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Climate & Energy

Sparking Solar Savings

Oxford is committed to being a leader in the development and operation of energy efficient, low-carbon buildings. This brings both economic and environmental benefits, such as reducing the cost of electricity and focusing on carbon emissions reductions. These two factors, along with the significantly improved economics associated with rooftop solar power, ‘sparked’ Oxford’s pledge to create 1 million SF of rooftop solar by 2024.

To date, we have built over 200,000 SF of solar across our portfolio.

Our first significant solar project at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto features 600 rooftop solar panels, installed on 20,000 SF and generates over 230,000 kWh of clean electricity/year – equivalent to three months of interior and exterior lighting at the property.

Two buildings in Washington DC – 1101 New York Ave (office building) and Gallery Place (a mixed-use office/retail building) installed 10,000 SF and produce over 100,000 kWh combined annually. In collaboration with our partner New Community Solar, all the clean renewable energy produced from the solar panels is donated to low income households in the community via a credit of 50% off their monthly electricity bills.

In 2019, Oxford’s low-carbon energy, which comprises solar and other renewable energy sources, such as deep lake water cooling, geothermal, and clean grids, accounts for almost 9% of the total electricity usage across our global portfolio.

Wellbeing

Building Community in Strides

Running off the previous success of ‘the year of yoga’, we introduced an all-levels run program affectionately known as Oxford Stride.

Building-specific run clubs were offered as a complimentary amenity to office customers throughout the spring and summer months at our buildings in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, New York and Washington. The clubs met once to twice a week for a multi-week series with the intention to engage customers and promote wellbeing initiatives. Each program was designed for various levels, including those just learning to run.

Runs were led through some notable landmarks in each respective city, including Central Park in New York, Washington Monument in Washington, DC, Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canoe Landing Park in Toronto, and along the Eau Claire River in Calgary.

The run clubs built a great sense of community among our various customers as a chance to get to know new faces in the building and enjoy exploring the built environment around their work space.

Materials & Resources

Opting for Carbon Friendly Materials

How does a building reduce its embodied carbon emissions? This is what our partner, Investa, set out to achieve at 347 Kent Street in Sydney, Australia, as part of their overarching net zero carbon target (to reduce the embodied carbon emissions intensity by 50% below their reference standards by 2040).

Embodied carbon considers the carbon footprint of materials throughout the supply chain, the very materials that make up our buildings. With 347 Kent St positioned for re-development, it was a perfect opportunity to determine potential embodied carbon emissions reductions by comparing typical materials used with that of carbon friendly alternatives.

The goal – Align with the first stage of the net zero target and reduce embodied carbon emissions by 15%.

The result – 17% reduction (~2,040 tonnes of avoided CO2 equivalent), a savings that exceeds the building's pre-refurbished annual operations scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions (~1,903 tonnes CO2e).

Some of the key initiatives that contributed to this outcome include the re-use of ceiling grid (which had initially been programmed for demolition and disposal at the project's outset); the adoption of 30-40% fly-ash replacement concrete mix; 100% second hand formwork; recycled content re-bar; re-purposed steel temporary structures; and retaining the heritage façade.

Community

Standing Up for Inclusion and Diversity

Oxford is committed to developing an inclusive and respectful culture – at our workplace and buildings we manage. And we are proud of the actions we are taking to bring this commitment to life.

Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, Canada participates in the region’s “Safe Place” Program as part of their continued commitment to inclusivity in the workplace and to demonstrate support to the LGBTQIA+ community. A Safe Place sticker is placed prominently on the front window to notify members of the LGBTQIA+ community that this business is committed to providing safety to the victim by allowing them to enter their business, provide them with shelter and by assisting the victim in contacting police to report hate-motivated crimes and incidents.

Shopping malls across the Canadian portfolio, including Upper Canada Mall (Newmarket), Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Toronto), and Kingsway Mall (Edmonton) opened universal and all-gender washrooms. The washrooms provide inclusive options for everyone, including transgender people and people of diverse gender identities and expressions.