Innovative sustainable infrastructure projects are underway around the world, and more emergent technologies are being discussed conceptually. These resources have been selected to provide illustrative background information on sustainable infrastructure and to provide access to a variety of innovative practices and projects from around the world. If you have a link that you would like to suggest we add to our website, please contact us..
Energy
Natural Resources Canada: Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development http://www2.nrcan.gc.ca/es/es/sdi
A suite of economic, environmental and social indicators that taken together highlight progress towards sustainability in energy, and serve as guideposts to the issues that will likely require attention from decision makers as energy policy is developed.
Canadian Renewable Energy Network http://www.canren.gc.ca
Its purpose is to increase the understanding of renewable energy to accelerate the development and commercialization of renewable energy technologies.
Natural Resources Canada: CANMET Energy Technology Branch http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/etb
Research and development for a sustainable energy future through energy science and technology
Ontario Sustainable Energy Association http://www.ontario-sea.org/
An umbrella organization formed to implement community sustainable energy projects across Ontario.
The Pembina Institute http://www.pembina.org/index.php
The Pembina Institute’s major policy research and education programs are in the areas of sustainable energy, climate change, environmental governance, ecological fiscal reform, sustainability indicators, and the environmental impacts of the energy industry.
Association of Power Producers of Ontario http://www.appro.org/
Organisation representing 95% of Ontario’s electricity market and incorporating the website Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems in Canada.
Canadian Association for Renewable Energies http://www.renewables.ca/main/main.php
Not-for-profit with a mandate to promote applications of renewable energy
National Centre for Appropriate Technology (US) http://www.ncat.org/
Supports projects that “help people by championing small-scale, local, and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources.” Sustainable energy projects are a major feature.
Natural Resources Canada: RETScreen® International http://www.retscreen.net/
Decision support tools for the analysis, and feasibility assessment of energy projects
Advanced Buildings Technologies and Practices http://www.advancedbuildings.org/
Information, case studies and resources concerning technologies and practices that improve the energy and resource efficiency of commercial and multi-unit residential buildings
International Network for Sustainable Energy http://www.inforse.dk/
INFORSE is a global network of independent non-governmental organisations working for sustainable energy solutions to reduce poverty and protect the environment.
Centre for Alternative Technology (UK) http://www.cat.org.uk/index.tmpl?refer=index&init=1
Demonstration projects for a variety of renewable energy, environmental building, energy efficiency, organic growing and alternative sewage systems.
Clean Energy – worldwide renewable energies portal (Germany) http://www.cleanenergy.de/index2.html
Directory resource for renewable energy companies.
Energy Alternatives Ltd: Canada’s Sustainable Living Store http://www.energyalts.com/
On-line store for alternative and renewable energy products.
The World Alliance for Decentralized Energy http://www.localpower.org/
A non-profit research and promotion organisation aiming to accelerate the worldwide development of high efficiency cogeneration (CHP) and decentralized renewable energy systems.
Solar Buildings Research Network http://www.solarbuildings.ca/
Resources for the development of solar-optimized buildings.
Canadian Energy Efficiency Centre http://www.energyefficiency.org/
The Canadian Energy Efficiency Centre is designed to promote energy efficiency through the provision of information based services. The Centre is a project of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance and is funded by Ontario Power Generation, Enbridge Consumers Gas and the Ontario Ministry of Energy Science and Technology. The site contains information regarding best practices in energy efficient design and implementation, product and technology lists, training in energy efficiency,
Energy and Environmental Building Association (US) http://www.eeba.org/
Education and resources to support better residential design, development and construction.
Enermodal Engineering – Sustainable Building Services, Kitchener, ON http://www.enermodal.com/Canadian/index.html
Enermodal Engineering is a consulting firm committed to improving the energy and resource efficiency of buildings and building products.
Canada Green Building Council http://www.cagbc.org/
Professional organisation with a mandate to promote sustainable building practices
Green Buildings BC http://www.greenbuildingsbc.com/
A provincial initiative supporting BC's education and health care agencies to dramatically increase the performance of their new and existing buildings.
US Green Building Council – Developers of LEED http://www.usgbc.org/
“The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.”
