Windmill Development: Helping to build a green and cost effective future

Written by Ian Armitage and Produced by Kevin Patey


The creative-thinking Windmill Development Group is helping to form a sustainable future for the people of North America. Based in Ottawa, Canada, the company is dedicated to transforming traditional development practices by using a triple bottom line - environmental, social and financial - approach.

Its projects include Dockside Green in Victoria, the Bridges in Calgary, the Currents in Ottawa and Whitewater Village, a carbon neutral cottage resort.

Everything Windmill does is designed and constructed to ensure long-term environmental sustainability, protecting and enhancing the local community. This is done by developing innovations in areas such as water, air, energy, design, waste management and building technologies.

"Developers have a responsibility to implement change," continues Jonathan Westeinde, CEO and co-owner. "We are committed to changing the current development pattern in a variety of ways."

In charge of corporate strategy, business development, and green development practices, Westeinde adds: "It is all about getting towards the goal of a zero impact building. That is not just about zero energy or zero water use in terms of a buildings' operating efficiency, but the life-cycle ability to allow 100 percent reuse after the lifetime of the building.

"Developers need to move beyond thinking of green as an add-on cost or an opportunity to be 'ten percent' more environmentally friendly. We think the whole process of how buildings are made, designed and conceived, along with numerous other factors, must be considered to create a greener building..."


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