BGO Completes First-Ever All-Electric Net Zero Carbon Speculative Industrial Building Development in Ontario

BGO has delivered the first all-electric net zero carbon speculative industrial building in Ontario.

Located at 6750 Fifth Line in Milton, this industrial building is one of four at Fifth Line Business Park owned by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (”Sun Life”).

This 234,061-square-foot industrial building is the first of its kind and offers state-of-the-art net zero carbon specifications such as an all-electric HVAC system which is 200-300 per cent more efficient than the standard, and a 500kW rooftop solar array that negates 100 per cent of annual GHG emissions.

Along with energy and carbon savings, and the rooftop solar array, this will result in a projected 59 per cent reduction in annual operating costs in the first year, in comparison to a traditional new construction building (NECB 2017).

It has also achieved Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Design certification and is targeting the ZCB Performance certification.

According to BGO, the facility includes an enhanced envelope with superior roof and precast panel insulation menat to reduce air leakage. The all-electric building will prevent 2,151 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere in the first 10 years, which is the equivalent to removing 468 cars from the road.

“We continue to move intentionally and steadfastly towards meeting our net zero carbon goal by 2050 by taking demonstrable action today and delivering the first net zero carbon speculative industrial building to Ontario,” said Ross Strowger, managing partner, BGO. “This move-in-ready building combines outstanding spatial and locational attributes with an operationally net zero carbon footprint on Day 1 to help tenants with a sustainability focus immediately meet their net zero goals too.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to partner with BGO to bring this first of its kind building to Ontario,” said Randy Brown, chief investment officer, Sun Life. “Greener, more energy-efficient buildings are highly sought after, and this project is a first-hand example of how Sun Life’s commitment to net zero is delivering real-world emissions reductions while meeting our investment objectives. Investing sustainably is critical to the health and security of our communities, and every effort counts. We’ll continue to seek opportunities to invest in projects that reduce emissions today, while delivering financial benefits now and into the future.”

The Fifth Line Business Park presents four cutting-edge industrial buildings available in flexible sizes ranging from 93,000 to 330,000 square feet. Each of these structures incorporates innovative environmental features, ensuring tenants enjoy superior energy efficiencies. Buildings 1, 3, and 4 are designated as “Net Zero Carbon Ready,” while Building 2 is designed as an “All-Electric Net Zero Carbon” facility.

The Net Zero Carbon Ready buildings share common features such as an advanced envelope with superior roof and precast panel insulation to minimize air leakage. Additionally, the roofs are structurally reinforced to accommodate future installation of solar panels, and the electrical capacity is increased to support a potential transition to all-electric HVAC systems.

Strategically positioned along Highway 401, a crucial transportation and logistics corridor, Fifth Line Business Park provides tenants with convenient access to the primary distribution route for goods from Milton to key markets in Canada and the USA.

CBRE serves as the leasing broker, while Broccolini fulfills the role of development manager.