Winner of an FCM Sustainable Communities Award 2024 in the sustainable buildings category

Energy savings

11.9 MWh of estimated green electricity generated per year by roof-mounted solar panels 

Money Icon GMF

Approx. $54,000 in energy costs will be saved annually

icon-house-hold

73 affordable, energy-efficient units 

 

Summary  

Facing an affordable housing crisis and rising to the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Waterloo Region Housing (WRH) has undertaken its first net-zero community housing build. Winning a 2024 Sustainable Communities Award, the project features a variety of energy-efficient design elements as well as tenant amenity spaces to foster a sense of community.

Background

Located in Southern Ontario, the Waterloo Region contains the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo along with townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. It is a rapidly growing region, with a current population of more than 630,000 people.

There is a long waitlist for affordable housing in Waterloo Region, with approximately 9,000 low-income households currently awaiting community housing. Recognizing the urgency of this situation, Waterloo’s Regional Council approved the WRH Revitalization Plan in 2019. It maps out a 20-year timeline to create at least 600 new community housing units.

Waterloo Region also crafted a community-developed strategy, called the Transform WR Action Strategy, to reduce local GHG emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The strategy states that, “By 2050, businesses and homes no longer use fossil fuels for space heating and cooling, and hot water heating.” Moving forward, all new community housing builds will aim for Canada’s Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building - Design Standard certification.

The challenge

As the Region prepared to break ground on its newest community housing development at 420 Kingscourt Drive, they had no previous experience constructing new net-zero buildings. There were concerns regarding how best to attract the right contractors, with fears that the ambitious energy efficiency plans might scare some away. 

Additionally, households with lower incomes may struggle to afford energy costs and often face barriers to accessing more sustainable energy technologies like geothermal heating and cooling, solar power, or smart thermostats. Waterloo Region was committed to ensuring these households were not left behind in the transition away from fossil fuels.

“Everyone deserves a place to call home. We are working hard not just to build homes across the Region of Waterloo, but also to be responsible stewards of the environment as we grow. 420 Kingscourt is a proud example of the care Region staff have put into creating homes that serve this community. These energy-efficient projects help us build what we need for today and tomorrow.”

- Regional Chair Karen Redman, Region of Waterloo

 

Approach

WRH’s 420 Kingscourt Drive blends affordability with thoughtful design, offering a mix of income-geared rent, below average market rent and low-end market rent. Situated on the same site as WRH’s existing 416 Kingscourt Drive building, WRH made sure to utilize existing regional land and prioritize engagement with the existing tenants throughout the development process, ensuring their voices were heard and their needs addressed. This was done primarily through virtual meetings led by both regional staff and City councillors.  

The building has 73 units, ranging in size from one to five bedrooms, with 19 units designed with enhanced accessibility. In addition to comfortable living spaces, the project brings people together with three inviting resident amenity spaces, including a spacious 2,125-square-foot seniors services programming area.

Environmental considerations were critical throughout the design process, incorporating energy-efficient building technologies and practices that will reduce energy consumption, enhance indoor environment quality and lower energy costs for the tenants. Key features include:

  • ground-source heat pumps connected to an open-loop geothermal system with integrated Energy Recovery Ventilators
  • triple glazed high performance vinyl windows
  • low-flow Domestic Hot Water fixtures
  • LED lighting systems
  • solar PV panels
  • meter to track water and energy consumption of individual units and the building as a whole

This project is also piloting a Community Benefits Program to help recruit, engage and retain a diverse construction labour force. The program creates opportunities for individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in the industry.

Benefits and results

The 420 Kingscourt project is expected to be completed in summer 2025. Anticipated outcomes are as follows.

Environmental:

  • The building’s GHG emissions are 47.1% below the 2015 National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) standards.  
  • The project’s roof-mounted solar panels are estimated to generate 111.9MWh of green electricity per year, enough to power 10 average households.
  • The design of this building will result in a net annual total energy use intensity (TEUI) of 77.4 kWh/m2, versus the Canadian residential building average of 181 kWh/m2 per year.  
  • Waterloo region is now pursuing Zero Carbon Building V2–Design Standard certification by the Canada Green Building Council, recognizing their efforts to help combat climate change by designing a building with low carbon emissions.

