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.