Developer's going GREEN with Envy! By: Linda Wheeler With energy prices soaring and condominium competition intensifying, developers who are looking for a new sales strategy are looking toward energy savings. For many condominium developers, attractive architecture and stylish interiors are no longer enough to single them out in an intense market. They want their buildings to be energy efficient and environmentally sensitive. I think the whole industry's becoming far more aware of what the energy and environmental issues are. Some Toronto developers are becoming known as "green builders," for example, MintoUrban Communities, Tridel and Shane Baghai. Even they would admit, though, that the average condo buyer puts environmental sensitivity and energy efficiency below granite countertops and hardwood floors on the list of priorities despite the savings to be reaped in green buildings with today's energy costs. Some of us understand that gas prices are going to continue to fluctuate and electricity will of course follow suit, therefore it is natural for us to gravitate to a development that is environmentally and energy conscious.

There are a wide range of measures, from motion detectors in the stairwells that turn lights on only when they're needed, windmills on the roof and dual-flush toilets (maybe not something that we really want to think about ;) It is my observation that as more enviro-friendly buildings go up, the more informed buyers will be -- even more so after they've seen the financial benefits. The bottom line is that building to energy-efficient standards could be the way of the future. We're certainly seeing a lot more builders and developers that are talking about LEED, that are talking about building energy efficiency into their condominiums. For a list of developers that are green friendly, please contact us at simplycondos.com .