Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Buildings Show is underway at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) through today, and organizers say sustainability has become one of the event’s defining priorities as the building industry pushes toward lower-carbon practices.
Parent company Informa and The Buildings Show team say they are working to reduce the environmental footprint of Canada’s largest annual construction, design and property management event, while using the platform to encourage broader industry change.
The event is powered by renewable electricity and tracks all energy use and waste. Organizers have eliminated printed show guides, removed aisle carpeting and scaled back on materials and giveaways. Lighting and HVAC systems are reduced during move-in and move-out, and renewable energy is purchased to offset event-related emissions.
Exhibitors are encouraged to donate unused materials to Habitat for Humanity, diverting waste from landfill.
This year’s sustainability program highlights three goals: improving diversity and inclusion across the speaker lineup; supporting community partners, including Habitat for Humanity; and increasing visibility for emerging local and national start-ups in the built-environment sector.
The MTCC South Building, which holds LEED Gold certification, is also central to the show’s environmental strategy. The venue diverts 90 per cent of waste from landfill, donates food and materials to community programs, and operates rooftop beehives and a chef’s garden. The facility is cooled using Enwave Energy’s Deep Lake Water Cooling system, reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and electricity use.
Traffic and emissions around the site are managed through the Voyage Control scheduling system, aimed at reducing vehicle idling during set-up and tear-down.
Organizers say they will continue refining sustainability targets as the industry transitions toward net-zero construction and operations.
