ESG POLICIES
Environmental Policy
Northam Realty Advisors Limited is committed to the principles of sustainable development and operations and endeavors to meet or exceed environmental regulatory requirements. As such Northam has developed several guiding policies relating to environmental best practices highlighted below.
BOMA BEST certification is a cornerstone of Northam’s dedication to constantly improving building performance, which allows us to stay attuned to industry standards and innovation. We are committed to reducing potential adverse effects on the environment while promoting the use of efficient management systems and tenant practices in its buildings. Compliance with this environmental commitment is the responsibility of all parties employed or contracted by us. This policy is applicable to all commercially owned properties.
It is noted that currently Northam has no financial products that either (i) promote environmental or social characteristics or (ii) have sustainable investments as its objective.
Green Purchasing
Northam Realty Advisors Limited will strive to balance environmental and fiscal responsibilities in making sustainable purchasing decisions with the goal of purchasing products with the highest percentage of recycled content available provided that the products meet acceptable use and performance standards.
Resource Conservation
We will promote increased efficiency in the management of water, energy, and other resources by reviewing ways to conserve water and energy use, monitoring and reporting resource consumption, and encouraging staff and tenant awareness of water/energy issues.
Water Management
Water consuming equipment will be proactively maintained to ensure that components are in good working order and operating without undue water loss and consumption. Low and no cost conservation practices will be implemented, while other more expensive upgrades to improve water efficiency will be analyzed on an annual basis. The Northam Water Management Plan is meant to provide guidelines to management and operations staff to ensure water conservation is a priority.
Energy Management
Our property operations teams are committed to inspecting heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and mechanical systems and equipment to ensure optimum energy conservation and sustainable operation.
Waste
Northam’s source separation program is implemented throughout tenant premises and common areas of each building and encompasses waste, recyclable materials, batteries, paper/cardboard, fluorescent bulbs, bottles/cans and electronic waste. Our waste reduction goals are implemented through a tracked diversion system and by capturing waste into the correct streams at the source. Annual analysis of current recycling programs and employee/tenant/janitorial awareness and education programs ensures continued compliance with the Ministry of Environment’s solid waste audit regulations, diversion requirements and Northam’s high environmental standards.
Air Monitoring
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an ongoing commitment for Northam and is proactively assessed annually at all of our buildings. Training is provided on an annual basis to property management and building operations staffs to maintain best practices, remain current with industry trends and to reinforce the importance of IAQ management.
Integration of Sustainability Risks During Investment Decision-Making Process
Northam deploys a third party company to prepare an updated due diligence Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) report during the acquisition phase of a property. The updated due diligence Phase I ESA is completed with a general regard for the principles and practices set out in the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard Z768-01, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, November 2001 (re-affirmed 2012). The purpose of the updated due diligence Phase I ESA is to identify issues of potential environmental concern based on the following scope of work:
Completion of a historical review to assess past conditions and activities that may have resulted in an environmental impact;
An assessment of the present property conditions as they relate to existing Federal, Provincial and Municipal environmental regulations;
Completion of a brief regulatory review to identify any prior non-compliance issues;
Identification of potential environmental non-compliance issues which may require corrective action and/or clean-up; and
Interviews with knowledgeable site representatives.
Integration of Sustainability Risks During the Holding Phase
For the holding phase of a property, Northam has implemented management processes and guideline policies regarding sustainability risks. The commitment is to reduce potential adverse effects on sustainability. Compliance with this sustainability commitment is the responsibility of all parties employed or contracted. The policies comply with relevant laws and regulations.
Sustainability risks of real estate investments identified during the investment due diligence or during operations will be addressed by implementing a longer-term plan of appropriate measures which likewise considers economic viability.
Certifications by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and Canadian Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) are the international guidelines adhered to for constantly improving the properties’ performance. Northam is seeking, where appropriate, a suitable ranking for properties in accordance with relevant standards. Depending on the technical requirements, Northam will retain third-party expertise to improve the properties’ performance, if required.
Social Policy
Since the Government role out in December 2012, Northam has been in compliance with the Accessible Customer Service Regulation under the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities), and will continue to comply with the regulation until all required obligations have been fulfilled.
Northam is committed to excellence in serving all tenants, visitors and customers, including persons with disabilities, and it will carry out its functions in a manner which delivers an accessible customer service experience. We are committed to providing its tenants, visitors, employees and customers, including persons with disabilities, with emergency information in an accessible format upon request. Northam will also provide employees with disabilities individualized emergency response information when necessary.
Northam is committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our facilities that are open to the public or third parties, unless the animal is otherwise excluded by law. If a service animal is excluded by law, other measures will be made available for the person to use Northam facilities or services. We are also committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. At no time will a person who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person.
Northam’s Management Training Program is designed to facilitate training of high-performing individuals identified as potential Property Managers. Our 24-month program involves intensive training with various departments while staff concurrently works on their RPA designation. The four course components include Operations Training, Property Administration, Lease Administration, and Site Training and Development. Upon completion, successful trainees assume the position of Assistant Property Manager.
Northam is also involved in a number of initiatives to give back to the community including sponsoring charity events throughout the year and participating in donations such as food drives and toy drives.
We have a dedicated tenant services platform called NorthamONE. The comfort of Northam tenants is a high priority, service requests are followed up to ensure that any corrective actions taken have resolved the concern to the full satisfaction of the Tenant. Northam also carries out tenant satisfaction surveys on an annual basis.
Governance Policy
Northam is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of employees and job applicants with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting employment accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Northam’s management is genuinely interested in the ongoing Health and Safety of all its associates. Compliance with legislation and the protection from injury and occupational disease is a continuing concern and we are committed to striving to maintain a safe and healthy work environment through daily implementation and annual review of our Health and Safety program. The company and its management will take all reasonable steps to prevent personal injury and to maintain workplace Health and Safety by including Health and Safety concerns in all our organizational activities through ongoing consultation and interaction with our Joint Health and Safety Committee.
Northam employs a voluntary self-examination program for electrical working buildings which is regulated by the Electrical Safety Authority, an administrative authority mandated by the Government of Ontario. These are known as “Continuous Safety Service Agreements”.
Northam manages hazardous materials and designated substances in our real estate holdings in keeping with federal and provincial regulations and industry best practices. Our comprehensive management approach assures compliance with regulated standards and promotes healthy workplaces for tenants, visitors, employees and contractors.
In conjunction with our cleaning and landscape/maintenance industry partners, Northam exercises a variety of green policies and procedures across the portfolio, that are tailored to each building. SDS (Safety Data Sheet) records are kept on site by the contract cleaning companies as part of a custodial record of the products used for cleaning operations and in compliance with GHS/WHMIS requirements. Northam partners with Tersano by incorporating their chemical free cleaning system, which is Green Seal certified by BOMA BEST, to replace chemical cleaning agents wherever possible.
Northam’s policies are in compliance with the following: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Employment Standards Act (Ministry of Labour, Ontario), Universal Declaration of Human Rights, AODA. A high level of corporate governance is undertaken with adherence to the European Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles (INREV) guidelines where reasonable. The Fund Manager have been established under the laws of Luxembourg and are considered regulated entities under the supervision of the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (‘CSSF’) – the supervisory authority for the financial sector.
The remuneration of senior executives in charge of implementing sustainability measures is indirectly linked to qualitative sustainability goals through the general performance of the real estate assets in the portfolio.