the Door for Innovation Pneumatics Support Easy-Maintenance Accessibility
Simple pneumatic technology drives a cost-efficient automatic door opener that four young designers from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) are seeking to patent. Their prototype, which was built with components purchased at a local hardware/automotive store, compresses air as able-bodied pedestrians open the door manually and stores it in a small air tank that is later used to power the automatic opening function.

May 2007
Integration for Cost and Environmental Control Real Time and Flexibility Signal Intelligent Buildings
Intelligent building technologies can enhance the building environment for occupants, while controlling costs. Integrated communication and control systems allow building operators to employ a single interface that can control a network of disparate building automation systems, which typically comprise electronic equipment that automatically performs specific facility functions.

May 2007
Capital Projects with Serious Implications Knowledgeable Contractors a Must in Health Care Settings
Some time ago, health care facility managers recognized the need for construction personnel to have a heightened awareness of the health care environment. Nowhere is this more evident than in those publicized situations where construction work has caused or been a contributing factor in patient deaths, or adverse reactions with the patients in hospitals.

November 2007
Water Rebates Possible for Peel's ICI Sector Indoor Audit Program Aims for Savings
Peel Region is rolling out another water efficiency measure as part of its multi-faceted Water Efficiency Plan. The indoor water audit pilot program for the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sectors has been launched in Peel's largest facilities, which are being assessed to identify specific water savings. Once the incentive program is fully implemented, any ICI water customer in the Region will be eligible to participate.

BUILDING ENVELOPE/WINDOWS

October 2008
Glass Gains Insulating Capacity Integrated Design Outcomes Can Justify Component Costs
Design choices relating to building envelope components can affect a project's ultimate energy efficiency more than internal systems and components such as lighting and HVAC, but window glass has been the weak link in conservation performance. In an era of R-19 walls and ceilings (R being a measure of insulating performance), standard insulating glass provides an insulating performance of R-2.

July 2007
Collision Control Bird-Friendly Design has Public Art and Energy Efficiency Spinoffs
New development guidelines from the City of Toronto offer a range of solutions for easing migratory birds' flight through urban centres. Most migratory bird species are unable to adapt to living in cities, and during biannual flyovers they become confused and disoriented by a combination of light pollution and the effects of glass in the urban environment.

October 2007
Style with Energy and Cost Savings Fibreglass Doors Often Indistinguishable from Wood
Wooden external doors require regular maintenance, especially in climates with extremes of heat, cold or precipitation. Temperature variations cause swelling and shrinking that can affect the way they open and close. Typically, wooden doors are not well insulated. Nor are they cheap.

October 2007
A Building Envelope Checklist Monitoring and Maintenance can help Defer Replacement
More often than not, property managers get varied opinions from their consultants about how long their building envelope systems should last. A checklist can provide guidance in making decisions.

ROOFING

March 2008
Multiple Roofing Assemblies Present Retrofit Challenge Energy and Waste Reduction Goals Shape Component Choice
The Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada Building at 227 King Street South in Waterloo, Ontario, is an imposing landmark with a low-rise building envelope and associated tower rising some 225 feet above grade. It houses the Canadian head offices of Sun Life Assurance. The original building was constructed in 1912, with numerous additions being constructed until 1986, some of which filled in and joined previously stand-alone buildings.

March 2007
Deck and Drains Present Roof Replacement Challenges Lightweight Insulating Concrete Offers Solution
After performing thousands of roof condition reports and preparing the same amount of roof design drawings and specifications, it's rare to come across a situation that presents a unique problem. However, an evaluation of the roof assembly on a 30+-year-old school building uncovered some particular challenges.

October 2007
Responding to Roof Failure Re-cover has Economic and Environmental Advantages
It is important to understand how roofs fail in service and identify those factors that contribute to their failure. Roofs begin deteriorating shortly after they are applied and continue deteriorating until they are replaced. The rate, severity and extent of deterioration are affected by a wide variety of factors.

