How can we prepare buildings for current and future climate realities?
The intensification of extreme weather events is no longer a hypothesis, but a reality to which real estate in Quebec must adapt. With the recent arrival of BOMA BEST v4.1, the launch of LEED v5, and the increase in extra-financial data (ESG) obligations, climate resilience is transitioning from a theoretical concept to a major operational pillar. For property owners, the challenge is twofold: protecting occupants and securing long-term asset value.
What are the real climate risks for real estate portfolios in Quebec and Canada?
Buildings must address specific threats that test the robustness of their envelopes and the reliability of their energy systems:
- Flooding from torrential rains: The increased frequency of torrential downpours overwhelms municipal and building drainage systems, increasing the risk of backflows and infiltrations.
- Urban heatwaves: The urban heat island effect overloads cooling systems and threatens the health of occupants.
- Ice storms and strong winds: These events threaten the structural integrity of buildings, potentially damaging the envelope, and disrupting the continuity of power supply.
- Wildfire smoke: A situation that degrades outdoor and indoor air quality, requiring high-performance filtration systems (MERV 13+), with frequent replacement and increased envelope airtightness.
How are certification bodies adapting to these new threats?
The LEED v5 standard introduces a climate projection requirement over a 30 to 50-year horizon. Two new concepts now compel projects to go further:
- Passive habitability: A building's ability to remain safe (stable temperature) during a prolonged power outage, thanks to a superior thermal envelope.
- Proactive water management: Prioritizing sites that act as "sponges" to limit pressure on public infrastructure during heavy rainfall.
How does the climate change resilience plan become the foundation of your strategy?
According to the new prerequisite LEED v5 IPp1 Climate Risk Assessment, each project must now conduct a climate vulnerability assessment. A similar process is also required for BOMA BEST v4.1 under the mandatory question R2.0 – Past Climate Hazards. This process helps determine intervention priorities by cross-referencing local climate data with the building's specific characteristics.
The analysis is based on a rigorous matrix evaluating:
- Exposure: Is the site located in a risk zone (heat, flood) according to local climate plans?
- Sensitivity: Are the systems or occupants particularly vulnerable to these risks?
- Vulnerability: What is the overall risk level (Low, Medium, High)?
This matrix helps identify priority risks and structure the Resilience Plan, which defines concrete measures (e.g., elevating mechanical equipment, strengthening the building envelope) to protect the asset.
Whether you're planning new construction or upgrading an existing building, here are the questions to ask yourself:
- Is your real estate asset designed for 1990 seasonal norms or for the climate reality of 2050?
- How do you determine what to focus on to ensure your building is truly ready?
Our team – pioneers with Canada's first LEED v5 Platinum certified project – helps you transform climate risks into value drivers:
- Integrate resilience, decarbonization, and occupant comfort from the design phase or during major renovations.
- Conduct energy audits to identify the best energy efficiency and decarbonization opportunities for your current buildings, taking climate challenges into account.
- Develop your resilience and social impact plans in compliance with the strict requirements of LEED v5 and BOMA BEST.
- Optimize your company's ESG strategy to meet the financial and non-financial disclosure standards highly sought after by project owners, investors, and insurers.
- Maximize your grants to fund your vulnerability studies and EcoPerformance measures.
Contact Nicolas Vincent, ESG Impact Strategist, to discuss it: n.vincent@tst-inc.ca
