Province Invests Millions in Burlington Eco-Company

The Ministry of Research and Innovation has announced that it is investing $3 million in Burlington's EcoSynthetix Inc. EcoSynthetix is a bio-based polymer company providing environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum based products in the paper industry.

Currently, the industry standard for chemically-coated marketing and packaging materials is petrochemical-based polymers. EcoSynthetix is changing the game with its EcoSphere biolatex binder, a starch-based feedstock which is carbon neutral and sustainable polymer.

That is why Ontario is investing in EcoSynthetix through the Innovation Demonstration Fund (IDF). The funds will go to the creation of a Global Innovation and Technology Centre in Burlington which will house a biolatex pilot plant. This is where the eco-friendly chemical will be developed and commercialized.

"The IDF was a major component in the decision to consolidate our headquarters and research and development offices from Michigan to Burlington. Government funding has been a major catalyst to making significant growth," said EcoSynthetix CEO, John van Leeuwen.

The company has already grown from just 5 employees to 20, and has seen more than 650 per cent revenue growth.

"We expect to hire about 20 more employees as a direct result of the pilot plant," said EcoSynthetix CFO Robert Haire.

(Source: Ministry of Research and Innovation, April, 2011)

Preferred Proponent Selected for New Oakville Hospital Project

Infrastructure Ontario and Halton Healthcare Services announced Hospital Infrastructure Partners is the preferred proponent selected to design, build, finance and maintain the new replacement Oakville Hospital.

The Hospital Infrastructure Partners team includes: 

• Developer: Carillion Canada Inc., Ellis Don Corporation, Fengate
• Capital Management Limited
• Design: Parkin Architect in joint venture with Adamson Associates Architects
• Construction: Carillion Canada Inc., Ellis Don Corporation
• Facilities Advisor: Fengate Capital Management Limited, Scotia Capital

The new Oakville Hospital will be a state-of-the-art facility with a full range of healthcare services. The hospital will be designed and built with a goal of achieving LEED Silver certification.

Construction, which is expected to begin in summer 2011, will create spin off jobs in the community and will stimulate economic development in the region.  

(Source: Canadian News Wire, June 7, 2011)

Green Technology Business Centre Proposed in Milton

DelRidge Homes and GreenLife Energy have joined forces to bring Canada's most progressive office building in the field of sustainable technology to Milton. GreenLife Business Centre, located on 450 Bronte Street will demand approximately 22% of the normal amount of operational energy at about 137,500 kwh of energy per year.  It will also produce approximately 328,000 kwh/year from a dynamic fully oriented 250,000 watt PV array.

Through the use of their own well developed and evolving building system called EnerBuild 7000e, DelRidge employ the latest technologies in conservation and energy monitoring.

GreenLife Energy, a wholly owned sub company of DelRidge, operates remote solar arrays as well as their own remote wind facilities producing any shortfalls on sites which require the seal of "net zero".

This project, geared to professionals in the field of green technology, goes far beyond the target making it the only "net-positive" facility of its kind in Canada. Through allocation, the surplus energy of approximately 195,500 kwh/year will be assigned to residential projects which are harder to achieve the "net zero" status on their own site.

(Source: Town of Milton)

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