BOMA BC host of western Canada’s first 2030 District

BOMA BC along with 10 major property managers, the City of Victoria, and the District of Saanich have officially launched the Greater Victoria 2030 District. The 2030 District’s vision is to become a hub of high performing buildings, transforming the built environment and the role it plays in mitigating and adapting to climate change. This is Canada’s second “Established District”, joining 22 other leading communities in North America.

Led by BOMA BC the initiative will support voluntary leadership towards advancing energy efficient, low carbon and resilient buildings in a way that contributes to our local economy. Currently thirty-six buildings with a combined floor area of more than 3.5 million square feet have joined the local 2030 District, each committing to voluntarily reducing their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 50% of 2007 levels by 2030. Together, the 2030 District members will create a critical mass of high performing buildings within Greater Victoria.

Damian Stathonikos, President of BOMA BC observed “BOMA knows this collaboration will play a key role in ensuring Greater Victoria builds back better from Covid-19, by advancing building resiliency and reducing climate change impacts.”

The 2030 District will stimulate investment in retrofits and the “future-proofing” of buildings, thus contributing to a greener and more sustainable local economy. “By investing in cleaner, more efficient buildings, businesses and partners in the Greater Victoria 2030 District are leading the way forward to a cleaner future, helping meet our climate change targets and supporting good local jobs for people in the process,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

As a core partner in the District, the University of Victoria will be acting as a research hub with support from the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund. A research team from UVic’s Department of Civil Engineering will provide expert advice to property managers, calculating energy and emission baselines and reduction targets and recommending optimal ways to reach the targets. Through this work, the District will also act as a leader in informing new high-performance standards for the National Building Code. 

“Partnerships like this, with industry, researchers and government working towards a common goal, can really catalyze innovation and help ensure significant, long-term environmental and economic benefits are achieved,” said Peter Wild, University of Victoria's acting dean of engineering. “This partnership enhances Greater Victoria’s potential to be a Canadian and North American leader in sustainable building retrofit design and construction.” 

The Greater Victoria 2030 District already has 36 individual buildings participating, they are managed by Anthem Properties, Cushman & Wakefield, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Jawl Properties, Shape Properties, Colliers, Richmond Property Group, City of Victoria, District of Saanich and Province of BC. Founding sponsors include BOMA BC, the City of Victoria, District of Saanich and Fortis BC. 

“Different buildings have unique needs and FortisBC has various solutions to help our customers reduce their emissions,” said Joe Mazza, vice-president of energy supply and resource development with FortisBC. “That’s why we’re investing in this initiative. Being more efficient with our energy is a crucial way to reduce emissions, and it’s a key component of our 30BY30 target. I commend every organization involved in the Greater Victoria 2030 District and thank them for their leadership.” 

Property managers of participating buildings benefit from access to group and peer learning and information sharing opportunities and technical support. They also have access to pooled procurement opportunities, funded energy studies, etc., all designed to overcome market barriers to green and resilient building innovation. 

“At the Bay Centre we pride ourselves in adopting progressive environmental standards and practices by continually measuring, managing and improving our environmental performance through energy, water, consumption and waste reduction” said Darlene Hollstein-General Manager Bay Centre. “For this reason, it brings us great pleasure to join a network of North American leaders, as a founding partner of the new Greater Victoria 2030 District, and make a commitment in reducing our energy and greenhouse emissions by a further 50% by 2030.” 

The work of the 2030 District will support leadership efforts of local municipalities that have adopted aggressive climate action targets.  Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes stated that he is “Delighted at the positive contribution 2030 District will play in enabling Saanich and Greater Victoria to demonstrate on a world stage the benefits of green buildings. Partnerships like this are essential in helping us achieve the goals of our Climate Plan.” 

"Congratulations to BOMA and its members on the establishment of the Greater Victoria 2030 District. It is great to see private sector led projects that align with our Climate Leadership Plan and will result in carbon reductions for buildings in Victoria,” said City of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. “We are happy to provide financial assistance to the overall project and to actively participate in the District by committing some of our own City facilities to meet the established emissions reduction targets." 

The Greater Victoria 2030 District will demonstrate how voluntary industry stewardship initiatives are a powerful means of advancing community sustainability goals by encouraging and rewarding investments in a more resilient and sustainable built environment.