1. www.brecanada.com
BRE Canada
Building a better world together

2. The challenge
The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2010 ranked
Canada’s ecological footprint as seventh largest per capita among the
130 nations measured, yet Canada accounts for less than 0.5 per cent
of the world’s population.
In Canada, 50 per cent of our natural resources are consumed by
our buildings. They account for 33 per cent of all energy used and
contribute to 25 per cent of our landfill waste1
.
The significant social and economic challenges we face as a society
coupled with the need to combat climate change, are driving step
changes in the way we develop and operate our built environment.
We need to improve the performance of our homes and buildings
while at the same time, creating an optimum environment in which to
work, live, learn and heal.
1
Green Building in North America: Opportunities and Challenges, Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental
Cooperation (CEC), 2008
In preparation for Earth Day on 22 April 2011, CBC News
compiled some statistics on energy use, carbon
emissions, water consumption and waste to assess
Canada’s impact on the environment.
Electricity consumption
–– According to World Bank figures, Canada used 530 billion kWh of electricity in
2007, making us the sixth-largest energy consumer on the planet.
–– Although countries like the U.S. and China were far ahead using 3,892 billion kWh
and 3,438 billion kWh respectively, they also have much larger populations.
–– Canada ranks fourth highest in terms of per capita consumption, coming in at
just under than 17,000 kWh for each person. This is partly due to home heating
demands and explains why Iceland, Denmark and Norway are ahead of us.
–– Canada earns some environmental points for generating its electricity from non-
emitting sources, particularly by exploiting our vast hydroelectric potential.
–– Only 18 per cent of our power comes from fossil fuels. By comparison, the US gets
half its power from emitting sources and China, around 80 per cent.
Greenhouse gas emissions
–– Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions increased 24 per cent between 1990-2008,
according to figures released by the Pembina Institute.
–– According to UN figures, we produced 557,340,000 tons of CO2
in 2007, which
accounts for 1.9 per cent of global emissions. This figure is high considering that
Canada accounts for less than 0.5 per cent of the world’s population.
–– Although the government reported a decrease of 2.1 per cent in 2008 (largely
due to the economic downturn and a shift away from coal) CO2
emissions are still
higher than they were in 1990, the baseline year from which emissions reduction
targets are calculated in the Kyoto Protocol.
–– The Canadian Index on Wellbeing states that we are far from achieving our Kyoto
goal of reducing emissions to 6 per cent below 1990 levels. Moreover, the report
says Canada’s Arctic has warmed by as much as 1.7°C over the last century.
Water
–– Though Canada is blessed with a large quantity of fresh water, most of it is far
from major population centers.
–– According to Environment Canada, more than 80 per cent of Canadians live in a
narrow southern band while nearly 75 per cent of our water flows to the Arctic Circle.
–– Over the last 30 years, the supply of water in southern Canada has decreased
by 8.5 per cent, according to data from the Canadian Index on Wellbeing. This
represents a loss of 3.5 cubic kilometers every year, equal to Canada’s total annual
residential water use.
–– In 2004, the average Canadian used 343 liters of water every day, second only behind
the US where residents used 382 liters a day, according to Environment Canada.
–– In 2004, Canada’s per capita water consumption was more than double that of
France and generally much higher than that of many European countries, such as
Italy where the average resident used 250 liters a day.
Waste
–– According to Statistics Canada, we produce 8.5 million tons of garbage every year,
although we’ve managed to reduce per capita municipal waste by 37 per cent
since 1992. We have also increased the amount of residential garbage that gets
recycled, from 18.1 per cent in 1992 to 26.8 per cent in 2006, according to the
same report.
–– The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the US leads
the industrialized world in municipal solid waste generation, with each person
in the US generating an average 4.5 pounds of waste per day. Canada and the
Netherlands come in second and third, with 3.75 and 3 pounds per person per
day, respectively.
–– Germany and Sweden generate the least amount of waste per capita for
industrialized nations, with just under 2 pounds per person per day.
If every individual in the world consumed as much
energy and produced as much waste as the average
Canadian, we would need four additional planets like
Earth to sustain the demand.
