Alberta builders help develop tools to cut building emissions

Key Takeaways:

• The City of Calgary, City of Edmonton and Alberta Ecotrust have partnered to create the Emissions-Neutral Buildings Information Exchange (ENBIX).
• Over the next four years ENBIX will be developing a variety of platforms to enable the local building industry to share knowledge and build capacity for low-carbon building and renovation practices across Alberta. 
• Research shows buildings responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions.

The Whole Story:

The City of Calgary, City of Edmonton and Alberta Ecotrust are joining forces to reduce building emissions in the province. 

Professionals in the building, construction and renovation industries now have a resource with the Emissions-Neutral Buildings Information Exchange (ENBIX) to support collaboration in the industry. 

“We are creating momentum for action with ENBIX that will build over the next several years and beyond,” says Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “Building capacity for emissions neutral construction across the whole development ecosystem – from construction to manufacturing, supply, training, operating and more – is critical in getting us to net-zero buildings by 2050.” 

Over the next four years ENBIX will be developing a variety of platforms to enable the local building industry to share knowledge and build capacity for low-carbon building and renovation practices across Alberta. 

In early 2024, the Calgary Community of Practice will launch, providing a forum for Calgary-specific collaboration, while still learning from experiences across Alberta. With funding now committed to the program, ENBIX plans to continue expanding the ways in which it shares market research, industry experience and training, including webinars, site visits, communities of practice, technology demonstrations, training sessions and more. 

“Collaboration initiatives like ENBIX will help us go faster towards net zero, together,” said Claire Beckstead, Leader of Community Energy at the City of Calgary. “With building code standards moving rapidly toward net-zero standards, the industry needs support to get ahead of new regulations. And in Calgary, reducing the GHG emissions from buildings means we are making progress toward our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” 

The City of Edmonton and The City of Calgary are the main funders of ENBIX, with a contribution of $1.7 million and $1.4 million respectively. Alberta Ecotrust is providing a $600,000 contribution from the organizations’ Climate Innovation Fund.  

Data shows commercial and residential buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions across Canada. In Calgary, buildings account for about two-thirds of its total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. City officials stated that the greatest opportunity to see immediate greenhouse gas reductions is in retrofitting existing buildings, and developing new buildings to net-zero standards. 

“We have heard from industry leaders the need to build better for commercial and environmental reasons, and to prepare for the adoption of higher tiers of building code in Alberta,” said Andrea Linsky,  director, Emissions-Neutral Buildings, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation. “ENBIX is here to work with industry to advance more affordable emissions-neutral buildings, by sharing information, fostering innovation and strengthening collaboration.” 

As founding partners, the Calgary Construction Association and Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association (SSRIA) have been significantly involved in developing the Exchange. These founding partners will continue to advise the startup and initial operations as leaders in the industry and will participate in the Exchange’s Executive Advisory Committee.