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Environmental factors
Environmental factors
Responsible projects for a more sustainable society
In the face of growing environmental challenges, the real estate sector must evolve and do its part. At the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ, we work with our partners and key stakeholders to advance more sustainable real estate.
We maintain strong health and safety measures on construction sites, invest in projects targeting sustainability standards and certifications such as LEED, WELL, Fitwel and BCZ, and support initiatives to:
- improve the energy efficiency in buildings
- reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the building life cycle — from material selection and construction to operation and eventual deconstruction — including emissions related to building use and mobility
- integrate reuse practices from construction through operations to reduce pressure on natural resources
- use prefabrication and industrialized construction methods to foster innovation and reduce waste
- design buildings for strong performance and efficient operation
Decisions informed by financial, social and environmental data
In 2024, the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ released, with partners, the findings of the Générations 1,5 °C : la rentabilité du bâtiment durable study, which show that buildings incorporating sustainable measures can generate up to 45% additional value over 10 years, and demonstrate that environmental performance and financial returns can go hand in hand.
To support this approach, the Fonds immobilier collects and analyzes a wide range of data to identify opportunities to create value and accelerate the adoption of responsible practices. This includes:
- data related to occupational health and safety
- follow-up on residual materials management, energy efficiency and carbon intensity of projects
- equity, diversity and inclusion principles
Ensuring alignment with our values
In addition, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ systematically conducts social audits of partner companies and contractors working on its construction sites to ensure alignment with its values in ethics and governance. Consistent with its role as an investor, the Fonds immobilier considers several factors when making investment decisions, including:
- due diligence on partners' ESG maturity
- assessment of projects' sustainability performance
- integration of environmental performance standards for buildings, supported by energy analyses, simulations and commissioning
- modelling the embodied carbon of construction materials in portfolio projects
These initiatives promote practices that reduce impacts on natural resources and the environment while supporting the long-term viability of projects.
A mass timber project focused on sustainability
The Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ is innovating by using mass timber, a renewable structural material, in a large-scale rental residential development in Terrebonne.
Construction began in winter 2026 on the 164-apartment, 12-storey building, which will serve as a scalable model to help advance mass timber construction standards in Québec. This development aligns with the strategic vision of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, which aims to reach $12 billion in assets linked to sustainable development by 2027 and contributes to the decarbonization of the Fonds immobilier's portfolio.
A high-performance building inspired by the forest
Key sustainability features include:
- an energy-efficient design that enhances comfort while significantly reducing energy consumption
- a low-carbon design aiming for Zero Carbon Building – Design certification from the Canada Green Building Council
- the use of mass timber, a material that sequesters carbon and supports circularity by facilitating deconstruction and reuse
- materials chosen for their durability and life-cycle impact
- forest-inspired architecture built around the duality of bark and heartwood, helping shield occupants from the elements
ESG: The environment and Solar Uniquartier
Solar Uniquartier is a vast mixed-use eco-friendly development on Montréal's South Shore, near the light rail system (REM).
Building sustainable projects
MONTONI is a partner that combines expertise, innovative design, technology, and sustainable development. The millions of LEED-certified square feet built over the years reflect MONTONI's commitment to the environment. Developed with MONTONI and Montez Corporation, Espace Montmorency, located in Laval next to the Montmorency metro station, is a fine example of a project at the forefront of urban design that respects the environment.
Bâtir un avenir durable avec les critères ESG: French-language podcast
Listen to these podcast episodes (in French only), produced in collaboration with Constructo, to learn more about how we integrate ESG factors into our real estate projects.
"Mesurer l'intensité carbone, c'est payant!"
Transitioning to a low-carbon economy is crucial to the fight against climate change. Hence the boom in carbon-neutral construction projects! But how and why should we measure carbon intensity in this sector?
"Les certifications, un allié pour vos projets"
One of Québec's most eco-friendly and sustainable buildings, the Louis-Laberge building sets the standard for certification and integration of ESG factors. In this episode, we take a closer look at this flagship building to discuss the importance of building certifications and how to earn them.
"Des pratiques en constante évolution : vers le développement durable"
Sustainability, the well-being of occupants, carbon neutrality, and environmental criteria are now commonplace concerns in the construction industry. Discover how new projects, such as Novia, are contributing to changing practices.
Faster, greener and cheaper
With the current housing crisis, building faster and cheaper is essential. And with climate change, sustainable construction is a must to earn a reputation as a responsible corporate citizen. But can these three imperatives be simultaneously met in a project?
Industrial parks and sustainability: a contradiction?
Can industrial parks and sustainability go hand-in-hand? The Écoparc Châteauguay project and its goal of achieving zero-carbon certification is a prime example of how the two can be reconciled.
Générations 1,5 C˚ : a study on the profitability of sustainable building
Big changes are afoot in the world of real estate and construction investment. But is it realistic to believe that sustainable construction, while necessary, is actually profitable? The Générations 1,5 C˚ study has the answer.
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