A Real Estate Developer’s Guide to Sustainability - With Sam Mizrahi

Posted On Thursday, 26 September 2024 12:51

With climate change and increased instability at the forefront of many people’s minds, it’s no surprise that sustainability has become emphasized in many aspects of life. From recycling programs to ecological footprint calculators, there are countless ways to check and reduce your impact.

The most respected source of information on sustainability is the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. These goals include everything from sanitation and healthcare to gender inequality and poverty. For those in the real estate field, the eleventh goal is particularly noteworthy. Its aim? The creation of sustainable cities and communities.

Sam Mizrahi is a real estate developer based in Toronto. Originally from Tehran, the Iranian-Canadian is the founder of a luxury development company, Mizrahi Developments. The firm’s past projects include several luxury residences, with several more currently underway, including 2 mid-rise and 4 high-rise towers in Vaughan, Ontario. While his projects are geared toward luxury and elegance, Mizrahi also emphasizes the need for sustainability and forward thinking within real estate development.

We discussed with Sam some of the ways in which developers can enhance sustainability efforts in their projects.

1. Use high quality materials and construction practices

“One of the most intuitive ways to ensure a building’s longevity is to use high quality, resilient materials,” says Sam Mizrahi. “This ensures that a building won’t have to be torn down and replaced soon after being built.”

In addition to considering the durability of a material, it’s a good idea to consider the impacts of production. For example, materials such as aluminum can create over 18,000 kg of embodied carbon per cubic meter, whereas clay bricks or stone average around 250 ~ 350 kg per cubic meter.

2. Embrace sustainable energy sources

Solar panels are an iconic symbol of clean energy and sustainability and are a relatively easy element to implement in architectural designs. Of course, this depends on the area in which you are developing and the sunlight conditions.

Take the time to look into alternatives, including air source heat pumps and small wind turbines. Focus on what makes sense for your situation without worrying about implementing every sustainable technology available.

3. Ensure smooth integration with surroundings

Maintaining cohesion with your surroundings is often undervalued by developers. “If you have a building that doesn’t look like it fits in or isn’t useful for locals, it’s not going to work - and most likely, it’s not going to last,” Mizrahi explains.

Aim to follow similar architectural patterns to those around your site and understand the appeal of your area. Is it a retail heavy area for shoppers? Is it more residential? Ask yourself these questions and then make the necessary adjustments. That doesn’t mean compromising your entire vision. The trick is to combine old and new elements to create a long lasting building with a purpose.

4. Consider the impacts of your building

Finally, consider what impact your building will have on the larger community. Does it provide access to public transit? Bicycle routes? Electric car hook-ups? Does it create sustainable jobs or increase the quality of shared public spaces?

In order to ensure positive impacts from your developments, be sure to think these things through and plan ahead. If you are building in areas with limited greenspace, consider integrating community gardens or featuring trees for shade. In retail-heavy areas, Mizrahi recommends including retail space on lower levels of buildings and residential units above. He explains that “multi-use buildings are great because they bring together different aspects of city life, from job opportunities to residential space.”

These are just a few of the many things you can do to improve the sustainability of your developments. Doing your own research and talking to locals is perhaps the most important step you can take. And remember—in the world of real estate, planning ahead is the key to sustainable success.

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