Energy-sharing among West 5 buildings makes net-zero goal possible
West 5, the Sifton Properties residential and commercial development in London’s west end, has taken a big step toward becoming a community that will generate as much energy as it uses.
Hello Helio and 1305 Riverbend
Hot on the heels of opening Ontario’s first net zero energy commercial building – the Sifton Centre – and phase one of our net zero townhomes (now 77% leased), we’re breaking ground on two exciting new additions to our sustainable community: 1305 Riverbend, a 40,000 square office/retail building, and “Helio”, a 10 storey, 115-unit apartment building with ground floor retail space.
Making the Holidays a Little Greener
At West 5 we strive to reduce, reuse and recycle. But, even those of us who are careful can get caught up in the excitement of the season. We challenged our team to come up with some fun ways to save on waste, here are just a few the ideas to make holiday gift giving a little bit ‘greener.’
Back to School
Though it’s been some time since I returned to school I always get a little rush of excitement as September approaches and we prepare to leave the lazy days of summer behind. Looking back, I can vividly remember the anticipation of the first day.
Throwback to Oakridge Acres
It’s been over a month since we moved into our new home in the Sifton Centre. The drive west down Oxford always hits me with a wave of nostalgia when I get to Oakridge Acres, Canada’s First Planned Community and one of my dad’s proudest achievements.
The design of this community was well before my time, in the fifties. My dad had just incorporated Sifton and the economy was in an upswing. Families were getting bigger and needed homes and communities built to last.
Mindful Munching
Sometimes, the way forward is the way back. Our grandparents may not have known it at the time, but the fact that they had no other choice but to grow up eating locally grown food probably did wonders for their health, the local economy and the environment.
Nature 365
I can’t even begin to express how lucky I am to have spent my childhood in Southwestern Ontario. I got to play in four vividly distinct seasons. In the winter, my mom would bundle me up tightly in layer after layer before letting me run outside to build snow forts with my friends. I remember pausing before crawling in to my newly made fort for the first time, just to admire it from behind my frosty breath lingering in the crisp winter air.
A New Direction
With its use of solar power and new technologies, Sifton Properties’ West 5 project is being described as one of the most advanced in the world.
Green for the Win
Growing up, if we wanted to go somewhere, we’d have to walk or ride our bikes. My friends and I used to walk to school each day, rain or shine, and ride our bikes to the park or to the corner store if our parents sent us out on errands. Some of my best childhood memories are of the jokes and stories my friends and I would tell and the adventures we’d find ourselves in on our way to and from the park.
Pop Cans
When I was in grade 10, my geography teacher was kind enough to help us start a recycling program at our school. We were the “Clean Team.” Back then, it was just pop cans, but it was a start. It was our mission to make sure that not a single pop was found in the garbage. We made posters, transformed garbage cans into makeshift recycling bins and made a monthly trip to Zubick’s Scrap Metal to turn our tin into cash.
