Hi, it’s Richard here. I talk a lot about sustainability when discussing West 5, but what does that really mean? To break it down to its nucleus, it involves meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. From our Net Zero head office, to the solar energy running throughout our community, West 5 is going to be a sustainability leader here in Canada; however, there are other sustainability leaders elsewhere in the world striving to reduce their carbon footprints as well. I thought it might be interesting to share some of them with you, and discuss the impact they’re having on their residents – and more broadly – our planet.
The first example I’ll share with you is in Oslo, Norway. Norway really leads the way with pioneering practices such as: intelligent lighting that adjusts intensity depending on traffic conditions and weather, and using bio-methane from waste to power mass transit and heating. Norway as a whole plans to be carbon neutral by 2050; however, at that rate they’ll be second place.
Copenhagen, Denmark (the third most sustainable city, according to ARCADIS), has a goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2025. Copenhagen, which boasts over 217 miles of dedicated bike lanes, leads the world in wind production. In fact, roughly 23% of the country’s energy needs are powered by wind. Other cities, such as Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Seoul are using a multitude of different green initiatives to help conserve energy and resources, and make the air cleaner for their residents.
Here at West 5, we’re using cutting edge green-technology and developmental practices to build a connected, walkable, green community that is going to address issues such as: energy consumption, air pollution, etc. I’m proud that we’re amongst a growing group of global ambassadors that are helping to preserve our environment and resources for future generations.
