Three Toronto developments have been selected to participate in a pilot project of Canada Green Building Council’s new Zero Carbon Building Standard.

The 16 buildings selected from across Canada — existing and new construction — will include the Toronto’s 1950s era, 10-storey Arthur Meighen building on St. Clair Avenue East. Also participating in the project is the six-storey, wood-framed, future headquarters of the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, and 30 Bay St.

The Zero Carbon Building Standard, unveiled last month in Vancouver, measures carbon use in commercial, institutional and multifamily buildings in Canada. The standard is part of a larger CaGBC Zero Carbon Building initiative aimed at promoting lower-carbon buildings in support of Canada’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.

It is the only program of its kind to make carbon reductions the key indicator for building performance. The experience of these buildings over the next two years will influence further development of the standard.