Canada’s environmental
report card

3. Our products and services are tailored to the requirements of the
Canadian construction industry and our consultancy is backed
by world class expertise in building technologies, environmental
assessment and best practice.
We deliver practical, affordable sustainability solutions for corporate
and government clients on all aspects of the built environment,
specifically in the areas of:
–– Corporate sustainability, planning and policy
–– Master planning for communities to maximize the potential
sustainability of a development
–– Designing fit-for-purpose, energy efficient buildings
– Evaluating and comparing materials and equipment for retail shop
set-up
– Advising on technologies and standards for assisted living and
remote monitoring
–– Construction standards
–– Resource efficiency
– Selecting products and materials to help reduce the environmental
impact of a building project
–– Property management
– Measuring, monitoring and decreasing operational waste
– Analyzing and improving a building’s performance socially,
environmentally and economically.
Our aim is to ‘build a better world together’ by delivering solutions
with people and the planet in mind. We believe change on a global
level is possible, and we’re committed to driving innovation in the built
environment while ensuring that development decisions are made with
the long-term future in mind.
We’re transparent in our decision-making and persistent in achieving
results. In short, we have a culture of simply ‘doing’. We work with
governments to drive change by influencing policy and standards, and
support industry in achieving innovation.
The BRE group of companies is wholly owned by the BRE Trust, a charitable
organization whose objectives are to advance knowledge through research
and education in all matters concerning the built environment.
BRE Canada’s profits go to the BRE Trust to fund research and innovation
in all matters concerning the built environment in Canada, through
partnerships with industry and academia.
About us Our history
BRE Canada is a new, independent, authoritative body
that aims to help set the standard for sustainability,
innovation and enterprise in the Canadian built
environment.
For over 90 years, the BRE Group has built its global
reputation on research and innovation in sustainable
development.
Building
Research
Station
Forest Products
Research Labs
Building Research
Establishment
BRE
BRE Trust
BRE
Canada
BRE Global
BRE Group
BRE Certification
1921 2006
Fire Research Station
Scottish Lab
Joint Fire Research Organisation
Loss Prevention
Certification BoardFire Offices’ Committee
1927 19461935 19971972 1999 2011
BRE

4. BRE Canada is
already working
in partnership and
collaboration with
these companies:
– IBI
– Sweeny, Sterling,
Finlayson Co
Architects
– The Innovolve
Group
– Light House
Sustainable
Building Centre
– Quantis
– Joel Courchesne
Architects
We help our clients develop a strategic approach to sustainability, encompassing business practices, processes and the entire supply chain. Our work supports the delivery of your overall vision in a way that is both sustainable to the environment and
the economic performance of your company, site or development.
The way we work with our clients
Understanding sustainability drivers
We work with you to fully understand and determine your sustainability aspirations for your company or construction project. We take care
to consider initiatives already underway and incorporate them in an organized framework. We can also benchmark your organization or
project against others within the industry.
What our clients are asking us ...
–– How are other organizations / project teams approaching sustainability issues?
–– What changes in construction, regulation and legislation do you foresee and how will it affect our company / project?
–– Can we develop an environmental performance standard for our building portfolio that takes into account variation in regulation, climate and culture?
–– Can we assess and benchmark the energy, water and waste performance of our existing building portfolio?
–– We want to be carbon neutral - should we invest in reduction or offsetting?
Moving forward
We undertake a gap analysis to check for any areas requiring further action, perhaps driven by legislation or business requirements. We
prioritize these according to their impact on the sustainable built environment and provide consultancy services to fill the gaps as necessary.
As part of this process, we may develop tailored sustainable construction guidance and specifications. We then work with your existing
supply chain to help create an exemplar building or development.
–– Can we screen our property portfolio and identify areas where we can reduce costs and enhance our environmental performance?
–– What targets should we set for waste in our company / construction project?
–– How can we refurbish a call centre in the most sustainable manner possible?
–– What does it cost to reach different levels of sustainability (e.g. BREEAM Excellent)?
–– Can you help us design a green data centre?
