Ontario Construction News staff writer
Dream will be retrofitting 19 buildings across Ontario and Saskatchewan to net zero standards with $136 million in financing from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB).
The ambitious decarbonization initiative underscores the critical role real estate companies play in developing creative solutions that meaningfully and effectively tackle the climate crisis, according to Dream officials.
“We are proud to support Dream’s net zero program across its portfolio. Our significant investment demonstrates a long-term commitment to expedite large-scale retrofits,” said the CIB’s CEO Ehren Cory.
“By working with leaders in the Canadian real estate sector, we support economic growth while making our communities greener and more sustainable.”
The program’s launch was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on-site at Dream’s 36 Toronto St. building which is one of the 19 buildings being retrofitted to reduce carbon emissions by over 40 per cent in the next 36 months and to net zero by 2035.
Creating approximately 1,500 jobs in the process, Dream has begun upgrading each buildings’ various systems – including boilers, heat pumps and cooling systems – to energy efficient systems and low-carbon heating sources.
The buildings range from boutique historical buildings to downtown high-rises, with the oldest building dating back to 1908. Eighteen are in Toronto:
- 80 Richmond St.,
- 56 and 67 Temperance St. W.,
- 350, 366, and 655 Bay St.,
- 74 Victoria St.,
- 20 and 36 Toronto St.,
- 6 Adelaide St. E.,
- 425 Bloor St. E.,
- 438 University Ave.,
- 2206 Eglinton Ave. E.,
- 10 Lower Spadina Ave.,
- 349 Carlaw Ave.,
- The Residences at Weston Common,
- 50 and 90 Sussex Centre in Mississauga, and
- Princeton Tower in Saskatoon.
“Dream is tackling the climate crisis with a multi-faceted approach across our entire portfolio,” said Michael Cooper, chief responsible officer for Dream Unlimited. “This includes collaborating with Government partners to bring innovative net zero communities – Quayside and LeBreton Flats – to Canada.”