ELEVATORS/ESCALATORS

June 2009
Modernization Drivers and Contributors Weigh Factors before Investing in Elevator Upgrades
Age of equipment is a major determinant for elevator modernization, but several other factors also come into play. These can be categorized as drivers or contributors – i.e. concerns that must be addressed and therefore drive the decision to modernize or issues that, in combination with other factors, help to make a case for modernization.

SECURITY/LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS

January 2008
Upfront Health and Safety Matting Systems Underlie Green Cleaning
Dirt, soil and contaminants are everywhere. Studies have found that as much as 80% of the floor-damaging soil within a facility arrives via the entryways on the shoes of building workers and visitors.

January 2008
Contractor's Performance is Employer's Responsibility Make Safety and Environmental Requirements Explicit
Working at heights, with hazardous materials, near energy sources and in confined spaces are everyday activities for many contractors' workers. Employers might presume that the contractors they've hired have all of the necessary controls (programs, procedures, training) and insurance coverage (provincial workers' compensation, general liability, automobile, etc.) in place to ensure worker and environmental safety and compliance with applicable legislation.

September 2008
Pressures of Prosperity Saddle Downtown Calgary Safety and Cleanliness Become City Priorities
Vigilance and regular upkeep are key elements of the City of Calgary's efforts to improve safety and boost the dynamism of its downtown. In 2006, the City launched the Clean to the Core initiative - framed as a three-year program to tackle safety, cleanliness and graffiti issues and draw more investors, residents and visitors to the city centre.

September 2008
Ensure Building Code Compliance Life Safety Evaluation Precedes Renovations
Renovations or a planned change in major occupancy often trigger requirements for existing buildings to comply with current building codes. This will depend on the degree of alterations to existing building systems and how they may affect building performance and/or create hazards for occupants in buildings.

September 2008
Building Services Can Include Resuscitation Defibrillators Emerging as Requisite Standard of Care
Across Canada, emergency medical departments, independent paramedic associations and the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation are promoting the idea of  public access defibrillation so that people are trained and ready to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in a variety of public spaces. AEDs can already be found in some residential, commercial and industrial buildings and complexes, and advocates contend that thousands of lives could be saved if AEDs were widely available in the public sphere.

September 2008
Awareness Prevents Accidents Planning and Training Support Workplace Safety
Accidents and emergency situations can happen in any environment, in any industry, at any time. The US National Safety Council reports that someone is killed as a result of a preventable injury every four minutes.

September 2008
Facility Security Checklist Planning and Technology Support Emergency Response
Many facility managers want the expediency of locking down a building with the activation of one button. If a major city is hit with a dirty bomb, for example, a hospital must have the capability of locking down all access doors immediately to minimize interior contamination by panicked incoming infected victims. However a mechanism to allow first responders is needed.

September 2008
Risk Assessment Dictates Access Control Measures Security Options Must Account For Life Safety
Security and fire life-safety priorities often conflict, but they are both critical to the safety of a building's occupants and contents. Risk assessment is a necessary first step in devising a facility security plan to identify competing interests and find ways to balance them.

September 2008
Contemplate Crises When They're Still Theoretical Emergence Response Plans Critical for Business Continuity
Disasters do occur and the impact can be both operationally and financially devastating. Yet, many organizations and business owners are ill prepared or not prepared at all to manage an event that can have a negative impact to the organization.

April 2007
Strategies for Assisted Evacuation Addressing Hindrances for Occupants with Disabilities
Everyone needs to have a plan to evacuate a building regardless of his or her physical condition. It is impossible to plan for every situation that may occur in every type of emergency, but building owners and managers can be as prepared as possible.

April 2007
Flammable Cable Poses Safety and Liability Risk Imminent Regulation Will Mandate Removal
Telephone and other telecommunications companies installed huge amounts of very flammable cable in commercial buildings prior to the late 1990s. Adding to the problem, when these companies installed extra cable to serve customers, they did so without removing the old cables.

