Sustainable Thinking at TDC
Over the past decade, Sustainable Thinking has become a way of life at Toronto-Dominion Centre, but what does the word "sustainable" really mean? In a broad sense it can be defined as balance, achieving an environment of equilibrium so that life can continue, even flourish.
Not taking out more than you put in. Applied to industry, in our case the business of property management, that important concept of balance can be used to measure a property’s responsibility to and impact on the health and balance of the greater community; in other words, the weight and quality of its overall footprint.
At TD Centre, Sustainable Thinking has lead to Sustainable Action, and through an exceptionally positive partnership with our many tenants, we’ve been able to achieve results unthinkable just a decade ago. Every management decision taken is first viewed from a sustainable or "green" perspective. Not only does a policy or practice have to be practical, responsible and cost effective, it must also be green.
The evaluation process we go through is thorough and consistent. Our five step process encourages sustainable excellence in all areas and ensures that we follow a best practices process in our decision making.
- Target – Set performance steps, targets.
- Measure – Measure a building’s performance.
- Benchmark - Compare building’s performance against industry benchmarks.
- Audit & Correct – Audit building systems (retro-commissioning). Resolve any issues.
- Prove – Document performance through third party certification.
As a result, in 2010 Toronto-Dominion Centre continues to lead the commercial property industry in creating and implementing innovative programs that not only achieve remarkable results in the areas of energy conservation, recycling, workplace health and tenant communication, but also meet and often exceed the high standards set by internationally recognized third party organizations.
Below are presented a number of key Cadillac Fairview and third party programs that are used to inspire action, set targets and measure accomplishments.
Cadillac Fairview Programs:
GREEN AT WORK™ – Cadillac Fairview’s company-wide green program with clear priorities and standards for action. Targets include a 15% reduction in energy consumption in each property by 2014, using 2008 as the base year. A comprehensive program comprised of five operating platforms to encourage a high level of sustainable thinking and action.
TDC Green Council – The Council’s mission is to act as “ the catalyst for change to sustainable green practices and green consciousness” at TD Centre. The Council, made up of tenant representatives, Cadillac Fairview and TDC management personnel and key consultants, operates as the decision making body for information sharing, responsible policy and forward thinking action.
Third Party Certifications and Sustainable Initiatives:
- LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Existing Buildings)- LEED-EB is a highly respected North American program that sets sustainable targets and monitors progress in the areas of energy efficiency, systems upgrades, recycling programs, whole building cleaning practices and general project maintenance. Rigorous certifiable standards, administered in Canada through the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC).
- BOMA BESt - BOMA’s national educational and certification program for existing commercial properties. A comprehensive program for measuring a building’s environmental performance and footprint. A thorough program of information, standards, audits and multi-level certifications.
- GREEN-Up – Developed by the CaGBC, this green program includes a variety of analytical tools for sustainable action and provides a road map for targets and success.
- Occupant Engagement Program (OEP) – The OEP program for sustainable practice is a proprietary tool and methodology for engaging occupants/tenants and inspiring green practices and action. Designed to empower tenants, the program works well with other third party programs already in use.
Sustainable Action Successes at TDC/Highlights:
- Since 1997, TD Centre has completed a range of energy efficiency measures that have resulted in a 27% reduction in overall energy use. Key projects include lighting retrofits, the installation of automatic lighting controls, variable speed drives and heat recovery through heat exchanges.
- The Enwave connection for TD Centre was operational in 2004, resulting in the replacement of 13,000 tons of chiller capacity, reducing electrical consumption by 90% over that used by chiller technology. The net benefit to the environment is an annual reduction in emissions of 23,000 tons.
- Water consumption has dropped by 15% annually; enough to fill 80 Olympic sized swimming pools. Much of the reduction has been due to Enwave Deep Water technology and a variety of conservation measures in place. In 2009, consumption dropped by 7.5% from 2008 levels.
- Indoor environmental quality has improved due to revised engineering specs for indoor air quality including the addition of clean supply ducts after renovation.
- Green janitorial practices are in place throughout TD Centre, utilizing people-friendly cleaning products and methods.
- All parking garage levels are monitored for carbon dioxide levels for user safety and health.
- LEED® Gold EB: O&M – With 77 King Street West the first major Toronto office tower to be certified LEED® Gold EB: O&M and the TD Waterhouse Tower certified in July, 2011, Toronto-Dominion Centre is well on its way to becoming LEED certified in each of its towers by July 2013.
- Based on best practices standards from the CaGBC’s Green-Up program, TD Centre is pursuing a program of intelligent infrastructure renewal, which includes comprehensive building automation systems: automated lighting control; individual occupant dial-in system for HVAC and lighting; right sizing of major building systems and equipment to more efficiently match tenant and property loads.
- A program of sub-metering building utility loads is underway, with realtime monitoring capabilities to help building operations improve consumption efficiencies.
- TD Centre is partnering with equipment manufacturers to develop industry leading training programs for building operations staff, involving the innovative concept of "expert knowledge transfer".
- BOMA BESt - Achieved Level 3 Certification for TD Bank Tower, 77 King Street West, 100 Wellington Street West, TD Waterhouse Tower and Ernst & Young Tower by meeting all of the program's best practices in environmental management, including reducing energy and waste consumption, improving environmental protection, encouraging sustainable procurement and building tenant awareness.
- Race to Reduce - Action and Innovation Award recognizes participants who demonstrated leadership and superior commitment to energy reduction or efficiency through their actions and/or innovative excellence. TD was recognized with this award in the Building Team category for their Occupant Engagement ProgramTM. According to the judges, “The program demonstrates a strategic approach to occupant engagement that focuses on driving a cultural change within the building community that will have a long term, continued impact. In tackling human behavior – one of the biggest barriers to energy reduction – the TD Centre management team and their tenants realized energy savings of 2.4 million kilowatt hours during its 2011 Energy Campaign”.
- Race to Reduce - Building Participation recognized TD Centre and its tenants for publicly committing to working together to reduce energy use in their buildings by at least 10 per cent over four years.