Region of Durham celebrates Green Building Champions

*This news release has been updated to reflect the most recent information.

Whitby, Ontario – On November 13, 2024, the Durham Greener Buildings program held its first Evening of Recognition in Whitby. This event celebrated buildings in Durham Region that performed exceptionally well in energy efficiency during 2023.

Launched in January 2024 in partnership with Windfall Ecology Centre, the Durham Greener Buildings program promotes energy efficiency and sustainability in institutional and commercial buildings. The initiative aligns with Durham Region’s Community Energy Plan which focuses on realizing local economic opportunities associated with the transition to clean energy.

The evening highlighted Durham’s role in Canada’s Green Buildings Strategy, while a panel discussed the opportunities and challenges of electrification. Awards were presented in twelve categories to recognize buildings for their energy performance, data quality, and early data submission. The noteworthy recipients included:

• Durham Catholic District School Board
• Durham District School Board
• Lakeridge Health
• Region of Durham
• The Municipality of Clarington
• The City of Oshawa
• The Town of Ajax
• The Township of Brock
• The Township of Scugog
• The Township of Uxbridge

This event underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in achieving energy reductions, showcasing how institutional and commercial buildings are making significant strides toward environmental sustainability. The evening reflected Durham Greener Buildings work to advance energy management and high standards for environmental stewardship in Ontario.

For more information on the Durham Greener Buildings program and the award winners, please visit durhamgreenerbuildings.ca.

Quotes

“Durham Greener Buildings is a vital initiative designed to empower our building sector in advancing climate action and sustainability. The program’s primary focus is to allow building owners within Durham Region to measure, report, and proactively take action on efficiency and conservation opportunities. Congratulations to our incredible climate action champions. Your dedication and efforts are making a significant impact in creating a sustainable future for all of us in Durham Region.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and CEO, Region of Durham

“The Durham Greener Buildings Evening of Recognition is more than an event — it's a rallying call to a sustainable future, where consistent efforts of transforming climate action ambitions into measurable progress pave the way to a carbon-neutral community. Honouring these outstanding achievements not only celebrates today’s leaders but also inspires the actions needed to address our climate challenges. We are proud to support Durham Region's dedication to transformative change through the Durham Greener Buildings program.”

- Brent Kopperson, Founder and Executive Director, Windfall Ecology Centre

Quick Facts

• On January 29, 2020, Durham Regional Council voted to declare a climate emergency.
• In April 2022 the Region launched Durham Greener Homes, a deep energy retrofit program focused on the residential sector and single family homes.
• The Region is taking steps to enable emissions reductions in other segments of the building sector including commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings.
• The Durham Greener Buildings Program was launched in January 2024 to support Institutional and Commercial building owners with benchmarking their energy performance against peers, and publicly reporting their progress.

– 30 –

For media inquiries, please contact Corporate Communications.