Integrating sustainability
We develop a program, suggesting practical solutions and setting clear, achievable goals to embed sustainability across your company or
construction project. We ensure our clients understand the business case behind sustainable initiatives. This can include helping to engage
staff and stakeholders, motivating sustainable behaviours and promoting best practice in energy consumption.
–– Can you provide non-technical design advice for our building managers / project team?
–– How do we design for effective operational waste management?
–– Do micro wind turbines work or are other renewables more appropriate for our company / construction project?
–– Can you provide technical guidance and training for our design teams?
–– Can you advise on procurement (e.g. what to ask for in the specification)?
–– Can you survey our staff to find out what they think of our buildings?
Evolving your sustainable project or business
We review progress against your cost saving or sustainability targets - are we on track or do we need to readdress specific areas? Other
services may include producing site waste management plans or undertaking cost benefit analysis exercises to help you monitor and manage
your performance. We also offer carbon reduction and offsetting strategies.
–– How can we communicate sustainability to our staff and stakeholders?
–– How do we integrate our supply chain and bring them on board with our values?
–– Is there a system to assess the environmental performance of our services and products?
–– How can we demonstrate the positive impact of our new sustainable strategies on our business / construction project?
... and we have the answers

5. Tenuta San Michele (TSM), Italy
Sector: International hospitality / leisure
The challenge: To build a luxury hotel and guest complex around solid sustainability principles. The resort
will set a new sustainability benchmark in the tourism sector, both within Italy and Europe.
The result: BRE’s Sustainable Communities Team are assisting TSM masterplanners in understanding and
integrating sustainability considerations into the masterplanning process.
BRE is acting as an independent facilitator, helping the design team to establish a GreenPrint sustainability
framework that is tailored to the individual attributes of the site and which will be used to assess the final
development.
The GreenPrint sets out clear sustainability objectives and benchmarks across eight key categories, covering a
range of social, economic and environmental issues. There are three tired benchmarks (Good, Very Good and
Excellent) that underpin each objective in the GreenPrint. Achieving a higher benchmark will lead to a better overall
GreenPrint rating which will impact on the delivery of a successful sustainable development.
Toyota Motor Europe (TME)
Sector: International motor / retail
The challenge: To devise an
environmental standard based on
BREEAM to apply to over 3,000 TME
retail units throughout Europe. TME
also required design guidance to assist
retailers, designers and contractors
in producing buildings that minimize
energy consumption, costs and carbon
emissions whilst maximizing potential
BREEAM credits available.
The result: BRE designed a tailored
environmental assessment method for
TME, encompassing eight key areas:
energy, water, waste and materials,
management, transport, pollution, land use
and ecology, and health and wellbeing. All
TME new builds and refurbishments are
now subject to this assessment, ensuring
that buildings are constructed and operated with minimum environmental impact.
BRE designed and developed the Toyota Sustainable Retailer website, a detailed yet easy to use sustainability
information system to support the standard. The website is aimed specifically at retailers and the design teams
responsible for delivering green dealerships. Users can access a filtering tool to find the information most relevant to
them, whether they are a manager or a construction professional.
In addition, BRE produced bespoke design guidance addressing the specific needs of car showrooms in a European
context. Each of the eight topics in the assessment are examined in detail and an explanation of the retail benefits
of certain design features is provided.
As part of the design guidance, BRE included a drawing of a notional sustainable retail centre where users can
interact with the illustration by clicking on links to relevant information and case study examples.
Further detailed guidance covers new-build projects, refurbishments and operational issues relating to existing
buildings. The aim is for retailers and design teams to have all the assistance they need to create BREEAM Excellent
buildings.
To date, over 120 retailers have joined TME’s Sustainable Retailer program and vendors across Europe are
encouraged to reduce their energy consumption. The program also involves Toyota retailers (independent SMEs) in
cooperative events with local non-profit organizations, enabling them to become environmental champions in their
own communities.
The Sustainable Retailer program has led to a 10 per cent average reduction in energy use at participating retailers.
The Olympic Building Programme, London 2012
Sector: International sports / leisure
The challenge: To create a sustainability
strategy for the Olympic Games and ensure
a legacy in continued use of its facilities and
assets.