Economic:

  • Housing expenses for those living in rent-geared-to-income units (1/3 of all units) will remain at an affordable 30% of tenants’ income for the long term.  
  • Approximately $54,000 in energy costs will be saved annually through energy-efficient design.  
  • Tenants will also benefit from reduced energy costs as a result of the building’s efficiency, paying a flat fee for both water and electricity.  

Social:  

  • 73 households with various levels of income will have a comfortable, energy-efficient home near public transportation corridors.
  • Two people have been trained in construction through the Community Benefits Program. One has now entered a unionized skilled trade.

Lessons learned

  • Tenants are the experts of their communities and know what works and what can be improved. Feedback from this project resulted in the development of Tenant Liaison Committees for subsequent WRH builds, where tenant volunteers will be part of the early design process.  
  • Ensuring there is a clear vision for the design before opening bidding to contractors will help attract the right talent.  
  • Consulting with the people who will be running the building early on is crucial to ensuring both its longevity and end-user comfort.
  • Building a net-zero affordable housing project is not only possible, but less challenging than anticipated despite an initial lack of experience.

Next steps  

This was the first of six affordable housing redevelopment projects for the region. Project data will be used to inform the direction of future builds, with a focus on early tenant engagement.

Featured resources

Webinar: Building for the future with better community housing

Lessons learned from Waterloo Regional Housing’s development that prioritizes affordability, energy efficiency and community engagement

Read more

FCM’s Sustainable Communities Awards

Leading excellence in sustainability since 2001

Read more

Sustainable Affordable Housing

Switch to energy-efficient options and lower your energy bills.

Read more

Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.

Visit the projects database

Are you looking for training to enhance your community’s climate adaptation strategies and knowledge? You could benefit from participating in a series of climate resilience-focused workshops, webinar or learning opportunity led by GMF Partners. Below is a list of events designed to equip local governments with the knowledge and technical skills needed to implement effective climate adaptation solutions. By fostering collaboration with regional and sector experts, GMF Partner events can help your community build resilience, bridge critical knowledge gaps, and drive meaningful progress in climate adaptation.  

We update this page regularly, so be sure to check back monthly for new events and learning opportunities near you.  

Date 

Location 

Event name

Details

Host

Ongoing  Virtual Natural Asset Management Roadmap Program

Understand how your organization can better incorporate natural assets in the planning and delivering of priority services, such as stormwater and flood management, water quality, biodiversity, and recreation. Complete a high-level roadmap outlining short-to-medium term actions your organization can take to progress. Learn from peers and join the network of natural asset management leaders helping to advance climate-resilient, cost-effective service delivery through nature.

Click here to register.

Natural Assets Initiative

Ongoing

Virtual

Nature is Infrastructure

4-Part Workshop Series

These workshops will provide practical guidance to local governments to help them advance their natural asset management in ways appropriate for their local context. They are intended for local governments who have some experience in asset management and are looking to expand their efforts to include natural assets / natural infrastructure.

Each workshop is based on the leading research and best practices from the Nature is Infrastructure guide and their delivery will be tailored to the needs of the participating local government.

Participant fees will apply

Natural Assets Initiative
November 12, 2025VirtualIdentification of climate risks and impact on services provided

Before beginning a reflection on climate change adaptation, it is important to understand the upcoming climate risks and the impact they will have on assets that provide services to citizens. During three workshops, municipalities will assess the likelihood of unavoidable climate hazards and their consequences.

Following the three workshops, municipalities will have identified high and very high risks, which will initiate a reflection on planning responses, particularly through adaptation and mitigation.

Emphasis will be placed on equity by implementing fair and just adaptation measures.

This training is offered only in French.

Participant fees will apply  

Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)
November 10, 2025; March 16-23 and 30, 2026

Virtual

Expanded Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning

An expanded version of our flagship Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning course, this training covers essential asset management planning concepts while emphasizing climate resilience, equity, and green infrastructure.

Participants will prepare a draft asset management plan, gaining practical experience and earning a professional certificate in asset management planning.

Participant fees will apply  

NAMS Canada  

November 25 & 26, 2025VirtualUnderstanding Equity-Informed Climate Risk & Vulnerability Assessments 

This interactive, virtual course aims to provide foundational understanding of climate change risk and vulnerability assessments of community infrastructure through the level of service framework and with a focus on understanding disproportionate climate change impacts on all members of the community.

