In 2019, Mitsubishi Electric Heating & Cooling launched its Sustainable Builder of the Year Award program to spotlight the eco-forward leaders and innovators within the Canadian building community. In 2020, the honour was bestowed to Sifton Properties, a construction firm specializing in residential, office, commercial, and community projects throughout Ontario. With restrictions easing, we finally had the opportunity to present the award to Sifton.
The Mitsubishi Electric Sustainable Builder of the Year Award is part of the international firm’s mission to “enable the transition towards widespread building electrification across Canada and in support of our corporate Environmental Vision 2050 goals.” And in many ways, Sifton fits the bill.
“Sifton is a very forward-thinking developer with sustainable practices that take into consideration both the environment and the comfort of their clients,” says Clive Carr, Residential Sales Manager. HVAC Product Sales, with Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. (MESCA).
Sifton won the award for its long-standing commitment to green building practices and, more recently, the success of its West 5 community development in London, Ontario. The project features a central park and 2,000 modern townhomes, condos, apartments and retirement residences. And thanks in part to a collaboration with MESCA, the community project is 100 per cent powered by integrated solar technologies with heating and cooling supplied by heat pump technology.
“This is a completely net-zero community, generates as much power as it consumes,” says Carr, who joined Sifton for the project. “All that cutting-edge tech and equipment goes a long way towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to healthier environment.”
Neil Carter, Sifton’s Director of Commercial Construction, says the development represents the innovative approach that the 98-year-old construction company brings to the field. Speaking to the MESCA’s contributions, he adds, “We have been working with Mitsubishi Electric for the past 5 years on our West 5 net-zero community project, and they have been a wonderful partner in our pursuit to build Ontario’s most energy-efficient community powered by the sun.”
A history of green
West 5 isn’t the only eco-forward highlight in Sifton’s portfolio. Founded in 1923, the firm built its first solar home in 1978 and has contributed to a number of stand-out projects since. This includes London’s first Triple Labelled Home (LEED, ENERGY STAR, and Green Rated Home) in 2010, the City’s first net-zero home in 2016, and Ontario’s first certified multi-family net-zero home shortly thereafter.
“Sifton has always been at the forefront of sustainability,” says Carter. “Our philosophy is that sustainable construction and development isn’t the right thing to do, it is the only thing to do. Technologies like drain heat recovery systems, gray water systems, rainwater harvesting, and MESCA’s high-efficiency HVAC systems, energy recovery ventilators (ERVs), and building integrated solar are the way of the future for some, but we’re incorporating them in what we do today.”
Carter says Sifton is very proud to be named the winner of 2020 Mitsubishi Electric Sustainable Builder of the Year Award, and it is eager to find more opportunities to demonstrate its eco stewardship in the field.
Carr adds that Sifton was an easy selection for the award and that Mitsubishi Electric looks forward to finding its next recipient, noting, “Through this award, we’ll continue to promote and reward builders who are engaged in sustainable constructions practices that are creating a stronger, healthier environment that we can all enjoy well into the future.”
To learn more about Mitsubishi Electric go to www.MitsubishiElectric.ca
