LATEST NEWS
October 10, 2007
Green Building
Demand for LEED buildings outstrips supply of builders, cautions Canadian Construction Association
GATINEAU
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has advised municipalities to ensure there is a sufficient pool of available contractors conversant with green building techniques before mandating that bidders be LEED-qualified.
“Because the demand for LEED (certification) has grown so quickly, there have been questions raised as to whether there are a sufficient number of builders in a given area who have received LEED training or who are considered LEED certified,” CCA president Michael Atkinson said in a letter.
“The Canada Green Building Council and CCA are partnering to offer LEED courses throughout Canada. However, despite a growing number of course offerings, the fact is that demand continues to outpace supply of LEED-qualified builders.
“As a result, it can be difficult for builders to properly compete on municipal projects which are mandated to be LEED certified.”
Atkinson raised the issue in a letter to Brock Carlton, chief executive officer of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. A copy was distributed at a meeting of the CCA’s environment committee.
The association has not received a reply, said secretary Jeff Morrison.
In his letter, Atkinson recommended that municipalities check with local or provincial construction associations to determine whether there are in fact enough qualified builders “to ensure a competitive bidding process.
“This is a message we are hoping FCM can communicate to its individual members.”
FCM represents the interests of municipalities across the country. Its 1,600 members include Canada’s largest cities, small urban and rural communities and 18 municipal associations. At the meeting, environment committee members also were updated on steps being taken to implement a memorandum of understanding signed in June with the Canada Green Building Council.
In a report, Morrison said the CCA’s Gold Seal committee has officially certified both the full and half-day LEED for construction courses.
| MOST POPULAR STORIES |
| TODAY’S TOP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS |
These projects have been selected from 315 projects with a total value of $1,397,361,898 that Reed Construction Data Building Reports reported on yesterday.
$160,000,000 Toronto ON Negotiated
CONDOMINIUM APARTMENT BLDG, RETAIL
$90,000,000 Etobicoke ON Negotiated
$48,000,000 Cramahe Twp ON Tenders
| CURRENT STORIES |
- Decision to delay Darlington nuclear power plant carries job cost
- Boutique building takes shape in Toronto
- Algonquin College’s new Ottawa facility will have trades working together
- Project phasing keeps Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario industry near full employment
- Solaris @ Metrogate Phases I and II shaping up in Toronto
- Stantec to rehabilitate major Boston sewer tunnel
- U.S. non-residential construction rises as general industry spending drops
- Developers order Vancouver 2010 Olympic village review
- Romanian Bishop calls office building ‘hideous’ and ‘illegal’
- U.S. manufacturing in ‘slow recovery’ mode
- PTI Group lands field accommodation job for 2010 Vancouver Olympics
- Malaysia bans high-rises on resort island
- Deere’s salaried workers in U.S. line up for buyout program
- Union highlights deficiencies in construction of Vancouver 2010 Olympic village
- Engineers advocate Qualifications Based Selection for public construction projects
- Construction restarts at stalled oilsands project in Fort McMurray, Alberta
- Competition produces new visions of seniors’ housing
- Worker fatally crushed in Edmonton
- Wolfe Island, Ontario wind farm in operation
| ALEX’S ECONOMICS BLOG |

Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Alex Carrick discusses current developments in the North American economic environment with emphasis on the construction industry.
| PROJECT NEWS BRIEFS |
Updates on Canadian construction projects from Reed Construction Data’s research team. More 
- Orillia Market Square aims for LEED Silver certification (Jun 25, 2009)
- Designs for new York Region District School Board building features energy efficiency (Jun 23, 2009)
- Vancouver Convention Centre expansion sets new standards for environmental design (May 22, 2009)
- Waterloo partnership seeks LEED Silver for West Side Family YMCA and District Library (May 22, 2009)
- IPC Energy considers Milford location for future wind farm (May 22, 2009)

