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Our Green Home

GreenTbiz Headquarters

GreenTbiz is blessed to have to be headquartered on the City of Toronto’s Exhibition Place grounds in the Direct Energy Centre. Exhibition Place is one of the most environmentally committed organizations in the city, symbolized by a 30-storey wind turbine that produces 1 million kilowatt hours of energy per year helping to reduce annual CO2 emissions by up to 1,800 tonnes. It’s the first urban wind turbine in North America.

The turbine is only the most visible example of a comprehensive commitment to environmental stewardship at Exhibition Place. In pursuit of this goal of environmental responsibility, a number of innovative green projects have been undertaken at Exhibition Place and, more specifically, at the Direct Energy. These include:

  • Venue Naming Rights: The $7 million in fees for a 10-year sponsorship of the Direct Energy Centre are earmarked for environmental initiatives.
  • Waste Diversion Project: Exhibition Place established a target to be 80% waste-free by 2010. This involved the introduction of initiatives to separate and recycle waste materials (including glass, paper, wood, plastic and food waste).
  • Direct Energy Innovation Centre: A permanent educational exhibit is located in the east Galleria of Direct Energy Centre, which explores energy use and the environment. Interactive displays showcase sources of energy and methods of energy conservation.
  • Living Wall: A living wall has been installed in the east end of the Direct Energy Centre near Hall D. This living wall biofilter is not only a beautiful collection of plants but is a natural ecosystem purifying indoor air. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are removed from the air and the performance of the HVAC systems will improve thus minimizing energy costs for heating and cooling.
  • Lighting Retrofits: Installing energy efficient ballasts and lamps in the Direct Energy Centre’s main Exhibit Halls and public spaces has resulted in an annual reduction of 2.3 million kilowatt hours of energy use. LED-technology is being utilized in the centre’s exterior building signage for its superior energy efficiency.
  • Trigeneration Project: A natural gas fired generator is employed to satisfy approximately 30% of the Direct Energy Centre’s electricity, heating and cooling needs. The project provides an energy reduction of 7,400 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The Allstream Centre is connected to this Trigeneration project for further energy efficiency.
  • Linen-free Meeting Rooms: Classroom set-ups feature linen-free tables as a standard set in the convention and exhibition venues including the Direct Energy Centre and Allstream Centre. Using Tables with a melamine finish serves to eliminate linens which will conserve water, and reduce environmentally harmful dry-cleaning.
  • Green Roof Pilot Projects: The adjacent Horse Palace building includes two green roofs that aim to reduce HVAC costs in the underlying structure, improve storm water management and on a larger scale, help to reduce the urban heat island effect and ultimately cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Solar Photovoltaic Installation: The Horse Palace’s 130,000-square-foot flat roof was one of the first operational rooftop solar PV projects in Toronto. At the completion of construction, the 100 kW plant was the largest in Canada.
  • Compostable Food Packaging Recycling Program: The Direct Energy Centre’s caterer; Centerplate launched a compostable packaging recycling program which included compostable materials including hot and cold cups, lids and straws, plates, napkins, utensils, salad packaging & dressing containers, and wraps & sandwich packaging in all of the venue’s concession stands.
  • Forest Stewardship Council Paper Products: The office staff at the Direct Energy Centre and Allstream Centre utilize 100% post-consumer recycled paper printed with soy vegetable inks for letterhead, business cards, printed materials and envelopes. Printing of these materials was handled through an FSC certified printing company. Photocopy paper used across Exhibition Place is also recycled stock.

For more information about the green initiatives at the Exhibition Place you can visit The Direct Energy Centre’s Green Initiatives Page. 

GreenTbiz Satellite Office

GreenTbiz staff are also available for meetings and events at the Centre for Social Innovation which boasts a large and active environmentally-oriented group of organizations.