BuildSmart: Greater Vancouver's source for sustainable building information http://www.gvrd.bc.ca/buildsmart/
Resources and guides for a variety of green building techniques and practices.
Building Green – Green product directory (US) http://www.buildinggreen.com/
Information and product descriptions for commercially available technologies that contribute to green buildings.
BC Construction Association – Green Building guide http://www.bccassn.com/leed.html
Resources for the implementation of the LEED system in a BC context.
Sustainable Building Information System (Netherlands) http://www.sbis.info/
Toolkit website of the International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment covering information, funding, tools, methods and best practice for green buildings around the world.
IEA Annex 31 – Energy Related Environmental Impact of Buildings (Netherlands) http://www.iisbe.org/annex31/index.html
Document examining examines how energy and life cycle assessment (LCA) tools and methods can be used to reduce the energy-related impact of buildings on interior, local and global environments. Supported by the International Energy Agency, Energy Conservation In Buildings And Community Systems and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
World Car Free Network http://www.worldcarfree.net/
Offers resources for architects, planners, teachers/professors, students, decision-makers and engaged citizens.
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation http://www.best.bc.ca/
Vancouver based organisation involved in the Central Valley Greenway project. Website provides case studies and information.
Transport 2000 Canada http://www.transport2000.ca/
“A non-profit organization whose primary purpose is research, public education and consumer advocacy. It promotes environmentally-sound transportation solutions and gets actively involved in a wide range of issues such as: public transportation, safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, protection of the environment, intermodal cooperation and government regulation.”
Detour’s Urban Source http://www.urbansource.org/
Publishing house and booksellers dedicated to books on sustainable transport issues
Sustainable Transport Networking Group http://www.carfreeday.ca/stng/index.php
“The goal of the Sustainable Transportation Networking Group (STNG) is to facilitate the exchange of information between groups and the sustainable transportation initiatives they advocate and promote.”
Active and Safe Routes to School Campaign http://www.saferoutestoschool.ca/index.php
“Active & Safe Routes to School promotes the use of active and efficient transportation for the daily trip to school, addressing health and traffic safety issues while taking action on air pollution and climate change.”
Waste Management
Composting Council of Canada http://www.compost.org/
Resources and information on municipal, centralised and backyard composting
Waste Diversion Ontario http://www.wdo.ca/
Organisation established to develop waste diversion programs for a variety of materials
Recycler’s World (US) http://www.recycle.net/
Exchange website connecting surplus resources with people and organisations that need them
Waste reduction guide for the workplace http://www.perc.ca/waste-line/rrr/wrap/
Written by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton and reproduced by the Peace and Environment Resource Centre
Land Use Planning
Smart Growth BC http://www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/
Includes a downloadable toolkit to help create liveable communities in BC
Theobald, D. M. and N. T. Hobbs. 2002. A framework for evaluating land use planning alternatives: protecting biodiversity on private land. Conservation Ecology 6(1): 5. http://www.consecol.org/vol6/iss1/art5/
International Making Cities Livable Council http://www.livablecities.org/
An interdisciplinary, international network of individuals and cities dedicated to making our cities and communities more livable.
CERES – Investors and Environmentalists for Sustainable Prosperity (US) http://www.ceres.org/
CERES is a national (US) network of investment funds, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working to advance environmental stewardship on the part of businesses.
Sustainable Governance – Institutional and procedural aspects of sustainability – European Consultative Forum on the Environment and Sustainable Development (2000), European Commission: Luxembourg http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forum/governance_en.pdf#search=%22sustainable%20governance%22
Report exploring the widening gap between the requirements of sustainability and the reality of European politics.
Habitat JAM. Finance and Governance Forum archive http://www.habitatjam.com/jamdata/viewforum.php?f=5
Archive of a discussion into governance and finance that took place as part of the 3rd World Urban Forum in Vancouver 2006.
Wuppertal Institute on Globalisation – Sustainable governance resources (Germany) http://www.wupperinst.org/globalisation/html/gov.html
Literature examining the deficiencies accompanying globalisation in the fields of environment and democracy.
Eco-Perth http://www.ecoperth.on.ca/
Attempt to bring together businesses groups and individuals in a small town to work toward environmentally sustainable and economically efficient project delivery.