Participant fees will apply  

Ontario Society of Professional Engineers  
November 12, 2025 (Session 1), November 26, 2025 (Session 2) & January 23, 2026 (Session 3)VirtualMunicipal Assets: Climate Risk Screening 

Gain the tools to assess climate risks, identify priority projects, and strengthen funding applications. In this hands-on-session, you'll complete a climate risk screen for one asset class and leave with a practical tool to apply across your community.

Participant fees will apply  

AIM Network
November 18, 20 & 25, 2025In personLevels of Service at a Watershed Scale 

This hands-on workshop helps municipal staff understand how natural assets—like rivers, wetlands, and forests—affect service delivery, budgets, and funding opportunities under the National Adaptation Strategy.

Participants will use their own community as a case study to map natural and built asset connections, assess ecosystem services, identify key risks, and develop strategies to protect these assets. By the end, they’ll have concrete skills to lower costs, reduce risks, and make a stronger case for funding and action.

Participant fees will apply  

AIM Network
November 19, 21 or 27, 2025In personClimate Resilient Operations & Maintenance Plan 

Participants in this workshop will be guided through the process of integrating climate resilience into municipal operations and maintenance and will be provided access to AIM Network’s O&M toolkit. 

As an outcome of this workshop, participants will be empowered to communicate to council, other staff members, and the public the benefits of incorporating climate resiliency into operations and maintenance planning.

Participant fees will apply 

AIM Network
January 12 to June 12, 2026HybridMunicipal Climate Adaptation Certificate 

The Municipal Climate Adaptation Certificate, offered by the University of Waterloo’s Climate Institute, is a forward-thinking initiative tailored for municipal staff and elected officials across Canada. Developed in collaboration with leading experts in climate adaptation, this new certificate is designed for municipal staff across a range of roles—from accounting and planning to governance, engineering, and community development. 

Through practical, expert-led courses, participants will gain essential skills and knowledge to strengthen climate resilience in their communities. Upon completion of each course, participants will be empowered to lead locally tailored and equity-informed solutions that address today’s climate challenges. 

Participant fees will apply 

University of Waterloo 

 

These events are offered through the Green Municipal Fund. Delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, GMF manages approximately $2.4B in programs funded by the Government of Canada. 

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Building climate-resilient infrastructure ensures your community remains safe, connected, and prepared for the impacts of climate change. From safeguarding buildings and energy grids to strengthening transportation networks, resilience is essential for extending infrastructure lifespans and protecting against extreme weather, rising sea levels and other risks.

This factsheet provides guidance to help Canadian municipalities protect their communities by addressing vulnerabilities, integrating equity-focused designs and preparing for a net-zero future. It guides you through assessing climate risks, incorporating resilience into your plans and securing funding to bring projects to life.

 

This resource offers insights to help you:

  • Build resilient infrastructure: Leverage data-driven planning, adaptable designs and nature-based solutions.
  • Understand why resilience matters: Lower costs, ensure service continuity and enhance community safety.
  • Conduct climate risk assessments: Identify risks, assess vulnerabilities and meet grant funding requirements.
  • Develop effective strategies: Address challenges like flooding, wildfires and permafrost impacts with practical solutions.

Use this factsheet to identify steps towards protecting your community from climate risks, lowering costs and ensuring your infrastructure is prepared for the future.

Download the factsheet and start building a safer, stronger and more resilient future today.

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Thank you to the sponsors and partners of FCM's Sustainable Communities Conference (SCC) 2025. 

AFMNB - Association francophone

The AFMNB unites 30 Francophone and bilingual municipalities, representing nearly 389,000 people, or half of New Brunswick’s population. It helps to promote strong local governance, essential for building innovative, prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable communities. Recognized as a full-fledged level of government, our municipalities play a pivotal role in the social, cultural, and economic development of the Acadian/Francophone community, while also contributing to its influence on national and international stages.

Link: www.afmnb.org

AFMNB logo

Carbonzero

AFMNB logo

Carbonzero is a Canadian leader in greenhouse gas (GHG) measurement, reduction, and carbon offsetting. For nearly 20 years, we’ve helped businesses, organizations, and governments prepare for the low-carbon economy by assessing, reporting, and reducing their emissions. Our services include professional consulting, GHG inventories, reduction strategies, and access to high-quality, third-party verified carbon offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). With a presence across Canada, Carbonzero is a trusted partner in driving meaningful climate action.

