The projects that make a difference

The Clean50 Top Projects annually recognize those projects completed in the prior two years based on their innovation, their ability to inform, and inspire other Canadians. The Top Project of the year is then selected each year at the Clean50 Summit, from votes cast by both incoming and Alumni members of the Clean50.

2017

City of Richmond: Alexandra District Energy Utility

Looking to a lower carbon future, the City of Richmond developed long term commitments to cut carbon emissions to 33% of 2007 levels by 2020. Recognizing the promise of district energy, the City invested in a large ground…

2017

General Motors of Canada: Local Community Stewardship

One of the 9 corporate-wide sustainability goals set by GM in 2010 was to go beyond GM centric activities, and help educate and drive sustainability initiatives in local communities across Canada. Since 2012, GM Canada has expanded from…

2017

Sustainable Prosperity: The Smart Prosperity Initiative

Founded by respected Canadian leaders from business, think tanks, labour, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and NGO communities, Smart Prosperity harnesses new thinking to map out and accelerate Canada’s transition to a stronger, cleaner economy in the next decade. Smart…

2017

Sustainable Waterloo Region: Regional Carbon Initiative

RCI connects and empowers 67 member organizations to set GHG reduction targets. To build the sustainability capacity in an organization, the RCI offers tools to track and report on GHGs, develop policies, engage employees, learn from experts and…

2016

Calstone: The Rainwater Harvesting Pond Project

This describes a vision of an oasis between two industrial buildings that grew out of needing to showcase water and provide an outdoor space for employees and neighbours to enjoy. It was a mission and the end result…

2016

CivicAction: Race to Reduce

Summary CivicAction’s Race to Reduce has mobilized the commercial office sector to reduce energy use and carbon emissions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), while saving millions of dollars in costs. One of the largest regional…

2016

Minto Communities: Minto’s Path to Zero Energy

Minto continues to build on its rich history of innovation in new home and community design with five Net Zero Energy Homes (NZEH) currently underway in its Arcadia community in Ottawa, Ontario. With an ultimate goal of Net…

2016

Sustainable Canada Dialogues

Summary Sustainable Canada Dialogues, a collaboration among more than 60+ researchers from 10 provinces representing climate change expertise across a wide range of disciplines, from engineering to sociology, biology to business, resulted in the scholarly consensus “Acting on…

2016

TerraCycle Inc.: Cigarette Butt Recycling

Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world, with nearly 1 trillion pounds of cigarette waste flooding the globe annually, leaching toxins into the groundwater, lakes and oceans. TerraCycle’s mandate is to recycle the “non-recyclable” and…

2015

Cadillac Fairview – GREEN AT WORK™ program

We’ve made it our priority to develop and execute one of the most comprehensive sustainability programs in the Canadian real estate industry… GREEN AT WORK is Cadillac Fairview’s national sustainability program and a proud example of the leadership…

2015

Ecotrust Canada – Creation of ThisFish.info

ThisFish: Discover the story of your seafood Learn all about the seafood you eat, and connect to the fish Harvester who caught it, by tracing its journey from the ocean to your plate. Fishing is an ancient pursuit,…

2015

Hoffmann-La Roche – Zero-Waste Decommissioning Project

  This project arose out of a business decision to relocate the Hoffmann-La Roche Canadian headquarters (Roche Canada) in Mississauga, Ontario, due to the growth in the business and need to accommodate approximately 200 additional employees. Through the…

2015

Lakeridge Health / Ecosystem Energy: Deep Energy Retrofit

Lakeridge Health is one of Ontario’s largest community hospitals, servicing more than 1,600 people every day. In 2010, Lakeridge Health partnered with Ecosystem Energy Services, a Canadian energy efficiency company, to embark on an ambitious energy retrofit project…