Introduction to green building principles

What is a green building?

A green building is the outcome of sustainable construction, an environmentally responsible approach that aims to design buildings that are healthier, more respectful of the environment and focused on occupant wellness. The concept is underpinned by a straightforward premise: traditional construction methods have a severe impact on the planet.

As the third-most-polluting sector worldwide, the construction industry exerts significant pressure in Canada: it is responsible for 50% of natural resources extraction and 33% of energy consumption while producing 25% of the country’s waste and generating 35% of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In the face of these alarming statistics, the industry must transform its practices to safeguard the future.

Benefits of green building

The benefits of sustainable building are by now widely acknowledged, and are garnering increasing support from construction industry leaders. The results speak for themselves: improved occupant wellness, higher workforce retention, lower energy costs, and reduced carbon footprint.

This progress hasn’t always been simple. However, and as Patrick Côté explains, the construction industry has come a long way: “When MONTONI developed Canada’s first LEED Gold–certified commercial building back in 2005, the conversation about environmental protection was still confined to negative comments on codes, constraints, and regulations that were considered obstacles to real estate projects.”

Today, green buildings have become synonymous with wellness, profitability and environmental responsibility.

Let’s look at the benefits of green construction.

1. Small carbon footprint

Reducing the carbon footprint of projects is a core principle of sustainable construction. Choosing local, recycled or less energy-intensive materials can considerably reduce GHG emissions and natural resource extraction.

Green buildings also require less energy and water to operate, thanks to reliance on energy-efficiency and resource-management technologies.

Image: Optimizing water resources for the Écoparc Saint-Bruno industrial project

With this proactive approach, every project, no matter the type, can make a positive environmental contribution.

2. Better quality of life for occupants

Occupants are direct beneficiaries of sustainable construction. Green building designs emphasize healthy, comfortable and light-filled spaces, delivering immediate improvements to well-being and quality of life in the workplace.

Data collected by LEED confirm the direct impact of green buildings on teams’ engagement and productivity:

• 11% increase in employee productivity attributable to improved indoor air quality.

• 23% improvement in productivity thanks to good lighting, abundant natural light and views of the outdoors.

• 25% improvement in employee memory attributable to better views of the outdoors.

Providing a work environment focused on employee wellness is a strategic choice for employers that promotes not only team satisfaction and performance, but also company loyalty. These factors contribute directly to improved talent retention.

Image: Daycare service available for occupants of CCM offices.

3. Lower costs over the long term

Although a green building requires a bigger initial investment, it delivers substantial long-term savings through reduced energy and water consumption, sustainable materials that need little maintenance, and higher resale value.

Reduced operating costs

“It’s a straightforward strategy: invest in sustainable choices right from the start to maximize savings over the long term,” explains Mr. Côté, who notes that tenants of MONTONI’s sustainably constructed buildings see average energy costs that are up to 35% lower.

Fewer repairs and maintenance

Using sustainable materials also means less frequent maintenance. The LED lighting in MONTONI buildings, although it costs more to purchase, lasts twice as long as fluorescent lighting, and the heat pumps used have a longer lifespan than traditional rooftop heating units.

These are relatively small aspects that make a huge difference to long-term operating costs. 

4. Future-proof compliance

Sustainable construction produces buildings today that are ready for the regulations of tomorrow. By incorporating environmentally responsible practices and materials, these developments already meet stringent energy efficiency, resource management and emissions reduction standards that will gradually become mandatory.

In other words, green buildings are shielded from future costs of retrofitting to achieve compliance and align with constantly evolving environmental legislation.

5. Higher market value for buildings

Lastly, sustainable construction enhances a building’s market value as well as the image of the businesses occupying it. Their low energy consumption, reduced maintenance costs and compliance with environmental standards makes it an attractive choice for buyers, tenants, investors and employees. That added value is a boost to competitiveness, long-term profitability and reputation.

The challenges of sustainable building construction

Sustainable construction poses unique challenges, and understanding them is essential to the success of every project. Mr. Côté says adopting a long-term vision enables the company to overcome those obstacles and turn constraints into genuine strategic opportunities.

Higher initial cost

One of the main challenges of green building is the fact that the initial costs are higher than with traditional construction. Higher-quality materials, environmentally responsible technologies and energy-efficient systems mean extra expenses.

Those upfront investments soon pay off, however, because they help reduce the longer-term costs of operating the building. As Mr. Côté explains, with a sustainable building approach, it’s not enough to consider cost per square foot alone. MONTONI prioritizes a long-term approach to operating costs, thereby balancing sustainability and profitability.

Some certifications are complex

The complexity of some certification schemes is a key challenge for green builders. To be awarded sustainability distinctions like LEED or Zero-Carbon Building (ZCB), projects must satisfy a series of stringent requirements and go through rigorous audit processes.

That means investments in time, resources, and technical expertise to meet the established criteria, but these certifications deliver important added value to projects.

Image : Écoparc Chateauguay 30 aims for LEED Gold certification.

Planning sustainable construction

Planning the construction of a green building involves mapping out a custom strategy, adapted to the specific features of the building, the site constraints and the targeted sustainability goals.

Image : Stéphane Brügger, Lumenpulse has achieved LEED Silver certification.

Custom choices

Patrick Côté describes planning for a sustainable building as an “à la carte selection strategy,” in which each lever is carefully selected to address the targeted sustainability goals and the specific features of the site.

MONTONI’s vision of sustainability

Montoni Group has committed to making ESG criteria a permanent strategic reflex. For nearly 30 years, our real estate projects have been designed with sustainability in mind, by and for the communities we serve. We target the most prestigious green-building certifications in the construction industry.

We have completed more than 5 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings and 300,000 square feet of Zero-Carbon Building (ZCB) spaces, and our projects under way are targeting LEED and ZCB certification for close to 11.2 million square feet.

Our ambition is clear: to build a real estate heritage that will be a source of pride for future generations.