Sustainability

Land Development

• Great Gulf’s Land Development Division ensures each Master Planned community prioritises design that establishes a sustainable high quality of life. Our communities not only provide lasting homes for residents, but also often incorporate or provide access to a variety of neighbouring retail, commercial and community uses. Through the community street network and connected public realm of defined pedestrian walkway, trail and bike networks, residents are offered a variety of means for accessing neighbouring uses based on their current and future lifestyle preference.
• Priority is also placed on retention, enhancement and integration of the Natural Heritage Features and Systems. Great Gulf recognizes that the visual and physical accessibility of these features and systems perform vital social and ecological functions, and choose to emphasize our communities with integrated networks of trails and parks that enhance the woodlots, wetlands, creeks and valleylands. Our Summerlyn Village neighbourhood is a great example offering residents over 3 km of dedicated trail networks and over 75 acres of open environment via the parks, open space and wooded areas. Sharon Village also offers residents with significant public realm with approximately 4.5 km of trails integrated throughout the whole community.
• Planning of our Communities applies a sustainable systems approach; the preservation, conservation and regeneration of vital Natural Heritage Features and systems ensures that once our land is developed it continues to maintain similar vital system functions and features while being integrated into the surrounding community, necessary infrastructure, roadways and stormwater management ponds. For example,
• The substantial compensation and enhanced plantings of native species,
• The preservation or relocation of an identified sensitive wildlife habitat,
• The realignment and/or improved planting of creek systems to maintain or enhance tributary flows,
• The use of Low Impact Development (LID) infrastructure to assist in maintaining pre-development water infiltration and groundwater renewal, or
• Each development is substantially compensated to protect and promote wildlife and ecological continuity. Arbour Peaks community in Milton is an example of a systems wide approach whereby the identified creek and tributary networks were realigned and enhanced with native species and habitats to maintain or improve vital system functions post-development.
• Great Gulf also actively collaborates with municipalities by embracing their sustainable development guidelines as a mechanism to reduce the impact on municipal infrastructure and by promoting sustainable living practices through the use of Sustainable Homeowner Guides, as done in Sharon Village;
• Great Gulf seeks to continue using and improving on our available alternative.

Low-Rise Development

For over 40 years, we’ve built our reputation by continually seeking to marry design innovation, construction technology and craftsmanship in new and exciting ways.

• We make every effort to ensure communities are created from locally sourced materials, including: hardwood flooring, exterior claddings and windows.
• We employ local suppliers and manufactures for key areas of construction including; drywall, masonry and windows. This reduces the energy consumption for delivery and allows us to maintain strict control of our standards.
• We focus on reducing air loss in each home we build. Air tightness offers the best opportunity to save on HVAC costs. For each home our air-barrier specialists perform site inspections and ensure proper installation and building practices. We go above and beyond the industry standard by blower testing each home.
• We provide on-site training for our trades to locate and isolate areas of the home that may be susceptible to air leakage ensuring proper installation and results.
• Our list of low-rise development specifications includes:
  • Selecting low-flow plumbing fixtures / LED lighting
  • Using low VOC materials to achieve better air quality for all paint, flooring and cabinets
  • Certified farm lumber

Active House

We are proud to be a partner of this not-for-profit international organization where its mandate is to realize “a vision of buildings that create healthier and more comfortable lives for their occupants, without negative impact on the climate – moving us towards a cleaner, healthier and a more sustainable world”

• Through Active House, we are devoted to the promotion of healthy buildings. With innovative design and smart technology we are able to see a multitude of health and environmental benefits.
• The overarching focus of our commitment to Active House International is to increase the propensity of green building for all families.
• Great Gulf launched Active House Canada. Its employees sit on both the Advisory Board and Board of Directors of Active House International.
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