Vancouver accepts honor and forges ahead with sustainable building

Green sustainability awards“Over 60% of carbon emissions in Vancouver are associated with buildings and homes,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council.

As a company actively reducing carbon footprints in government edifices, hotels, and universities throughout Canada, The Refinishing Touch is always keen to review the winners of the World Green Building Council Government Leadership Awards and this year, we were happy to see Vancouver take home the top honor for Best Green Building Policy – a huge step in the right direction to lowering that 60%.

Vancouver’s ‘Greenest City 2020 Action Plan’ – the plan behind the win – aims for carbon neutrality and a reduction of 20% in greenhouse gas emissions within existing buildings by 2020. To do this, buildings city-wide will have to actively seek all options when embarking on renovations.

Services such as furniture asset management eliminate harmful and unnecessary landfill waste by restoring existing assets to like-new condition, bypassing the need to buy new, and The Refinishing Touch’s low-VOC lacquers and eco-friendly materials reduce carbon footprints by as much as 80%. By repurposing materials that have already been purchased, organizations discover that refinishing is an unlikely way to preserve the environment (and save costs).

As Jordan Yerman of the Vancouver Observer put it, “We aren’t Toronto-big, but we’re Toronto important”. This is true in a variety of ways. When it comes to green living, no effort, city or reduction is too small.

Are you a Canada-based hotelier, government facilities manager or university housing officer looking to improve sustainability? Visit our website to learn more about The Refinishing Touch and request a free quote today.

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