Key Takeaways: How Canada's Top Contractors are Reducing Jobsite Emissions

In case you missed it...

In our recent webinar event, industry experts shared valuable insights on how Canada's top contractors are reducing jobsite emissions. Nine of Canada’s largest general contractors—Aecon, Bird, Chandos, EllisDon, Graham, Ledcor, Multiplex, PCL, and Pomerleau—have partnered with The Transition Accelerator to release a groundbreaking new report charting a practical path to meeting the scale of Canada’s construction challenge while significantly reducing emissions from jobsites nationwide. Drawing on operational data from more than 600 real-world projects, Growing and Greening Canadian Construction: Five Ways for Canadian Construction Companies to Build More and Emit Less is the first initiative of its kind in Canada to rigorously measure construction-site emissions and identify high-impact, actionable strategies that can cut carbon while improving efficiency and affordability. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. THE SOLUTIONS: The report identifies the top 5 high impact actions for reducing emissions, totaling up to 75% reduction potential! ACTION 1: This is the lowest-cost, easiest-to-implement decarbonization step with mature technology and minimal operational disruption. ACTION 2: Heating is a major emissions hotspot, so improving efficiency first (then electrifying) delivers quick cost savings and emissions cuts. ACTION 3: Renewable diesel provides immediate large emissions reductions (40–80%) without changing equipment, making it the most practical short-term solution for heavy machinery ACTION 4: Using grid electricity instead of diesel generators is a high-impact systems change that cuts emissions at scale while improving site efficiency. ACTION 5: Better project planning and procurement decisions unlock emissions reductions across all activities, often with no added cost. The central message is that deep emissions reductions are achievable today using a mix of available technologies, smarter planning, and transitional fuels—not distant innovations. Many of the highest-impact solutions (like electrification, efficiency improvements, and renewable diesel) are already cost-competitive or even cost-saving, especially when implemented early in project planning.

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! — Your CLF Toronto Steering Committee