CCA Weekly - July 4, 2012

Infrastructure

Canada is at a tipping point: Federal Roundtables to Address Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

The federal government roundtables on the new long-term infrastructure plan are a key opportunity to increase the government's understanding of the ground level challenges facing Canada's cities and communities, and to ensure the success of the new long-term plan, says the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).  Read more

Wanted: An Innovative Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

The degree to which infrastructure dominates the conversation across the municipal policy community—and those that plug into it—is amazing. Much of the collective hum is being fuelled by developments in Ottawa around the Building Canada Fund, which is set to expire in 2014. Senior Policy Analyst with the Canada West Foundation Casey Vander Ploeg explores what a new long term infrastructure plan might look like, and how to make it innovative. Read more

Green Building

Canada Green Building Council launches GREEN UP Building Performance Program

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is announcing the release of GREEN UP, a building performance program for building owners and operators to measure, compare, and improve their real estate portfolios. GREEN UP enables the benchmarking of energy and water use, goal-setting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and helps identify ways to improve the operational and environmental performance of projects across building portfolios. Read more

Innovation and Technology

Nanotech paint can show stress and strain

U.S. researchers say a nano-infused "strain paint" can reveal stress in materials and holds promise for detecting strain in aircraft, bridges and buildings. Scientists at Rice University say the material made with carbon nanotubes can reveal deformations in structures by its fluorescence that could be read by a handheld infrared spectrometer, allowing in-the-field stress detection. Read more

Economy

Declines in Residential Construction Nudge Down Construction GDP

According to Statistics Canada, real gross domestic product grew 0.3% in April, after edging up 0.1% in March. Construction edged down 0.1% in April as declines in residential construction and repair works outweighed gains in non-residential building and engineering construction. Read more