The new Canada Green Buildings Strategy (CGBS) outlines the federal government’s next steps for improving energy efficiency in homes and buildings and industry stakeholders say it will be important for all levels of government to work collaboratively to reach strategy objectives.

The mandate to create a strategy was first announced in March 2022. It focuses on three priorities: accelerating retrofits; building green and affordable from the start; and shaping the buildings sector of the future.

“The release of Canada’s first Green Buildings Strategy is great news for the construction industry, and a long-awaited next step in building sustainably,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, president of the Canadian Construction Association, in an email to the Daily Commercial News. “After over two years of development, following the end of consultations in September 2022, the industry was growing concerned about the future of the initiative.”

The document, which aims to decarbonize and improve the resiliency of Canada’s building stock, was released July 18.