WORTH A LOOK A day-in-the life view of IAQ and risk

Attention has turned to indoor air quality (IAQ) in recent years. Air cleaners and filtration systems were flying off the shelves throughout COVID but how effective are they? Today there is an awareness that testing and data analysis must be done to ensure whatever IAQ theory and/or technology that is used is actually effective. A survey conducted by Leger for BreatheEasyTO, a consortium of organizations measuring IAQ, showed that 70 per cent of Toronto residents are concerned about catching a respiratory virus at work. Public transit, gyms, medical offices, restaurants, office spaces and retail stores were all cited as places of concern for residents. BreatheEasyTO set out to evaluate the risk of contracting an airborne illness such as COVID, colds or flu in the fall of 2022.

In November 2022, BreathEasyTO performed a rapid air safety test using a tracersensor system developed by Poppy Health in 119 Toronto locations covering more than nine million cubic feet of indoor space. “Tracer technology has been used by researchers to validate aircraft safety and hospital ventilation effectiveness. And now it can be used every day in every space to answer a timely question for the public and building managers,” said Sam Molyneux, co-CEO, Poppy Health and BreatheEasy consortium member. The program measured how quickly each space cleared viruses and bacteria using effective air changes per hour (ACH). According to the results, 75 per cent of spaces tested had an ACH of six or greater, the equivalent of replacing the air in the room every 10 minutes. The U.S. Center for Disease Control guidelines suggest hospitals should maintain six ACH or higher to reduce the risk of respiratory transmission. However, the results show that ACH varies significantly in public spaces. For instance, a restaurant was measured at 4.7 ACH, a movie lobby was 5.2 ACH, and a pedestrian walkway was 3.1 ACH.

“We all know that we can’t manage what we don’t measure. As an active participant and sponsor of BreathEasyTO, we are not only raising awareness of the need to measure air safety but also collecting meaningful data that gives us the insight to improve indoor air quality,” said Steve Horwoord, vice president of business development, Ainsworth and BreatheEasy consortium member.

Members of BreatheEasyTO include Poppy Health, Ainsworth Inc., Surgically Clean Air, and TSFV. Testing in Toronto continued until the end of 2022. Additional information is available at breathe.city.

Green Buildings Career Map offers job seekers new paths to employment

The Green Buildings Career Map is an online interactive tool designed to help workers and employers explore job opportunities across four sectors of the green buildings and energy efficiency industry. It also charts progression of jobs and the credentials needed to do them well, and lists more than 300 advancement routes between jobs and sectors. Jobs include entry, mid-level and advanced roles, and includes positions in architecture, engineering and other professional services; building operations/facility management; commercial and institutional construction and retrofitting; and residential and multi-family construction and retrofitting. greenbuildingscareermap.org

Randstad releases its 2023 salary guide, top 15 jobs of 2023

Randstad has released its 2023 salary guide, which includes salary information generated by the Economic Research Institute about wages, cost of living and compensation for more than 1,000 industry sectors in entry-, mid- and senior-level positions across Canada, including mechanical engineering and skilled trades jobs. According to Randstad, 65 per cent of employees say the pandemic made them rethink the place work should have in their lives, with 47 per cent saying they now are more likely to prioritize family and personal life over work. That means companies looking to hire and retain employees must offer competitive wages, as well as non-monetary benefits such as flexibility and autonomy in daily work. Employees are also looking for companies that place an importance on their well-being, and that respect their values, needs and personality. Randstad Canada also revealed what it says are the top 15 trending jobs for 2023. randstad.ca

CIPHEX West returns to Calgary

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating has announced that CIPHEX West 2023 will take place October 18 and 19, 2023 at BMO Centre at Stampede Park in Calgary, AB. The trade show is the largest exhibition for HVAC/R, plumbing, hydronics and water treatment in Western Canada, and features more than 200 Canadian, American, and international exhibitors. ciph.com

Modern Niagara retrofit receives IREE certification

Modern Niagara Group Inc. has announced that its large-scale commercial building retrofit in Kingston, ON has achieved Investor Ready Energy Efficiency (IREE) certification. The 220,000-sq. ft. building is one of the largest projects in Canada to receive the certification. IREE certification is based on a framework developed by the Investor Confidence Project (ICP) and designates compliance with assessments certifying energy efficiency retrofit projects through third-party verification. The commercial space is being transformed into an energy efficient and sustainable innovation hub. The retrofit features infrastructure upgrades to reduce carbon emissions by more than 80 per cent, which includes replacing its fossil-fuelled heating system with electrified systems. Construction on the retrofit project began in 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2024.

modernniagara.com

Enbridge Gas introduces HER+ program for rebates

Enbridge Gas has introduced the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program to deliver the Canada Greener Homes Grant to eligible homeowners in Ontario. The program, launched together with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the government of Ontario, offers rebates towards the cost of eligible retrofits, including renewable energy systems. Eligible homeowners can receive a grant of up to $5,000, while eligible Enbridge Gas customers can apply for up to $5,000 more, funded by Enbridge Gas. Homeowners can also receive a rebate of up to $600 to offset the cost of their EnerGuide home assessment.

enbridgegas.com

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