September 2007
Life Safety in a Seismic Zone CPVC Supports Post-Earthquake Fire Suppression
A fire sprinkler system offers little or no benefit if it doesn't remain intact when an earthquake strikes. Thus, the International Building Code addresses the installation of fire sprinklers in seismic zones. A new report also reinforces earlier field findings suggesting that a fire sprinkler system made of chlorinated poly vinyl chloride (CPVC) is more likely to perform reliably during and after an earthquake than a steel system.

September 2007
Fire Safety Plans Made Simple Web-based Solution for Development and Coordinated Access
Industry surveys indicate that a disconcerting number of property owners/managers are not complying with Fire Code requirements for fire safety plans. These plans, which outline critical information for emergency responders such as connections to the sprinkler system, people requiring special assistance, hazardous materials, etc, are often outdated or non-existent.

October 2007
RCMP Teams up with BOMA Canada to Bolster National Security
Millions of people pass through Canada's commercial buildings each day, which is why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is now looking to members of the commercial real estate industry to be valued partners in the ongoing effort to identify and report potential terrorist threats.

November  2007
Negotiating a Toxic Escape Route Smoke Evaders Can Buy Time
What do duct tape, a wet towel, foil wrap, a whistle, a flashlight, bright-coloured cloth, an ink marker, a cotton bed sheet, a washcloth and a plastic pail with a lid have in common? Beyond the typical ingredients for a Red Green Show misadventure, they are part of a list of items that many fire prevention officials suggest occupants have ready at hand as a survival kit in the event of a fire in a high-rise building.

November  2007
A View to Security and Safety Laminates Stall Forced Entries and Contain Shards
Glass is the weakest link in building safety and security. Unprotected windows offer little or no resistance to forced entry or an explosion. Standard annealed glass is used for most windows commercially and residentially for single pane, double pane and triple pane windows, with or without Low E or reflective coatings.

IT/TELECOMMUNICATIONS

January 2007
In Sync at Lakeridge Accurate Timing is Critical for Health Care Provision
Lakeridge Health Corporation is one of the largest hospital networks in Ontario. On an average day, between 3,000 and 5,000 people come through the doors of one Lakeridge's facilities, which include three acute-care hospitals and one specialty hospital. The corporation also manages several construction projects, including a new Cancer Centre, Emergency ICU and CCU, and Central Utility Plant.

SOFTWARE

March 2009
Groundwork Converts Potential into Performance Facilities Management Systems Must Fit Organizational Needs
Property and facilities management software systems such as CAFM, CMMS, Work Order management and Help Desk can help to improve service, reduce costs (including future costs) and preserve assets. The range and flexibility of available systems, including stand-alone, integrated or hosted web based systems, put this capability in the hands of even small organizations.

March 2008
Comprehensive, Consolidated Database a Critical Management Tool Smoothing the Transition to a New Software System
 Today's most advanced software packages feature fully integrated solutions that consolidate portfolio, financial, lease, and other information into one database, giving all network users instant, secure access. Companies researching upgrade options will typically be looking for a product that can maximize efficiencies and accuracy, streamline workflow, mitigate risk, create transparency for users and investors, improve communications among stakeholders, and deliver enterprise-wide solutions.

May 2008
Web-based Tool Analyzes Life-Cycle Costs Gauging the Long-term Performance of Intelligent Building Technologies
 Life-cycle costing is a science-based measurement of a project's impact throughout its life. It is an amalgamation of first costs, training costs, operation and maintenance costs, service agreement costs, upgrade/retrofit costs, and may include disposal/deconstruction costs, to give involved parties a realistic understanding of true return on investment (ROI) and return on equity (ROE).

May 2008
Digital Records Become a Must for Design and Engineering Tenant Improvements Present Opportunity to Build Database
 Property managers can relate to the last-minute call from the harried leasing manager looking for drawings of an office suite for a pending lease deal or build-out. Coordinating design and construction drawings can be another time-consuming task for property managers who are increasingly challenged to manage more space with fewer staff and deliver the same or heightened levels of service.

