‘Green Standard’ sets sustainable design and performance requirements
Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Toronto describes its green building standard as “sustainable design and performance requirements for new private and city-owned developments”. The Standard consists of tiers of performance with Tier 1 being mandatory and applied through the planning approval process.
Version 4 came into effect May 1, 2022 for new planning applications and in 2023, city council approved a recommendation that development “will be in accordance with the performance standards of the Toronto Green Standard applicable at the time of a complete site plan application.”
The Toronto Green Standard is Toronto’s sustainable design requirements for new private and City-owned developments. The Standard consists of tiers of performance measures with supporting guidelines that promote sustainable site and building design. Tier 1 of the Toronto Green Standard is required through the planning approval process. Tiers 2 to 4 are higher level voluntary standards associated with financial incentives and verified post construction. The Standard addresses the City of Toronto’s environmental priorities to:
- Improve air quality and reduce the urban heat island effect
- Reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings while making buildings more resilient to power disruptions, and encourage the use of renewable and district energy
- Reduce storm water runoff and potable water consumption while improving the quality of storm water draining to Lake Ontario
- Protect and enhance ecological functions, integrate landscapes and habitats and decrease building-related bird collisions and mortalities
- Divert household and construction waste from going to landfill sites.
The Toronto Green Standard implements the environmental policies of the City of Toronto Official Plan and the requirements of multiple City divisions through the community planning and development approvals process administered by the City Planning Division.
Toronto Green Standard History
- 2006 The Toronto Green Standard was first introduced as a voluntary standard for new development.
- 2010 The Standard was structured into two tiers or levels of performance with Tier 1 mandatory and Tier 2 voluntary stretch targets with financial incentives.
- 2014 Version 2 update of the Toronto Green Standard came into effect.
- 2018 Version 3 update came into effect for all new planning applications submitted on or after May 1st, including Tier 1 to Tier 4 tiers of performance, including buildings energy and greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets to 2030.
- 2022 Version 4 update came into effect for all new planning applications submitted on or after May 1st, including three performance tiers that accelerate action on climate change.
Projects that demonstrate Tier 2 levels of performance or above may be eligible for refund on development charges paid to the city. This financial incentive is awarded to third party certified projects that reduce pressure on city services and infrastructure through resource efficiencies.