The result: Since 2006, BRE CEO Dr. Peter
Bonfield has been on part-time secondment to
the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) where he
has helped create the sustainable development
strategy for the Olympics and support its delivery.
Acting as chief advisor to the ODA on
construction products, Peter has played a key
role in ensuring that the significant quantities of
materials required to construct the games are
sustainably procured, delivered and perform as
required.
For example, contractors were asked to put forward innovative solutions to minimize the environmental impact of
the concrete used to build the Olympic Park. The concrete being used is produced from recycled onsite materials
which not only reduces the carbon footprint of the development but also saves on costs. This highlights the
important role of sustainable innovation in driving forward business strategy in turbulent economic times.
Other key outcomes:
–– Rehabilitation of contaminated land, watercourses and derelict industrial buildings onsite
–– Improvements to wider transportation, recycling and waste management systems for community benefit.
–– BRE’s Green Guide to Specification has been used in the procurement of build materials.
–– BRE is testing some products and materials including the main stadium grandstand to ensure optimum
performance.
–– All of the main stadia on the Olympic park are to be designed to be BREEAM Excellent.
–– A balanced scorecard rating the sustainability of products and processes was used for all procurement.
–– For smaller items, a web based system was created using an internet dating model to match smaller suppliers
with client requirements.
–– The procurement process was audited, measuring progress and recording learning points to help identify and
overcome teething problems and share best practice.
–– Lessons learnt from the build program are being applied across the construction industry for maximum benefit.
Whitecross High School and Specialist Sports College, Hertfordshire, UK
Sector: Schools
The challenge: To build an exemplar energy efficient school that provides an optimum learning
environment for students.
The result: The main contractor used BRE’s Construction Lean Improvement Program (CLIP) to help meet a
demanding brief to develop a school that combines a low energy demand with a high quality teaching environment.
CLIP was used to aid communication within the team, reduce risk and facilitate an optimum outcome for the CLIP
was used to aid communication within the team, reduce risk and facilitate an optimum outcome for the project,
particularly in creating an airtight building envelope. The CLIP Work Sequencing Process highlighted issues that would
have otherwise only come to light once the team were onsite, thereby reducing potential problems and the need for
re-working.
As a result of using CLIP, the project team achieved a design saving of 25 per cent of the forecast energy
consumption over the lifetime of the building.
Case studies

6. EcoSpex
EcoSpex is a powerful, easy to use online database
which provides an effective B2B connection
between green product manufacturers and the
professionals looking to deliver the sustainable
buildings of tomorrow. It helps government,
architects and designers measure the environmental
impact of specific products and materials and
quickly produce the necessary documentation
to apply for green building rating schemes for
certification.
GreenPrint
The GreenPrint methodology assists design teams
in delivering masterplans that maximize the
sustainability potential of a development. It focuses
on issues that a developer can influence, taking
into account a site’s strengths and weaknesses as
well as local priorities, policies and targets. The
methodology can be applied to a wide range of
building projects from sustainable communities to
urban extensions and business parks.
Low Impact Shopfitting Tool (LIST)
LIST is a web-based tool which allows designers,
manufacturers and retailers to evaluate
and compare the environmental impacts of
shopfitting display materials and equipment
from the initial design stage. It assesses a wide
range of sustainability impacts and provides
overall environmental scores for shopfit display
components, packaging, transport, maintenance
and end of life.
Code Consultancy
Delivering or procuring sustainable homes and
buildings means keeping abreast of technological
advances and the best strategic options of delivering
low to zero carbon developments. Using objective
scientific research, BRE Canada can help you solve
the challenges of national building standards in the
most environmentally, economically and socially
sustainable manner possible.
Construction Standards
Building professionals look to select the best
products for their developments that meet specific
design and performance criteria. They also want
them to be ethically sourced with a minimal
environmental footprint. BRE Canada can help
you connect the dots between the different types
of standards and tools so you can make the best
holistic choices for your project.