July 2008
Functions Converge Through Portals Flexible Capacity for Transactions and Service Coordination
Secure, seamless conduits between a web site and operating databases - known as portals - offer a means to gaining selective real-time, point-to-point access to crucial business information and transactions. An integrated portal solution delivers numerous marketing and customer functions while simultaneously capturing data directly into a property management system.

October 2008
Seeking the Smooth Software Switchover
Ever-evolving technology and marketplace competition makes the decision to upgrade property management software somewhat inevitable. In doing so, commercial real estate professionals should carefully evaluate suppliers, seek solutions with minimum risk and maximum versatility, consider application service hosting options, and weigh the needs of external stakeholders as well as employees. The following checklist offers some insight for evaluating a proposed software upgrade or implementation.

March 2007
Clutter Costs Document Retrieval Shouldn't be a Paper Chase
Property and facility managers spend as much as 25-30% of their time simply locating and handling paper based office documents. On average, 10% of all documents are misfiled, with 7% becoming lost completely.

April 2007
Software Provides the Big Picture on Energy Consumption System Integrates Tools for Auditing and Regulatory Compliance
Energy is not a trivial cost centre in a real estate portfolio. It's one that needs to be evaluated and controlled continuously.

July 2007
Placed for Success Data Reveals Market Patterns, Risks, Opportunities
Almost all events in life have a location and temporal component. They happen at predictable places and times, and they can often be seen as part of a pattern. If observers understand these patterns, they can adapt to them, anticipate events, make investments to capitalize on predicted events or avoid locations where anticipated events could cause harm.

September 2007
Software for the Big Picture Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Support Property Management
An Integrated system is a unified system that integrates all organizational data and software processes under one software package. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system tailored for property management can increase the availability of information at all levels of an organization, provide accurate real-time price and cost simulations, reduce workflow and increase internal efficiences.

September 2007
Smooth System Implementation Clarify Scope, Complexity and Required Resources
As the real estate market business continues to become more reliant upon technology, an ever increasing amount of data is managed using software. Today's latest technology solutions have provided a level of automation and integration far surpassing that which ws imagined even five years ago. 

November 2007
Intelligent E-forms Simplify Real Estate Administration On-line Access Bypasses Time-consuming Manual Tasks
Standardized forms are the most common business document that real estate professionals use everyday. From property listing contracts to disclosure statements from sellers or building maintenance requests, real estate and property management professionals rely on many complex forms to complete transactions and projects and work with colleagues, partners and customers in disparate locations.

MATERIALS/FURNISHINGS

March 2008
Uncovering the Hidden Life of Office Furnishings Detection and Clean-up Verification for Contaminants
Germs, bacteria and microorganisms are just about everywhere in the typical office facility. Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist with the University of Arizona, recently found almost half of commonly used office equipment was home to germs that can potentially cause illness.

October 2007
Ceramic, Marble and Hardwood Resonate More than Style Floating Flooring System Muffles Sound Transmission
The problem of sound transmission between floors is most obvious in hard floor areas, which are becoming an increasingly popular feature of condominiums. These areas are commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms, where ceramic tile or even marble is often the floor covering of choice, and in living rooms that have been upgraded to include hardwood floors. With no carpet or cushioned vinyl in these areas to mitigate noise transmission, the problem can become acute.

CLEANING/HOUSEKEEPING

September 2008
Here's the Dirt on Productivity: Innovation, Economics and Cultural Shifts Drive Cleaning Industry
Arguably, more has happened in the last five years to improve the cleaning industry than in the sixty years previous. Low profit margins for cleaning contractors and continual demand to reduce costs in housekeeping departments have forced new innovations in the industry that have increased productivity and resulted in reduced costs or increased profitability.

January 2008
Supporting Hygiene and Productivity New Equipment Reduces Opportunities for Cross Contamination
Infectious diseases, such as colds and the flu, are the leading causes of employee absenteeism due to illness. Lost productivity in the workplace from the flu alone costs employers an estimated $15 billion.

