Builders & Contractors

Deliver Buildings That Are Efficient, Smart, Healthy—and Built to Last

As a builder or contractor, you’re on the front lines of turning high-performance design into real-world outcomes. Your role is essential in ensuring that buildings are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standards of energy efficiency, safety, and performance.

But achieving these goals isn’t easy—especially when faced with complex regulations, fluctuating demand, and skilled labour shortages. That’s where Frameworks can help. We provide a platform for cross-sector collaboration, industry capacity building, and key stakeholder connections to help you build sustainably and profitably.

Why Engage?

Navigate Industry Trends

Stay up to date on evolving codes, standards, innovations, and market trends to plan for future-proofing your business.

Partner with Training & Education Institutions

We work with technical programs and trade schools to strengthen workforce capacity and support upskilling for sustainable construction.

Bridge Gaps Across the Project Ecosystem

Collaborate with developers/owners, designers/consultants, financiers, and policymakers to align strategies, strengthen buy-in, and deliver high-performance outcomes.

Explore our Resources

Discover why building green is good for business—and beyond. This focus area demonstrates the compelling case for investing in efficient, smart, and healthy buildings, highlighting benefits such as financial returns, climate resilience, occupant well-being, and market competitiveness.

Real-world data from one of Canada’s top green building authorities shows why zero-carbon buildings make financial sense across building types.
A leading real estate voice explains why sustainability is becoming a financial imperative in today’s evolving property market.
A bank’s perspective on why deep retrofits are a smart, strategic investment for commercial building owners.
A regional perspective with practical recommendations on business case evaluation and financing options for deep retrofits in MURBs.
Data from 38 residential projects in B.C. reveals that high-performance buildings don’t have to cost more.

Reaching net-zero emissions is quickly becoming the new standard. This focus area introduces the foundational concepts and pathways for designing or retrofitting buildings to be carbon neutral—providing a solid starting point before diving into technologies or code specifics.

A foundational resource on net-zero energy (NZE) and net-zero energy ready (NZEr) buildings that explains what they are, why they matter, and how they can be achieved.
Real-world data from one of Canada’s top green building authorities shows why zero-carbon buildings make financial sense across building types.
A strategic outline of key decision-making factors for determining whether to retrofit or rebuild for improved emissions and performance.
A practical step-by-step roadmap to enhance energy efficiency through retrofits, reducing costs and emissions.

We’re building a library of real-world examples of Efficient, Smart, and Healthy buildings.
Case studies will be added on an ongoing basis—check back soon or sign up below to stay updated.

Ontario’s first Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard v3 certified industrial facility
Canada’s first net-positive energy commercial office building
A Case Study in Mass Timber, Hybrid Construction, and Community-Centered Design
Honoring Heritage Through Transformative Redevelopment

Certifications can boost performance, marketability, and credibility. This focus area helps you understand and compare major systems like LEED, Passive House, and ENERGY STAR.

A practical overview of Canada’s most common green building standards—from a financier’s perspective on how certifications support sustainability and asset performance.

Learn how to stay ahead of changing building codes and regulatory standards. This focus area provides key resources to navigate code updates, jurisdictional requirements, and best practices to prepare for a net-zero future.

An online hub developed by The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) to help industry professionals navigate Ontario’s largest-ever Building Code update.
A comprehensive side-by-side comparison of Ontario’s 2012 and 2024 Building Code editions—enabling quick navigation of every change, big and small.
Self-paced online training to help professionals across the building sector navigate Canada’s 2020 National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) with clarity and ease.
Self-paced online training on the construction-related requirements of the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2020 (NECB), tailored for builders and contractors.
Efficiency Canada offers a practical guide to help municipalities and industry professionals navigate and adopt Canada’s 2020 tiered energy codes—emphasizing the power of government-industry collaboration in building a net-zero future.

Often overlooked but increasingly critical, embodied carbon represents the emissions tied to materials and construction. This focus area introduces key concepts and tools for measuring and reducing embodied impact across a building’s life cycle.

This primer offers a foundational understanding of embodied carbon in Canadian buildings, highlighting its significance and recommending immediate actions across the building sector.
A concise, engaging explainer video that makes embodied carbon concepts accessible to anyone new to the topic -- perfect for those who prefer visual learning
Modular videos to deepen your understanding of all the key concepts regarding embodied carbon and lifecycle assessment
A practical guide showing how commercial real estate developers can reduce embodied carbon through smart investments that enhance profitability and competitiveness.
A practical guide to embed carbon reduction across every stage of your building project

Looking to ease project costs? This section points you to trusted tools and databases—like incentive finders and government program lists—to help you discover grants, loans, and rebates that support low-carbon and high-efficiency building projects. We don’t offer funding ourselves, but we’ve curated starting points to simplify your search.

These public-facing tools and websites help you explore funding opportunities from all levels of government, utilities, and major energy companies across Canada. While not always exhaustive or frequently updated, they are a great place to start. Note: We don’t administer these programs, and availability can change. Always refer to the official program websites for the […]

Buildings exist to serve people—and protecting their health, safety, and well-being is non-negotiable. This focus area highlights the essential role of the built environment in promoting occupant health, enhancing resilience to climate and systemic shocks, and managing a wide spectrum of risks — all core considerations in shaping Efficient, Smart, and Healthy buildings that are built to last.

One of Canada's leading clean energy think tanks calls for integrating climate resiliency into building asset management planning.

Discover the systems, technologies, materials, and energy strategies driving low-carbon, high-performance buildings. This focus area features proven solutions, best practices, and emerging innovations that reduce emissions and enhance performance.

A highly informative explainer that demystifies renewable energy systems for buildings—ideal for anyone new to decarbonization strategies.
Explore trusted resources to help you learn, choose, design, or advocate for proven heat pump systems in Canadian homes and buildings.
A simple but powerful tool to set your team up for success on any mass timber project
A comprehensive knowledge hub grounded in real project lessons offering practical strategies and step-by-step guidance for decarbonizing large, cold-climate buildings.

Let's Connect

Looking to stay competitive and integrate sustainable practices into your projects? We’re here to support your next steps with training, guidance, and a network of peers.

Contact us to start building the future of high-performance construction.