Innovation

The goal of this innovation was to create a sustainable and efficient building that uses the whole building as efficiently as possible. They have achieved this by using geothermal energy, rooftop gardens, living walls, and rainwater reserves. Everyone who visits, works, or lives in these buildings is impacted. This innovation has created a better working and living environment with reduced energy costs, quality heating and cooling, excellent air circulation, and an outdoor oasis where tenants can go to relax. The living walls, rooftop garden, and plants within the building all promote air circulation and result in excellent-quality air. The gardens on the roof also provide a habitat for birds and bees alike.

The specific building we visited had two major innovations that correlate with their building being sustainable. The first one was the three green walls placed throughout the building. They use vents to receive the CO2 within the building that the plants then use, and through photosynthesis, they create fresh oxygen that is spread throughout the building. The person we interviewed also claimed these green walls along with the many other plants found inside the building give people a reason to refer to it as a "happy building". The tenants in the building seem to enjoy the green and fresh space a lot, and helps reduce the stress of everyone working inside. The second major innovation is that the building is heated and cooled using geothermal tubes that run into the ground. The tubes direct hot air out of the building into the ground and bring cold air back up during the summer. In the winter, the hot air stored in the ground is then pumped back up, heating the entire building. As stated during the interview, the building has approximately 33 thousand running feet of pipe in the ground. These tubes also run through different rooms across the entire building to allow for per-room heating or cooling. The tubes also make use of the space under the building. There is also a backup compressor in case one fails, ensuring they won't be without heat or cooling.

Past those two innovations, they have other sustainable additions, such as their large garden roofs, which are much larger than required, and they have many of them on different sections of the building. The design of the roofs of the building allows them to collect rainwater and prevent it from flooding the surrounding streets. Excess rainwater is collected and stored into the soil and ensures that no rainwater is wasted. The plants were chosen to be drought resistant so they only need additional water when it is very dry. In turn, there is little strain on the town water system.

Inspiration

The primary basis for what inspired the innovation is how the president, Gerrit de Boer, was raised. From a young age, de Boer said he was socially aware. He has always cared about society and sustainability, and thus, when he was designing the buildings, he was very keen on ensuring they were up to his standards. He always followed his own ideas and even turned down professional advice in favour of ensuring sustainability was not just a thought when creating the buildings but a pillar of what these buildings represent and stand for.

De Boer claimed himself to be an “eccentric socially responsible individual,” and after the tour, it is clear that he truly sees the potential of the space he has and is trying to use it to its utmost to create a sustainable building. The tour showed his passion for sustainability and the deep thought that was put into the designs of the buildings. He is not just trying to sell his land to whichever developer will offer him the most, but to someone who can follow through with his ideas and match his criteria of making a truly sustainable place. This is a sight for sore eyes in a big city such as Toronto.

In response to our visions of sustainability, which were very future-focused, he responded by saying, “To me, sustainability is about now.” He placed a big emphasis on doing what we can do now. He also said he cares a lot about "reducing energy at source", and had a focus on reducing the amount of energy used at the first point possible. We already have many tools and studies available to us; it is about knowing how they work and applying them now rather than waiting until some day in the future.

Overall impact

This innovation has created and is continuing to create sustainable buildings and a sustainable community. Their buildings are together on one street in Toronto and surround a green space. This creates a positive working and living environment for those who are there. The commitment to sustainability is evident not only in the present but also in the ongoing construction projects, indicating a continuous effort to prioritize sustainability.

The long-term effects of having buildings created this way are substantial. By reducing the environmental impact of each building by using renewable energy, removing CO2 from the air, and providing a habitat for animals, the building creates a positive impact, unlike most buildings. These buildings also create healthy environments to work in, with a lot of green space to enjoy even while in downtown Toronto. Their green walls are an excellent showcase of how they re-circulate air in their building, creating a nicer environment to be in.

This building is a showcase of what buildings in Toronto and other places in the world should be doing. They need proper design and care, with sustainability at the forefront of all decisions. Some of their initiatives, such as the geothermal system, are hard and costly to implement, but other ideas, such as the green walls, are perfect for other companies to replicate.

Business benefit

The primary way this innovation has benefited the business is by attracting companies and clients who want to see sustainability efforts in the offices they rent out. By creating a sustainable building, you attract sustainable companies and individuals who also care about sustainability. Thus, you end up drawing in customers due to the unique space that was created with a focus on sustainability. Without listing any specific company, many of the tenants were very focused on sustainability or having a healthy environment and thus likely went with Igernan Limited due to how sustainable their buildings are.

It also creates better employee wellbeing for the companies involved, including Igernan Limited, of course. For example, there are statistics to prove that green walls, such as the ones installed at their locations, have proven to have benefits, such as reduced air pollution. Before agreeing to sell to an apartment developer, Igernan ensured they committed to key levels of sustainability. It ended up being a success for them, as the apartments are already sold out before construction has already finished due to the nature of how attractive and rare sustainable buildings are.

Social and environmental benefit

This innovation benefits both society and the environment. The people who live in these buildings, or those who work in them, have mental and physical health benefits from how healthy the environment is. The green roofs provide them with the perfect space to take a break and relieve stress. The roofs also provide an ecosystem for birds and bees. This innovation has a positive impact on society and the environment, which is rare to see in buildings in general. It is a tremendous environmental asset, incorporating an abundance of plants within and around the building. This green approach goes beyond aesthetics, actively contributing to energy efficiency and reducing pollution.

As a whole, society benefits from having a building that transcends its role as an office space. The building supports the local wildlife, promotes green energy, and cleans the air. In big cities, such as Toronto, it is easy for pollution to pile up as there are not many plants and trees to reduce the mass amounts of carbon dioxide emitted into the air. Due to locations such as the ones Igernan Limited worked towards, we have more buildings that have plants to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air while still providing spaces for people to live and work.

Interview

Gerrit De Boer, President