Minto Named Ontario Green Builder of the Year and Leader of the Year Again

For the second year in a row, Minto honoured with the two top prizes at EnerQuality's Awards of Excellence

OTTAWA, Feb. 25, 2013 /CNW/ - At EnerQuality's annual Awards of Excellence, The Minto Group was named both the 2012 Leader of the Year and Ontario Green Builder of the Year for the second year in a row by the organization, Canada's foremost provider of green building services. The awards were announced at the Village of Blue Mountain Conference Centre in Collingwood as part of the 2013 Builder and Renovator Forum - the residential construction industry's premier educational event organized by EnerQuality and the Ontario Home Builders' Association (OHBA).

According to EnerQuality, the Green Builder of the Year award "recognizes the builder that raises the bar for the rest of the industry through its leadership in improving the environmental, energy efficiency and overall technical image of the industry." The Leader of the Year Award is given to an industry-nominated recipient who exhibits "commitment, advocacy and leadership in driving the growth of energy efficient/green new housing in Ontario."  In receiving these high honours, Minto was recognized for exceeding voluntary program technical certification requirements in new home construction, going "above and beyond" in marketing and sales programs to drive awareness, as well as effectively integrating green into its internal culture through a dedicated division of sustainability professionals, a body of green employee volunteers and company-wide initiatives.

EnerQuality was founded in 1998 as a partnership between the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance and the Ontario Home Builders' Association. Its mission is to transform Ontario's housing into the most energy efficient and sustainable in the world.

Minto has a celebrated history of receiving Ontario green building accolades. In 2011, Minto was named EnerQuality's Leader of the Year and Green Builder of the Year. Minto also won the Ontario Home Builders' Association GREEN Builder of the Year award in 2008, 2010 and 2011, before that particular award merged into EnerQuality's Awards of Excellence program in 2012. In 2012, Minto was named the Ontario Home Builder of the Year by the OHBA.

In applying for the EnerQuality Ontario Green Builder of the Year, Minto highlighted its leadership in a number of areas, including: enrollment in energy efficiency programs, industry support, ability to exceed building program technical requirements, green sales and marketing excellence and progressive environmental strategy and policies.

"For decades, Minto has committed to delivering healthier, more efficient spaces that benefit our customers as well as the environment - and we are truly honoured that, year after year, our industry peers continue to recognize that," says Michael Waters, President of Minto Communities - Ontario.

Minto is committed to 100% third party verification on all of its new developments; as of last November, 2,224 Minto homes in Ontario have been ENERGY STAR^® qualified and since 2009, Minto has certified over 1,400 units under various LEED^® programs. In 2012, Minto received five LEED^® certifications - one of which was the LEED^® Platinum Core and Shell certification of its flagship office tower in Ottawa, 180 Kent. 180 Kent was also the recipient of the 2012 National Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) ^® award.

About Minto:
The Minto Group, established in 1955, is an Ottawa-based real estate, development, construction and property management company with operations also in Toronto, London (ON), Calgary and Florida.

SOURCE: The Minto Group

Alison Minato, Vice President Sustainability, The Minto Group, Inc.

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