25.3 ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUILDINGS
Whereas #1 buildings account for 18% of Canada’s emissions and is the third largest emitting sector after the oil and gas sector and the transportation sector, with most of the emissions coming from the use of equipment that runs on fossil fuels and the rest of the emissions from the construction materials used; and
Whereas #2 the Canada Green Buildings Strategy is intended to achieve a 37 percent cut below 2005 levels in direct building emissions by the end of 2030, reaching net-zero in 2050, but the strategy contains neither mandatory performance standards nor public investments needed to achieve net-zero emissions; and
Whereas #3 the Clean Electricity Regulations allow for natural gas plants to provide energy during peak demand periods instead of relying on methods of reducing demand; and
Whereas #4 more than 96 per cent of buildings’ emissions come from space and water heating powered by fossil fuels but there is no policy to address natural gas in new buildings; and
Whereas #5 installing heat pumps instead of air conditioners and fossil fuel heating in new homes, and using environmentally friendly building materials such as recycled steel, reclaimed wood, bamboo, cellulose insulation, industrial hemp and solar panels will reduce carbon emissions and reduce electricity use; therefore be it
Resolved #1 that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that buildings be environmentally friendly; and be it further
Resolved #2 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to ensure that buildings are environmentally friendly where feasible by:
a) including mandatory performance standards and public investments needed to achieve net-zero emissions in the Canada Green Buildings Strategy
b) during peak demand periods of electricity, relying on methods of reducing demand instead of using natural gas
c) reducing fossil fuel use for space and water heating in new buildings
d) promoting the installation of heat pumps and the use of environmentally friendly building materials in new buildings.