Toronto’s Best Eco-Friendly Condos

Toronto’s Best Eco-Friendly Condos

We all need to do our part to combat climate change — and many of us take climate into consideration in our daily lives by recycling, using public transportation or walking when possible, and turning off lights and appliances when not in use.

If you fall into that category, you’re likely feeling good about your carbon footprint. After all, you recycle and compost in your green bin and try to avoid takeout containers — you don’t take that weird cup holder thing in the drive through, and your car is relatively fuel efficient. Perhaps, you’ve even grown a plant or two without it dying in an act of negligence.

You’re all set on climate! Congratulations!

Except, that your home may in fact not be very eco friendly. Large single-family dwellings can often leave a large carbon footprint and even some condos aren’t as environmentally friendly as you might hope. What’s worse, you’re probably paying more in utilities than you would with an eco friendly home.

So, if you want to save money and help save the environment, you may wish to look for an eco friendly condo. The only problem is: how do you find a green condo in Toronto?

What Is an Eco-Friendly Condo?

Spotting the distinction between an eco friendly condo and a not-so eco friendly condo can be challenging. In most cases, you cannot spot an eco friendly condo from street level, and while many buildings advertise themselves as environmentally friendly, what that entails can vary wildly between condo buildings.

One of the sure-fire ways to know if a building is eco friendly is whether or not it’s received LEED certification; a certification with four standards — certified, silver, gold, and platinum — and based on a number of different criteria for green building strategies, such as location, water flow efficiency, energy efficiency, and more.

Based on this certification process, you can have confidence that a building is eco friendly, but if you’re very thorough or just curious, these are some of the features you can expect to encounter in an eco friendly building.

• Rainwater harvesting
• Dual flush efficient toilets
• Green roofs — vegetation on top of the roof to cool the building
• Environmentally friendly building materials
• Ride sharing programs
• Charging stations
• Energy star appliances
• LED lighting and motion sensor lighting

This isn’t the definitive list of green features found in green condos in Toronto as there are new features developed all the time. Finding a building with a number of these features will ensure that your carbon footprint is as low as possible, and to save you some time, we’ve tracked down the most efficient buildings in the Greater Toronto Area that are also great homes.

The Best Green Condos in Toronto

What makes for the best eco friendly condo? Well, it starts with energy efficient features and green building strategies, however, the best eco friendly condos provide style, comfort, and as a bonus, they make for great investments.

Minto 775

Minto 775 takes its eco friendly designation to heart. The building incorporates a number of energy-saving features such as a rain harvesting system and a green roof to keep the building cool. Residents have a car share program, a bike share program, and electric charging stations for electric cars.

Inside, the units carry on with the energy saving theme with dual flush efficient toilets and expanded recycling options. Of course, Minto 775 is so much more than just an eco friendly building. Residents enjoy an array of alluring extras such as fitness centre, games room, parking garage, rooftop deck and garden, concierge, and more. Suites are finished with high quality materials such as hardwood floors and granite counters, and all suites have energy efficient appliances.

375 King Street West, M5V

A contemporary building with LEED Gold Status, M5V strikes a balance between affordability, luxury, and eco friendly living. It’s a condo that’s perfectly suited to King West, and a great choice for budget minded buyers who want to do their part to reduce emissions.

Eco friendly features at 375 King Street aren’t just great for the environment, they’re also great for your wallet or purse or money clip… whatever weird thing you use to hold cash. All suites are equipped with energy recycling systems and constructed of eco friendly building materials. The placement of the mechanical room at the midpoint of the building ensures that energy is utilized efficiently. A green roof keeps the building cool on warm summer days and also provides a potential home for insects.

One other notable feature that’s a bonus to anyone seeking green condos in Toronto, the deep balconies keep the units cooler and also provide more space than found with most modern units. All suites have hardwood floors and upgraded kitchens with granite counters and integrated stainless-steel appliances. Not bad for an eco friendly building!