September 2008
Training Essential for Handling Cleaning Chemicals Green-certified Products Now Competitive in Cost and Performance
Cleaning staff should be properly trained on how to use, dilute and avoid mixing certain chemicals, but accidents happen. In Canada, it is estimated that approximately 65 people die each year as a result of cleaning chemicals and the number is growing.

September 2008
Water Damage Recovery Microbiological Contamination Threatens Documents
Water infiltration can cause irreparable damage to paper documents, microfiche, film and other records that become wet, soaked or soiled. The loss of such critical information can severely compromise businesses' records history, operational effectiveness and service levels, and even place some companies in breach of document retention laws.

May 2007
No Masking Indoor Environmental Dilemmas Agitation Key to Odour Elimination
Building managers are becoming more aware of how odours can have an impact on building occupants. If not attended to, odours can increase and spread beyond their original source affecting the productivity and possibly the health of workers, plus presenting a very unfavorable impression to visitors and prospective renters.

September 2007
Unions Target Cleaning Services Industry can Benefit from Stabilized Workforce
Unions, particularly SEIU (Service Employees International Union), have conducted drives to increase membership in major U.S. cities in the last few years, with recent large citywide contracts being obtained in Houston and in Florida. These drives have been different from previous practices, in that the union does not go after just one account or building, but targets an entire cleaning contractor and all of its accounts with hopes of obtaining citywide recognition from that contractor.

September 2007
Warranties May Hinge on Proper Care Seal of Approval Program Provides Carpet Cleaning Guidance
New developments in the carpet cleaning industry could have a significant impact on how carpets are cleaned and the warrantees that come with new carpets. Manufacturers are now specifying industry-approved cleaning solutions and equipment. One major manufacturer recently invalidated warranties if carpet owners do not comply, and other manufacturers could soon follow suit.

September 2007
Getting a Handle on Germ Hotspots Public Judges Overall Cleanliness by Washroom Conditions
Although many people feel that public washrooms are germ ridden, few realize the true risks and hot spots. For instance, hot water taps are more of a danger zone for fecal bacteria than are toilet seats, and flushing the toilet causes bacteria to propel around the washroom.

October 2007
Solutions-based Facility Management Covers Broad Scope Innovations for Cost Savings and Client Satisfaction
It used to be that the corporate warriors logging late night overtime were the only ones on a first name basis with the cleaning staff. Today, however, smart property managers are working closely with their facility management team, bringing this essential service into the 21st century.

SECURITY SERVICES

September 2008
New Legislation Boosts Security Professionalism Provinces Introducing Training and Licensing Standards
Whether a company employs in-house security personnel, relies exclusively on contract security (guard) service providers, or operates under a mixed model, new provincial security regulations in several Canadian provinces could come into play - and result in a higher level of service performance.

April 2008
Changing of the Guards Countrywide Changes to Security Regulations In Progress
The realm of private security in Canada is undergoing a fundamental shift towards more regulation. Six provinces - British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia - have initiated reform, and there will be significant changes occurring in most provinces on an ongoing basis for the next few years.

PEST MANAGEMENT

May 2007
Warm Weather Brings out Pests Sanitation Program Should Target Food and Water Sources
Just as the real estate market heats up during warm weather, so does pest season. In addition to turning off future tenants and alienating current ones, insects and rodents can cause extensive damage to a property.

LANDSCAPING/GROUNDSCAPING

May 2008
Sensory Satisfaction for the Workplace Plants Offer Aesthetic, Acoustic and Way-finding Advantages
The five senses, which include sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste, are affected physiologically by everything in their path. Plants can engage all five senses in many ways. They can heighten and satisfy the senses and help make workplace environments happier and healthier.

November 2007
Low-Salt Formula Safeguards the City's Arteries And its Side Streets, Sidewalks and Watersheds Too
The return of cold weather and slippery conditions marks the launch of the City of Toronto's latest pilot project to test alternatives to sodium chloride road salt for de-icing. This year staff in the Transportation Services division is concurrently reviewing the City's winter services program for pedestrian routes such as sidewalks, crosswalks, bus shelters and wheelchair accessible ramps to assess maintenance and service requirements across the city.