Supply, affordability and sustainability all factor into new homes being built in the GTA

As we build the 1.5 million homes needed to address the shortage of supply, we must recognize that the homes we build today will help form the backbone of our housing stock for many decades to come. Adding supply presents us with an opportunity to tackle two other critical issues: Sustainability and accessibility while meeting the needs of prospective home buyers. By making purposeful choices, it is possible to address the pressing needs of housing supply, affordability, accessibility and sustainability.

Climate change

Climate change is the single greatest threat of our time. Housing, like all other aspects of our society and economy, must also adapt and change to meet this threat. Over the past 50 years, advancements in technology, building science and materials have significantly enhanced the energy efficiency of new homes. New homes built today are significantly more energy efficient than those built even 15 or 20 years ago. However, there is more to be done. By addressing the housing supply shortage, we have the ability to not only continually enhance the operational efficiency of homes, but also to mitigate the embodied carbon footprint of the structures themselves. This entails minimizing the carbon dioxide associated with the materials, energy and processes involved in construction, thereby reducing the overall environmental impact of each new housing unit.

Simultaneously, as we confront climate change and factor it into how we build our homes, we should also build homes that meet the complex needs of all Canadians. According to Statistics Canada (2017), one in five Canadians identify as having one or more disabilities, with more than half reporting physical disabilities. Among them, nearly half require accessibility aids or features within their homes, including ramps, a walk-in bath or shower, a lift device or elevator, lowered counters or automatic doors. As Canada’s population ages, the challenges of accessibility within the built environment of communities and homes will only continue to get more difficult.

Inclusive, resilient and sustainable

Fortunately, these challenges are increasingly being recognized by the development and building industry. Initiatives like the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition underscore a growing recognition that integrating accessibility features into new homes, if considered at the design phase, can be accomplished at minimal additional cost. Plus, building with an accessible approach in the first place is far more cost-effective than retrofitting post-construction.

As we lay the groundwork for the future of housing in Ontario, we cannot lose sight of the fact that we are building not just homes, but communities that must be inclusive, resilient and sustainable.