Link: www.carbonzero.ca

CSA Group

The mission of CSA Group’s Standards Development organization is to enhance the lives of Canadians through the advancement of standards in the public and private sectors. We are a leader in standards research, development, education, and advocacy.

Link: www.csagroup.org

AFMNB logo

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

AFMNB logo

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a sustainability leader through our work in standards, conservation, community, and education. As an independent, non-profit organization, we support our diverse network to help address local and global sustainability challenges through forest-focused collaboration.

Link: https://forests.org

Co-operators

Co-operators is driven by our purpose to provide financial security for Canadians and our communities. We’re working today to ensure this purpose is upheld for generations into the future, focused on collaborative and imaginative solutions that build sustainable, resilient communities.

Link : https://cooperators.ca/sustainability

AFMNB logo

Intact Public Entities

intact-public

Intact Public Entities has helped Canadian municipalities meet their complex insurance needs for over nine decades. We have the stability and history to support you with a sustainable and trusted insurance program.

Municipalities are at the heart of our business. We understand the importance of offering best-in-class products and services that make it easier for you to do business with us.

Link: http://www.intactpublicentities.ca

Intact Financial Corporation

Intact Financial Corporation is the largest provider of Property & Casualty insurance in Canada, a leading provider of global specialty insurance and a leader in commercial lines in the U.K. and Ireland. We exist to help people, businesses and society prosper in good times and be resilient in bad times. Our social impact and climate priorities sit alongside our financial goals and are embedded in the company’s strategic roadmap.

Link: https://www.intactfc.com/

Intact financial logo

Plug’n’Drive

Plug’n’Drive

Plug’n Drive is a not-for-profit organization accelerating EV adoption in Canada to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of an electrified transportation sector. Since 2011, we have made incredible strides in our mission through a variety of consumer education programs, including the launch of the world’s first Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre (EVDC) in Toronto, the Electric Vehicle Roadshow event series and the Mobile EV Education Trailer (MEET). Our corporate partnerships include EV auto and charger manufacturers, utilities, and others. For more information about Plug’n Drive’s programs, services, and events, visit plugndrive.ca.

EVs are for EVeryone Cross-Canada Tour Webpage: https://www.plugndrive.ca/evs-are-for-everyone/

NB Lung

NB Lung is your provincial lung health charity, dedicated to supporting individuals living with lung disease through direct patient support, respiratory equipment loans, and a variety of lung health patient services. We are proud of our history of serving New Brunswickers living with lung disease and advocating for improved respiratory care and environmental stewardship in the province since 1933.

Link : https://nblung.ca/

NB lung logo

Clean Foundation

Clean Foundation

Clean Foundation brings specialized teams together to work on complex problems, delivering many climateaction and capacity building projects and initiatives around Nova Scotia, PEI and the Atlantic region.

Link: https://cleanfoundation.ca/ 

Clean Foundation brings specialized teams together to work on complex problems, delivering many climate action and capacity building projects and initiatives around Nova Scotia, PEI and the Atlantic region. Learn more about us and the work we do: https://cleanfoundation.ca/ .

Habitat

Habitat is an environmental solutions company that helps organizations in all sectors to integrate nature at the heart of their strategic decisions. We specialize in biodiversity measurement, ecosystem services assessment and sustainable land management planning. Comprising a team of highly qualified professionals in biology, geography and forestry, Habitat offers innovative solutions to facilitate the application of the best available science.

Link: https://en.habitat-nature.com/.

 

Habitat

ClimateView

ClimateView logo

ClimateView is a Swedish technology company equipping governments worldwide with IPCC-based intelligence and tools to plan, finance, and monitor their green transition. Officials, consultancy experts, and elected leaders in 180 municipalities use the industry-leading ClimateView Platform to assess the impact of policies, and track progress with KPIs. Customers include Scotland, Germany’s Ruhr region, the cities of Bristol, Cincinnati and Munich.

Link: https://www.climateview.global/

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Ducks Unlimited Canada has over 85 years of experience conserving, restoring, and managing landscapes to benefit wildlife, water quality, and people. Talk with our team to learn more about how our programming and services can benefit your community!