CALIBRE
CALIBRE is a tool that monitors construction
productivity and site efficiency in real time. It
identifies who is carrying out work onsite, what
they are doing, where, when and for how long.
This information helps project managers to
objectively assess actual construction productivity
and performance to deliver shorter production
times, lower construction costs and reduced
environmental impacts.
Construction Lean Inprovement
Programme (CLIP)
CLIP was created in 2003 to support the UK
construction industry in its drive to improve financial
performance, provide a better product and service
to its customers, and cope with a skills shortage. It
enables companies to make real and measurable
improvements to quality, cost and delivery
performance while enhancing partnerships with
customers and suppliers.
BRE Health
BRE Canada helps private and public health
providers improve their building stock through the
implementation of new technologies, innovation
and best practice guidance. We can help you deliver
high performance buildings and assisted living
solutions that are flexible and adaptable to the
changing requirements of building occupants.
BRE Canada
Innovation Park
The original, groundbreaking BRE Innovation Park on our UK head
office site features some of the world’s most sustainable homes
and buildings and over 400 different construction innovations and
emerging technologies.
Since its launch in 2005, the park has hosted over 60,000 visitors
including the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron
and the Vice Premier of China, Li-Keqiang. It has received over
£10 million of industry investment, £15 million in research and
development, and over 20 awards and prizes including the
Edie Award for Environmental Excellence. It has also informed
government policy and construction standards.
Plans are underway to create a BRE Canada Innovation Park; a
project which will facilitate partnerships with other Canadian
organizations to innovate, test and showcase new construction
methods and materials to enhance and future proof the Canadian
built environment.
Part of an international network of innovation parks being
established by BRE in the UK, China, Brazil and the United States,
the BRE Canada Innovation Park will help provide an essential
bridge between countries to exchange knowledge and enable
collaborations.
Things you may not know
about BRE ...
–– BRE created BREEAM, the world’s first environmental scheme for buildings. Over
200,000 buildings are certified with BREEAM and over a million have been registered
for assessment since it was first launched in 1990.
–– BRE has been instrumental in creating the sustainable development strategy for the
2012 Olympics.
–– BRE has many unique testing facilities at its UK head office site including:
– A structures lab which can house a four storey building inside and can simulate
anything from a flood to an earthquake
– Two atmospheric wind tunnels in which natural wind can be simulated for
environments ranging from open countryside to city centers
– A burn hall which can accommodate a 9 meter-tall fire and other large-scale fire
testing facilities
– An anechoic chamber which absorbs all sound and leaves no echo, enabling
accurate sound power and intensity measurements
–– The 1985 Front Room Fire film made by BRE for the Fire and Rescue Service led to a
complete overhaul of the furniture industry and its approach to fire safety.
–– In 2007 the BRE Innovation Park launched the world’s first volume-build zero-carbon
house.
–– Prince Charles’ Prince’s Foundation for Building Community has built a house on the
BRE Innovation Park which adopts an alternative, natural approach to sustainable
house building.
–– BRE has conducted a series of tests for NASA to determine how fire would behave in a
zero gravity environment.
–– The Building Research Station (BRE’s former name) is referred to in Peter Wright’s
infamous ‘Spycatcher’ memoir. The book reveals that BRE developed a special quick-
drying plaster to enable spies to insert bugs into walls.
–– BRE’s SMARTWaste suite of tools has measured over 13 million tons of waste so far,
equivalent to 130,000 Blue Whales.
–– The S Plan is BRE’s sustainability strategy which outlines our aspirations to improve the
environmental performance of our business operations across eight key areas: CO2
emissions, resource efficiency, supply chain, transport links, community engagement,
ecology, water consumption and information systems.
Breaking new ground What makes us unique

7. BRE Canada
E info@brecanada.com
W www.brecanada.com
Toronto
T 416 599 4273
F 416 599 0273
Thornbury
T 519 599 6003
F 519 599 2776
BRE Trust
The BRE trust uses profits made by the BRE Group to fund
new research and education programmes that will help to
meet its goal of ‘building a better world together’.
The BRE Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales
No. 1092193 and Scotland No. SCO39320
Contact us