Ottawa Construction News staff writer
An expert panel will discuss the “Economics of Sustainability” at the annual Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) Ottawa Chapter’s Connections Cafe on March 11.
The evening, including dinner and networking at Algonquin College, will explore the opportunities and challenges of sustainable construction, and provide the audience with an update on the trends as they relate to sustainability’s three pillars – “economics, society and the environment,” says event organizer Sonia Zouari, CSC Ottawa’s vice-chair.
“We’ll explore how new development projects in the Ottawa area are meeting the present needs without compromising the future” and will explore “how creative energy solutions and innovative technology are contributing to a sustainable future,” she said.
Panelists include:
- Passive House pioneer Malcolm Isaacs. He will be analyzing passive house costs versus benefits;
- Adam Cronk, president of Green Giant Design+Build. He will present the benefits of increased build efficiency, shorter site exposure time, quantifiable performance of envelopes as engineered systems and why much higher levels of employee training and retention are vital to these goals;
- Architect Anthony Leaning. He will demonstrate how the social dimensions of design can assist sustainability through higher productivity, creativity, lower carbon lifestyle, and reducing social support costs in affordable housing;
- Economist and financier Rob Conboy. He will present financing strategies and available incentives for sustainable projects; and
- Jonathan Westeinde, CEO and co-founder of Windmill Development Group. He will be presenting Windmill’s sustainable projects in the pipeline.
The moderator will be award-winning engineer Jeanette Southwood, global sustainable cities leader and urban development and infrastructure leader at Golder Associates Ltd. She leads the Canadian Urban Development & Infrastructure (UD&I) Sector and the Global Sustainable Cities teams at Golder Associates
Southwood is a Fellow of Engineers Canada, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and a recipient of the Province of Ontario “Leading Women Building Communities Award”. She is also a lecturer at the University of Toronto, and was honoured as one of Canada’s Clean50 for 2014.
Sponsorships and tickets are available at through www.ottawa.csc-dcc.ca or the ticket registration site at http://goo.gl/tsGjQI.
