Tridel's Rêve: with Internet Protocol (IP) technology, users can connect via phones and tablets to non-computing devices such as cameras and even home thermostats. 

Talk about the importance of energy-efficient building practices in the construction of condominiums and other high-rise structures has become common: Tridel has put the talk into action, with measurable results. And the results show that building “green” pays off, for builder, owners and the community at large.

With a Green Condo Loan from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund to help offset the costs of building to the high environmental standards necessary for LEED Silver certification, Tridel made possible a groundbreaking study of two near-identical buildings, built within a couple of years of each other and on the same site. The newer of the two was built with thermal sub-meters in each suite so that owners could manage their own energy costs. It is estimated that it costs about 2.5 per cent more to construct an energy-efficient building than to build to current code standards.

The most striking result of the study is seen in the gas and electricity costs at the two buildings over a two-year period. The LEED building used 41 per cent less energy per square foot than the non-LEED building. Most of the saving was in the amount of natural gas used: the LEED building used half as much as the other. Electricity costs were also lower. The energy savings translates into a substantial cost saving to the LEED building: the residents spent $124,000 less than their neighbours. It also translates into a reduction of 550 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

An interesting finding to come out of the study was that the LEED building used $20,000 less energy than had been predicted by the energy model created before building. As for the loan from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, the condominium owners realized a net saving of $74,000 after paying back the principal and interest over twelve months, proving that it had been a worthwhile investment.

The project was useful in another concrete way: since the condos were built, the city introduced the Toronto Green Standard, making the standards of energy efficiency achieved in the study buildings as a baseline for all high-rise residential towers built in Toronto from now on.

Armed with hard data from the building comparison study, reported on by Tower Labs @ MaRS, an energy consultancy started by Tridel, the developer plans to incorporate new energy-saving technologies in future buildings. A dramatic example is the new Tridel building on Front Street West, called Rêve. There they partnered with Cisco Systems to build an Eco-suite that showcases the very latest in IP technology for home energy management. The homeowner with this technology can tell at a glance exactly how much energy any given appliance or device is using at any time. Everything in the suite is in some way “green,” either made from recycled materials or designed for energy efficiency or reduced consumption. The suite even has its own solar energy source. According to Tridel's chief information officer, Ted Maulucci, future Tridel buildings will have a Cisco network at their core. 

More evidence of Tridel’s commitment to cutting edge IP technology in its buildings is the “virtual concierge” who takes care of residents and visitors at Rêve. She controls the building’s mechanical and emergency safety systems, as well as more than thirty security cameras on site, from a remote location. Anyone who lives in the building can see the same cameras as “Vanessa” the virtual concierge sees, through their tablets and PCs. This creates an effective "neighbourhood watch" for residents.