Sustainability at InterRent
Our Business
We are a group of nearly 500 passionate team members dedicated to building, developing, and managing homes for close to 14,000 Canadian households.
As community builders, we provide high quality homes and customer care to a diverse resident base ranging from students to families, to young professionals and seniors. We take great pride in catering to our residents’ evolving needs and strive to have a positive impact in our communities.
Our Sustainability Journey
The foundation of our operating platform traces its roots back to 1969, and we continue to build on this 50+ year track record.
Building on decades of a sustainable mindset, we have taken concrete actions in recent years to deepen sustainability integration. Through various initiatives, we have gained insights, benchmarked our performance, and mapped out a clear roadmap to advance our sustainability journey.
2023 Highlights
Introduced ISO 50001-aligned Energy Management System.
Total Scope 1+2 Emissions reduction in 2023 vs 2022
CO2 saved through energy retrofit measures implemented in 2023 equivalent to the energy use of 132 passenger cars or 101 homes
Feasibility studies completed for renewable energy projects
raised from golf tournament and distributed to charity organizations
Hours of training completed by team members in 2023
volunteer hours contributed by our team members
of honey and 544 kg of vegetables: harvested from urban bee hives and urban farms from our communities.
Trustee Sustainability Committee established as a stand-alone committee at the board level.
of Trustees, Executives, and Team Members provided with external climate training
of suites certified through Canadian Certified Rental Building (CRB) Program as of December 2023
achieved target of >30% female representation on Board of Trustees
Governance
At InterRent, our commitment to sustainability is driven by our belief to act responsibly for our future generations and treating each other fairly. This commitment, outlined in our Sustainability Policy is built on strong corporate ethics, transparency, compliance and discipline, overseen by our Board, and upheld by each team member across the entire company.
In 2023, we established a Trustee Sustainability Committee as a stand-alone committee at the board level.
Increasing Building Certifications in Our Portfolio
Increasing the percentage of certified buildings within our portfolio was an important goal for us in 2023. We recognize that building certifications validate our commitment to sustainability, safety, and operational efficiency, fostering accountability and trust among residents and other stakeholders.
>70% of our portfolio has a building certification as of December 31, 2023.
Discover how we significantly increased our building certification coverage in 2023. Hear from Shanon, our Sustainability Project Manager.
Environmental
We are passionate about implementing sustainable projects and our objective is to pursue initiatives to reduce our environmental impacts. These initiatives benefit our residents, provide development opportunities for our teams and help to safeguard our environment through lower energy consumption, enhanced water and waste management, and reduced GHG emissions.
Energy Management
In 2023, we have established an Energy Management System in alignment with ISO 50001 by following the NRCAN’s “ISO 50001 Ready” structure. This internationally recognized standard provides a systematic framework for managing energy performance, identifying energy-saving opportunities, and driving continuous improvement. We are the first Multi-residential Owner and operator in Canada to receive “ISO 50001 Ready” recognition at 33 of our communities.
91.1% data coverage as a percentage of total floor area
-4.6% like-for-like percentage change in energy consumption
GHG Emissions
As a REIT with 100% Canadian exposure, we believe it is imperative to track our emissions and take action to drive GHG reduction in support of Canada’s climate goals.
91.1% data coverage as a percentage of total floor area
-5.6% like-for-like percentage change in GHG emissions
Waste Management
Our waste management strategy includes expanding waste data coverage and educating residents on waste reduction, reuse, and recycling practices.
53.3% data coverage as a percentage of total floor area
-2.5% like-for-like percentage change in waste
Water Management
Water is a precious resource that must be managed. Our water management strategy focuses on reducing interior and exterior water consumption by installing water-saving measures, and adopting environmentally conscious landscaping practices.
76.6% data coverage as a percentage of total floor area
5.4% like-for-like percentage change in water withdrawn
Social
Resident Engagement
We provide homes. We understand that this is not just business, but a responsibility that we take very seriously. This commitment is the foundation of our sustainability efforts.
Issued satisfaction survey to all residents in 2023
of residents are “satisfied” or “Extremely Satisfied”
Resident events in 2023
Spotlight: Office Conversion in Montreal
We're committed to increasing housing supply by leveraging our teams’ expertise and through innovative solutions. Our first office conversion project, The Slayte, added 158 suites in Ottawa's downtown while achieving embodied carbon savings. In 2023, our Earnscliffe Community project in Montreal transformed underutilized office space into 36 suites, addressing housing needs in a high-demand area.
Learn more from Daniel, the designer behind this transformation.
Our Commitments to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility
At InterRent, we embrace diversity at all levels, whether it is within our workforce or the communities we serve. In 2023, we continue to progress towards our commitments in four key areas:
- Commitment 1: Embrace the strength of our diverse workforce.
- Commitment 2: Equip our team with the knowledge, skills, and comfort to ensure that our IDEA efforts are self-sustaining into the future.
- Commitment 3: Explore racial and gender pay equity analyses.
- Commitment 4: Ensure policies and practices are inclusive.
Kalyn lights up our workplace every day with her vibrant energy. Find out how she raises awareness about working with team members with special needs, and how she continues to inspire everyone around her.
Reports
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