Link: https://www.ducks.ca/

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Re.Climate

Re.Climate

Re.Climate is Canada’s centre for climate change communication and engagement at Carleton University. Our team has decades of experience conducting research, developing climate, energy, and sustainability campaigns, and training leaders in how to apply evidence-based best practices in outreach efforts.

Link: https://reclimate.ca/ 

ReliON

ReliON delivers the first comprehensive end-to-end Operation & Maintenance (O&M) platform for EV charging infrastructure, offering complete visibility and control over a network’s operational status and issue resolution to optimize uptime and reduce operational complexity. The platform integrates with the supply chain for streamlined field interventions and parts logistics, delivering a cohesive experience from problem detection to resolution.

Link: https://www.relioncharging.com/ 

ReliON logo

Trane Canada

Trane Canada logo

At Trane®, we partner with our clients to understand how energy effects their business, taking into consideration their assets, visions and goals. As a leading global provider of indoor comfort and energy solutions, Trane® offers solutions to unleash the hidden potential of a building.

Link: https://www.trane.com/commercial/north-america/canada/en.html 

The Porter O'Brien Agency Inc.

Porter O’Brien is an internationally recognized public affairs and management consulting firm based in Eastern Canada. We bring deep, cross-sector experience to a diverse set of clients. Our team of consultants deliver services in public relations, government affairs, market research, marketing, management consulting, and training.

Link: http://www.porterobrien.com/

The Porter O'Brien Agency Inc. logo

Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick

Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick

The Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB) is a bilingual association of 58 local governments of all sizes, representing over 80% of New Brunswick's population. Together, our members tackle local challenges and share solutions to make life better for their citizens.

Link: http://umnb.ca/

Wsp

As one of the largest professional services firms in the world, WSP exists to future-proof our cities and our environment. It provides strategic advisory, engineering, and design services to clients seeking sustainable solutions in the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water, and mining sectors. With close to 13,000 Canadian employees, and 73,900 trusted professionals worldwide, are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities it serves through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion.

Link: https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/hubs/climate-change-resilience-and-sustainability

Wsp logo

Greenland

Greenland logo

GREENLAND® Consulting Engineers specializes in civil, water resources, environmental and urban land engineering. Staff and associate offices are located in Ontario, Atlantic and Western Provinces to service Public Sector, Indigenous Peoples and Resource Industry clients. GREENLAND® has established collaborative partnerships with water and wastewater technology providers. These well-established market systems are now being integrated with GREENLAND® decision support tools and were recently showcased in multiple municipal projects involving FCM.

Link: https://www.grnland.com

By integrating nature-based solutions into your infrastructure, building or retrofit planning, you can not only build resilience to climate change but also help to sustain local biodiversity, improve air and water quality, and offer physical and mental health benefits. Within the development of green infrastructure, natural assets such as wetlands, forests, meadows, shorelines, lakes, ponds, and groundwater aquifers can be incorporated into municipal services such as stormwater management, flood control, and erosion control in order to promote resilience to climate change and achieve a net gain in biodiversity.

This factsheet will give you valuable information about why integrating nature-based solutions into municipal infrastructure projects is a great investment. Defining key terms such as biodiversity, natural assets, and green infrastructure, it will guide you through important considerations for integrating the benefits of nature into your projects.
 

FCM GMF Biodiversity PDF Cover

Read this factsheet

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2018 Results

Money Icon GMF

$100,000 in annual electricity cost savings 

icon energy

700,000 kWh in annual energy savings

Summary

The City of Markham, in Ontario, held a Battle of the Buildings competition inspired by Energy Star's National Building Competition and designed to empower and encourage facility staff and users to reduce electricity consumption through practical low- and no-cost operational and behavioral changes, while also boosting engagement and awareness around energy efficiency.

Background

The competition was initiated by the City of Markham’s Manager of Corporate Energy in response to the development of a Corporate Energy Management Plan in 2014 and has inspired other municipalities to do the same, such as the Regional ClimateWise Challenge in York Region.

This case study focuses on the last competition held in 2018. In 2019, Markham updated their Corporate Energy Management Plan and needed to re-align the competition with the new baseline. The competition was set to restart in 2020, however, external factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic, disrupted these plans and the competition has not yet restarted.  

