Two Million Green Homes
Ensuring Canada’s Needed New Housing is Affordable, Attainable, and Sustainable
In this report, Two Million Green Homes: Ensuring Canada’s Needed New Housing is Affordable, Attainable, and Sustainable, CAGBC explores the importance of investing in quality construction for multi-unit rental developments. Building these apartment buildings with sustainable features delivers significant benefits for Canadians: lower utility costs, cleaner air, and protection from extreme weather.
The report outlines the successes of Canada’s real estate and development sector on delivering green housing, the key challenges they face and the ways CAGBC will support sustainable housing as the solution to Canada’s housing squeeze.
The report demonstrates that sustainability and affordability are not competing priorities. They can be complementary when we leverage sustainable technologies and prioritize quality. Supported by thoughtful policies and innovative financing models, Canada can spur housing that is green, cost-effective, and resilient to our changing climate.
2025 Update
Since publishing the report in November 2024, the media and political focus on housing supply and cost has persisted. Today, housing remains a pressing concern for Canada’s government, communities, and building sector. In the first half of 2025, Canada saw some progress around housing supply, yet challenges remain. As a result, CAGBC is updating its assessment of critical challenges, opportunities, and the actions it plans to take to support industry’s ability to build the homes Canadians need and deserve.
Expanding our impact
The following organizations participated in industry engagement to advance this work:
- Canada Lands Company
- Daniels Corporation
- Desjardins
- Ellis Don
- Fengate
- Flex Modular
- Greater Toronto Apartment Association
- KindredWorks
- KingSett Capital
- Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. (MESCA)
- Multiplex
- Ottawa Community Housing
- Peter Gilgan Foundation
- RBC Commercial Banking Sustainable Finance
- R-Labs
- Starlight
- Windmill
- WoodGreen Community Services