Canada

The Public Works and Government Services Canada1 has developed a green lease which includes:

• Management of wastewater
• Indoor air quality
• Recycling
• Energy efficient lighting fixtures
• Greenhouse gas reduction

This green lease has been applied to over 70 new or renewed leases since it was released in 2004.  Its main difficulty has been ensuring that people are informed of their option to sign up to a green lease on renewal.

REAlpac in Canada has recently released their National Standard Green Office Lease for Single-Building Projects 1.01 20082. Based on their established lease, this incorporates an Environmental Management Plan as an additional schedule.  The lease deals with issues such as indoor air quality, targets for water and power usage, carbon offsetting and carbon taxes.  It also addresses the apportionment of costs for equipment upgrades to meet targets and related issues.  REALpac also suggest that the lease can be adapted to other scenarios, and give permission for such adaptations.  Other relevant information can be downloaded from this website, including a document which illustrates the variations from their original Standard Office Lease.

1. Public Works and Government Services Canada. Real Property.  2008: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/apropos-about/fi-fs/bi-rp-eng.html.
   
2. National Standard Green Office Lease  for Single-Building Projects - 1.01 - 2008. 2008, Ontario: Real Property Association of Canada. http://www.realpac.ca/s_223.asp