From its inception to its final year in 2018, the competition demonstrated a commitment to sustainable practices and community involvement, emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

What the competition set out to achieve

The objective of the competition was to educate staff on how local facilities use energy and how to identify operational behavioral changes that could significantly impact energy consumption, cost savings and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

Approach

The competition ran for four years from 2015 to 2018. In 2015, the initial competition ran for three months, from January to March, and participation was limited to large community centres. From 2016 onward, the competition extended to six months (January to June) and participation was opened to both large and small community centres, as well as administrative facilities. Participants competed in separate categories based on facility type.

To encourage staff participation and make energy efficiency more engaging, prizes were awarded to winners of five categories based on overall energy reductions (Table 1). 

Table 1. 2018 Battle of the Buildings award categories

Award categories

Overall reduction (%)

Most energy-efficient building Lowest electricity intensity (kWh/square foot)
PlatinumBest energy reduction performer
GoldAt least 15%
SilverAt least 10%
BronzeAt least 5%

Some of the prizes included monthly pizza lunches and movie tickets. The big prize for winning the battle was $1,000 which could be used by the winning team toward energy conservation initiatives such as weather sealing and LED light installation. Overall, the budget for visuals, posters, food, certificates, movie tickets and prizes was about $10,000, excluding staff time.

Barriers and solutions

Markham’s energy staff encountered several challenges running the competition, including: 

  • setting accurate baselines
  • designing effective incentive structures
  • preparing clear informational materials
  • dedicating sufficient staff time and resources to manage the competition efficiently

Staff overcame challenges by creating an engaging communication plan, using easy-to-understand visuals and reporting results in relatable terms such as energy and cost savings. They collaborated with the communications department to produce materials such as posters, banners and newsletters while recognizing achievements through monthly celebrations.

Data analysis was conducted to track anomalies, and the competition was gradually scaled up with feedback-driven improvements. The City also engaged local post-secondary students and interns to assist with the launch of the competition.

Results in 2018

  • Annual electricity cost savings of $100,000.
  • Annual electricity savings of more than 700,000 kWh.
  • In total, the winning facility achieved a cumulative energy reduction of 24% over six months, while the second- and third-place facilities reduced their energy consumption by 15% and 12% respectively.
  • Overall, the average energy reduction from this effort across all participating facilities was 8%.
  • The winners of the 2018 categories can be found in Table 2. 

Table 2. 2018 Battle of the Buildings winners

Certificate / Award 

Overall reduction (%)

Winners

Platinum Best energy reduction performerCentennial Community Centre
Gold >15% energy reduction Centennial Community Centre
8100 Warden 
Silver >10% energy reduction Markham Village Arena
Crosby Arena
Clatworthy Arena 
Bronze >5% energy reduction Angus Glen Community Centre
Civic Centre
Pan Am Community Centre
Cornell Community Centre 
Most energy-efficient building Large multi-use Milliken Mills Community Centre 
Most energy-efficient building Small arena Markham Village Arena 
Most energy-efficient building Fitness and administrative 8100 Warden 

Benefits

The competition engaged and educated facility staff by encouraging them to review energy data and bills, exchange ideas and improve their awareness of energy use and management. It fostered the adoption of best practices, generated project ideas aimed at improving efficiency and triggered investigations into anomalies or re-commissioning projects. Additionally, it made the workplace more fun and collaborative.

Lessons learned

Lessons learned from the competition include:

  • The importance of extending the timeline to six months for better engagement and even considering expanding it to 12 months.  
  • The scope of the competition could be expanded to include thermal energy monitoring and reporting (i.e., natural gas, district energy).  
  • Installing real-time energy meters would support timely data analysis and quicker anomaly detection.  
  • Incorporating weather normalization into the process is recommended.  
  • Engaging local staff to read meters can provide immediate results.  
  • Running the competition is time-intensive and requires sufficient staffing capacity. Hiring interns and college students was essential to success.

Next steps

The City of Markham has no current plans to relaunch the competition, but remains interested in pursuing it in the future. Presently, the staff continues to advance corporate energy efficiency by analyzing more trends in real-time metering and building automation systems (BAS) and adding thermal (natural gas and district energy) tracking. The City aims to create a recommissioning program with predictable cycles between BAS retrofits and to align its baseline to its new five-year corporate energy management plan.

