IRES Seminar Series
Time: 12:30-1:30 pm
Location: AERL Theatre (room 120), 2202 Main Mall
Apartment Energy Costs and GHG Emissions Data – Do Buyers Care?
Abstract:
Vancouver, BC, Toronto and Ontario are currently considering legislation to require large building owners to benchmark and publicly release annual energy costs, GHG emissions and related data. These data could inform apartment buyers’ purchase decisions – but there is little robust evidence that they would find it valuable, with Canada’s low electricity, natural gas and emissions costs. Ian’s MSc thesis is assessing whether building energy and GHG emissions benchmarking data communicated through real estate multiple listing websites influence apartment buyers’ purchase criteria and behaviour.
Bio:
Ian Theaker’s engineering career has focused on greening North America’s buildings and communities. As technical problems are now largely solved, he is now studying systemic socio-economic policy that reduces climate impacts of the built environment.
As the Canada Green Building Council’s inaugural Program Manager, Ian lead adaptation of the LEED rating systems for Canada. Other signature efforts include Waterfront Toronto’s climate-positive Green Development Requirements, Infrastructure Ontario’s Building Sustainability Best Practices Manual, the OHSU River Campus (LEED-NC Platinum) and Lloyd Crossing Sustainable Urban Design (AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten winner) in Portland, Oregon, and Green Building Design Guidelines for the City of Santa Monica.
Ian has served with many volunteer organizations, most recently as a Director CaGBC’s Greater Toronto Chapter and founder of its Advocacy Committee. He’s also served as Governor of the Association of Energy Engineers, BC Chapter, and co-founded Vancouver’s Designers for Social Responsibility and the Southeast False Creek Working Group.