The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan is recognizing the property managers of nine Canadian buildings among the winners of its Leadership in Environmental Advancement Program awards.
The LEAP awards, which were launched in 2011, recognize property managers of buildings in the pension organization’s property portfolio for efforts related to energy conservation and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
“We are pleased to see the steps our global partners have taken over the last year to help us manage the risks and opportunities that climate change poses on the HOOPP portfolio, helping us to achieve the targets laid out in our climate plan,” said Eric Plesman, senior managing director and head of global real estate at the HOOPP, in a press release. “As a major real estate owner, we have a responsibility to improve sustainability performance in our portfolio and drive positive change throughout the industry.”
Read: HOOPP enhancing climate strategy to achieve net zero by 2050
This year, the HOOPP recognized Triovest Realty Advisors Inc. with the GHG performer award for its management of the ATCO Centre in Edmonton. In 2022, the company reduced the building’s GHG emissions to less than 80 per cent of its 2019 levels. Triovest also received the climate leader award for implementing a scheduling system for its heat pumps at a building in Mississauga, Ont.
The HOOPP also recognized Menkes Property Management Services Inc. with the GHG manager award for its management of 4711 Yonge St. in Toronto. The property manager created a decarbonization strategy and secured external funding to operate its plan. Menkes also claimed the tenant collaboration award for its management of another Yonge street property where it worked with tenants to reduce energy waste.
In addition, the pension organization presented the technology innovator award to GWL Realty Advisors Inc. for its management of 840 Howe St. in Vancouver. GWL was able to reduce its natural gas consumption to 60 per cent of 2019 baseline levels by using waste heat to warm the building’s water.
It recognized Morguard Corp. with the sustainable leader award for its management of the Intercity Shopping Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont. The HOOPP rated the property’s environmental action plan as the best of any in its portfolio.
And it awarded Knightstone Capital Management Inc. with the stakeholder engagement innovator award for its management of student accommodations in Toronto and Montreal. Knightstone created a financial literacy program to educate the buildings tenants about personal finance.
Read: HOOPP selling Alberta industrial portfolio, BCI investing in home services franchise group