Sustainability & Environmental Consulting

Hälsa, a joint venture between Windmill Developments and Leader Lane Developments, is set to become Toronto's first One Planet Living community, featuring innovative timber frame mid-rise buildings aimed at significantly reducing embodied carbon impacts. The project consists of three residential buildings in Etobicoke’s Mimico neighbourhood, comprising two six-storey and one eight-storey structure, totaling 83 homes. These buildings are strategically located within a 10-minute walk of each other at 230 Royal York, 430 Royal York, and 722 The Queensway.

The Hälsa project addresses several niche issues related to sustainability and community health. It incorporates well-structured resident surveys to compare health and wellbeing indicators against local baselines, ensuring that the community promotes health and happiness. The design emphasizes active travel, with excellent provisions for minimizing car dependency, including convenient access to public transport and active travel routes. The project features a low car parking ratio of less than 0.5 spaces per dwelling, complemented by ample electric vehicle charging stations. The Walkscore ratings range from 66 to 77, and cycling scores are between 68 and 84, indicating a strong emphasis on sustainable transportation options.

In terms of materials, Hälsa is pioneering the use of prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) for mid-rise construction in Toronto, which is expected to reduce upfront embodied carbon to below 250 kgCO2/m2. The project prioritizes local sourcing, responsible extraction, and environmental product declarations, aligning with its sustainability goals. The One Planet Living (OPL) Lifestyle package is designed to encourage low-impact consumption habits among residents.

Energy efficiency is another critical aspect of the Hälsa project. It aims for a Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) target of less than 30 kWh/m2, utilizing ground-source heat pumps for space heating and cooling. The modeled energy use intensity is 69 kWh/m2, and the project plans to implement post-occupancy energy monitoring for at least one year. The use of clean grid electricity results in a minimal residual greenhouse gas intensity of 2.5 kgCO2/m2, which will be offset in accordance with Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) standards.

Overall, Hälsa represents a significant step towards making One Planet Living a standard practice in community development, addressing sustainability challenges through innovative design and collaborative efforts.