LEED Certified Commercial Buildings More Popular

Canada is experiencing a surge of interest in LEED certified commercial buildings. In Toronto, will undergo renovations that will help apply for LEED status, and thus it will eventually help get those commercial buildings rented out again.

According to Avison Young, most tenants are looking to reduce costs, and the focus is on retro fitting older buildings to make them more energy efficient. Vacancy's in green buildings don't stay vacant long, as the tenant is happy to be saving money, and the owner is happy to be making money again.

There is a partnership between B.C. Hydro, the Ministry of Energy and BOMA to make 17,000 commercial buildings more energy efficient. The B.C. Government wants to see a reduction by 1/3 greenhouse gasses by 2020. Presently, commercial buildings make up about 5% of B.C.'s emissions, and the goal is to reduce energy demand by 9% per square meter of commercial space.