As a 119-year-old company, PCL has shown that it has figured out a few things about sustainability and resilience. Of course, “sustainability” goes beyond environmental considerations to include matters of social and economic well-being. As an employee-owned company, PCL cares deeply about the communities in which we live and operate, evidenced by the extensive support employees give to a wide variety of charitable organizations. We want to see our communities thrive and are proud to contribute to their long-term sustainability and resilience.
Speaking specifically about construction, PCL is the largest general contractor in Canada and one of the largest in the U.S. We also operate in Australia, primarily in solar energy. We are part of the climate change solution given the sheer scale of our projects and our clients’ interest in a resilient future.
PCL has taken a leadership position through expertise, collaboration, innovation and a commitment to ethical practices. We have in-house subject matter experts in areas like sustainable retrofits, building envelopes, solar power, mechanical systems and mass timber construction who work with our project teams to leverage technology, best practices and partnerships to embed sustainability values right from the start of a project.
PCL's experience with renewable energy projects is helping clients and communities transition from carbon-producing energy generation. Our expertise extends to solar, geothermal, biomass, hydro and hydrogen energy, all of which will play a part in addressing climate change and reaching net-zero targets.
Regulations are evolving in different ways in different places, but it’s safe to say that they, along with client demands, are driving low-carbon, high-performance construction. Stricter codes, sustainability mandates, and energy standards push the industry toward sustainable materials and construction methods, efficient building envelopes and renewables.
We are leading an exciting paradigm shift that brings together innovation, sustainability and scale. For instance, we’re building the Niagara Hydrogen Centre with Atura Power. It is the first initiative under Ontario’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy and represents an eight-fold increase in green hydrogen production, which will assist in the reduction of GHGs across the economy.
PCL works closely with clients to implement sustainable construction solutions, addressing concerns about initial costs by highlighting the long-term savings and benefits, such as reduced operational costs, increased building value, carbon reductions and enhanced resilience. We are seeing a demand for net-zero, resilient, and health-focused buildings, requiring early collaboration, innovation and data-driven solutions.
Well, we see challenges as opportunities for innovation. I think of the new St. Paul’s Hospital and Health Campus in Vancouver. We’re building it in ways that address rising sea levels expected out to 2100. Many clients have a long-term mindset to protect their valued assets from irreversible climate conditions and we’re happy to help them bring their vision to reality.
Depending on the project, there can be challenges around material sourcing, circularity and waste, cost, the presence of a skilled workforce and a changing regulatory landscape. But our flexible business models across sectors and regions allow us to tailor integrated low-carbon strategies and efficient solutions to specific requirements. We invest in continuous training and stakeholder engagement to access expert talent, engaged suppliers and partnerships for sustainable construction.
There is an entire suite of technologies that is revolutionizing construction with real-time data and advanced analytics to drive sustainability and efficiency. They optimize resource usage, reduce waste and energy consumption, minimize idle time and track carbon emissions for greener project outcomes. They facilitate environmental compliance and green certifications by documenting eco-friendly practices.
Digital twins, advanced materials, smart technologies and modular and prefabrication techniques all contribute to sustainability. They can be used to optimize efficiency in the design, construction and operation of the built environment, improving energy use, emissions intensity, and operational efficiency.
But we also consider and explore possibilities for innovation in many ways, including through formal and informal collaboration across our company and through partnerships with national and international organizations, including the U.S. and Canadian green building councils, the Climate Smart Building Alliance, Greening Health Care, Partners in Project Green and more. It’s wonderful to see the camaraderie within the construction industry to expedite innovation and sustainability.
Absolutely. The Southeastern Live Well Center, in San Diego, California, is all-electric, net zero and built above the level of a 100-year flood. That resilience was called into play soon after it opened, when torrential rains flooded the area. The building suffered no damage. The Center is LEED Gold certified and was honored with Engineering News-Record’s prestigious 2024 Project of the Year award, recognizing excellence in safety, community involvement and sustainability.
Limberlost Place, in Toronto, Ontario, harnesses green energy from solar panels and nearby Lake Ontario and uses a natural ventilation system with solar chimneys to reduce energy needs. It is built with mass timber, sequestering carbon and reducing the need for concrete. It is net-zero carbon and is pursuing LEED Gold certification.
The Pure Water Center in El Paso, Texas is helping to alleviate the pressure on the region's strained water resources. It will put treated wastewater through a multistep purification process to go beyond drinking water standards before distribution to customers in the community. It is the first such direct-to-distribution facility in the U.S.
The Crooked Lake Solar Park, in Mississippi County, Arkansas, is one of more than 65 utility-scale solar projects PCL has built. Combined, they provide more than 7.5 gigawatts of green energy to surrounding communities.
Windermere Fire Station 31, in Edmonton, Alberta, features a geothermal field, a 143-kilowatt solar array and an advanced building envelope. Along with a net-zero certification, the station is seeking LEED Gold.
Those are just a few of the highlights, but it’s not all about the highlights. Sustainability is being built into every project in many ways, big and small.
In 2024, PCL established its baseline GHG emissions, inclusive of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. One first step to reduce our emissions is the development of a decarbonization plan for the company's Edmonton Business Park. PCL completed a feasibility study of the seven buildings on the campus and has provided a comprehensive technical and financial analysis of options to achieve near zero carbon emission performance at the site. PCL has begun to implement decarbonization measures at the campus to reduce GHG emissions.
PCL has set a target to be net zero by 2050 and has committed to the Government of Canada's Net-Zero Challenge, which encourages businesses to develop and implement credible and effective plans to transition their facilities and operations to net-zero emissions by 2050.
In addition to energy consumption, waste management is closely monitored on each project to ensure compliance and the achievement of sustainability goals. Progress is measured through regular audits, data collection systems, and quarterly reviews as part of our Sustainability Operating Committee.
For more on PCL's initiatives and approach, please see our 2024 Sustainability Report, which highlights the steps we are taking to solve the challenges our clients and our communities face as we build a better future, together.