Quantum Towers

Located in midtown, Quantum South Tower and North Tower have already carved out a reputation for affordability and functionality in the Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood, but their eco friendly innovations have largely flown under the radar.

Units in this building are equipped with efficient air quality regulation systems for cooling and heating, motion sensing lights in hallways, dual flush toilets in all suites, LED lighting on the exterior of the building, and energy star efficient appliances. These towers have both received LEED Gold certification.

All of these energy efficient features will certainly be felt in your lighter utility bills, and best of all, suites have desirable finishes like granite counters, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, and lavish materials in bathrooms.

Oh, did we mention that these developments are overflowing with incredible amenities, including a pool and saunas, and that these fantastic towers are mere steps from Eglinton Subway Station? We probably should have led with that.

One Cole Street

One Cole Condos In Regent Park is a building that offers peace of mind and fantastic homes. 1 Cole doesn’t just feature great eco friendly initiatives, it’s also quite innovative; residents have individual gardening plots so they can take part in climate friendly action; a unique living wall functions as a natural plant life air filter, and a sprawling rooftop garden keeps the building cool and provides some valuable oxygen in the city.

There are heat recovery vents for conserving energy and all suites have energy efficient appliances. One Cole Street has received LEED Gold certification and happens to be in a great location for getting some fresh air in the city along the Lower Don River Trail.

Beautiful suites and relaxing amenities might make the eco friendly features an afterthought, but nonetheless, residents are doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint, even when they’re not thinking about it.

55 Front Street East

Located in St Lawrence Market, a neighbourhood that needs no introduction, The Berczy is a 12 storey standout that offers a blend of luxury and eco efficiency. Naturally, this residence is LEED Gold certified.

Like many other green condos in Toronto, the Berczy has a green roof that helps to regulate the building’s temperature, and as well, the materials used in construction were designed to improve air quality. Energy efficient electrical features and recycled building materials were used in construction when possible. Also, units have energy efficient heating and cooling.es.

All suites have European style kitchens with integrated appliances, granite or stone countertops, hardwood floors, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows, and open concept layouts. Rounding out the attractions, this building offers an array of exciting recreation focused amenities — media room, gym, games room, and more — as well as below average maintenance fees.

Minto 30 Roehampton

The second Minto building featured, also LEED Gold certified, is a residence that’s no less eco friendly or desirable then its counterpart. 30 Roehampton Ave includes a multitude of green initiatives — a bike share program, charging stations for electric vehicles, a green roof, rainwater harvesting, and special heat treatments on window panes to reduce energy loss.

Minto 30 is situated in the Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood, only minutes from shopping, dining, nightlife, and a subway station. All suites have luxurious kitchens with granite counters and stainless-steel, energy efficient appliances, as well as floor to ceiling windows and private balconies.

While the price per square foot is roughly average for the neighbourhood, maintenance fees are below average thanks to energy efficient features and yet, the building features an assortment of exciting amenities.

Aqualina Condos at Bayside

Aqualina Condos at Bayside has an enviable distinction—it’s the first green condo in Toronto to receive LEED Platinum certification, a gigantic feat. Constructed in 2018, Aqualina is a stunning lakeside condo in Toronto’s waterfront community, home to 362 suites spread out over 12 storeys.

It’s clear that achieving platinum certification was an important goal for Acqualina. The condo utilizes solar panels on the roof for electricity, water efficient plumbing, and a slew of innovative features to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

While this is one of the most eco efficient condos in the country, green features don’t detract from amenities; residents have a shared rooftop infinity pool and lounge with lakefront views, a movie room, a party room, a fitness centre, and much more. Suites have desirable finishes such as integrated energy efficient appliances, hardwood floors, and open concept layouts; for those seeking a higher degree of luxury, the building offers a signature collection of suites, as well as penthouses.

A lakefront condo with LEED Platinum certification — does it get any better?