Related resources

Community Buildings Retrofit initiative

Higher performance is within reach—access funding and resources for community building upgrades

Read more

Factsheets: Community Buildings Retrofit initiative

How to retrofit existing community buildings to lower GHG emissions and extend their life cycle.

Read more

Guide: Taking your indoor ice rink to net zero

Learn how to develop an actionable roadmap to net zero ice rinks

Read more

Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.

Visit the projects database

 

Discover how standards can help your municipality tackle climate risks head-on. This one-hour webinar explored how the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Group National Flood Resilience standards and other tools could elevate your municipality's climate action.  

The webinar was delivered in English with French simultaneous interpretation (SI).

Watch the webinar recording to learn more about:  

  • What national standards and guides can strengthen your municipal climate adaptation plans
  • Practical steps for incorporating these standards into municipal bylaws and policies
  • Real-world examples of municipalities that have successfully used these standards to mitigate climate risks

Speakers:

  • Jeff Menard, Program Manager, CSA Group  
  • Bill Given, CAO, Jasper, AB, and former mayor of Grand Prairie, AB

This webinar is especially beneficial for municipal staff involved in climate planning, asset management and community resilience initiatives, particularly in communities with limited resources or in-house expertise. It will be most valuable for municipalities at the beginning stages of planning and developing a climate strategy. 

FCM’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada.

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The Climate-Ready Communities (CRC) Assessment Tool empowers local governments to evaluate and enhance their climate adaptation efforts. Through a structured self-assessment, the CRC assessment tool can help your municipality identify gaps and next steps and find effective ways to integrate adaptation into existing municipal processes. The pillars of the CRC Assessment Tool are interdependent. Each play an important role in supporting a community's pathway to becoming more resilient to climate impacts. On this webpage you will find three steps to get started on your journey: the assessment tool, tip sheets to read before you begin, and a guide and video to walk you through the process to complete.  
 

Step one: Download the Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool

Evaluate your climate adaptation progress and identify how you can boost resilience with the Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool.

Benefits: Helps municipalities evaluate their climate adaptation efforts, pinpoint areas for improvement, and create a clear plan for strengthening adaptation efforts.

What you will learn: Gain insights into your municipality's current resilience, identify key areas for growth, and develop actionable strategies to integrate climate adaptation into existing processes.

Who should use it: Designed for local governments of all sizes and locations across Canada.

Access the Tool
Please download the file and save it to your computer to ensure full functionality.


Things to know before you begin

Collaborative Process: This tool is meant to be used in collaboration with key municipal departments.

Time Commitment: The tool is designed to be thorough, and municipalities should expect to dedicate approximately one week to gather input, assess current resilience, and develop a roadmap for improvement.

Starting Point: If your municipality has not yet conducted a climate risk assessment, it is recommended to start there. The tool builds on this foundational work.

Step two: Discover key considerations in the tip sheets

 

 

Reconciliation & Inclusion

Find tips and examples for integrating Reconciliation, anti-racism, equity and inclusion into your climate adaptation activities.

Download the tip sheet

 
 
 

Asset Management

Find tips and examples of using your existing asset management practices to boost climate adaptation efforts.

Download the tip sheet

 
 
 

Small Municipalities

Find tips and examples to help small municipalities leverage their unique strengths to advance their climate adaptation goals.

Download the tip sheet

 
 
 


Step three: Explore the guide and video for section-by-section support

Complete your community’s assessment and get on-demand support in two ways: download and read the Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool User Guide or watch the video below.

 

Video contents

Below are the timestamps for the video and with key focus areas.

00:00Welcome and framing the why
1:10Equitable climate Adaptation: What It Really Means
2:35Understanding the CRC Assessment Tool: what it is, why it helps, and how it measures progress
5:33Inside the tool: core components
5:39Embedding Reconciliation & AREI principles
6:55What makes up the tool: a high-level overview
8:10Pillar and milestones
16:45Self-assessment, reflection and actions  
18:48Visualize your progress and chart the path forward
19:50Tool walkthrough: learn by doing
20:00Understanding the tool: key features and organization information
22:13Pillar 1 in action
29:43Pillar 2 in action
36:55Pillar 3 in action
39:42Snapshot and roadmap
41:12User guide: your companion for success
42:12Putting the tool into practice
42:18Effective facilitation: building your team, setting the tone, and leading with impact

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