Zibi, which means ‘river’ in the Algonquin Anishinaabe language, is a waterfront area located next to downtown Ottawa and its neighbouring city of Gatineau, overlooking both the Ottawa River and Chaudière Falls.
Redeveloped from industrial brownfield land once dominated by a paper mill, the 37-acre site will include commercial and retail properties, condominium developments, a hotel, waterfront parks and open spaces and a network of pedestrian and cycling paths.
Over three million square feet of development is planned on a site that covers two river islands between Ottawa and Gatineau and land in Gatineau. Developers Theia Partners and Dream Unlimited, working with Bioregional, have used the 10 principles of the One Planet Living framework to help guide sustainability and eco-friendly planning for Zibi. A sustainability action plan based on the principles was endorsed in May 2015. The first residents moved in at the end of 2018.
Zero carbon energy
Zibi has a district-wide, zero-carbon energy system. 2022 was the first year it was in operation and the first year of post-occupancy site-wide energy consumption reporting. Delays beyond Zibi’s control mean that Ontario blocks do not yet receive domestic water heating from the plant, yet Zibi still delivered a 38% CO2 saving on thermal demand compared to business-as-usual, resulting in 415tCO2e of which half was due to one-off commissioning activity.
Culture and community
Zibi is successfully nurturing its unique cultural identity that reflects the history of the site and the First Nations community. The Memengweshii Council updated its Shared Values video and organised a 13 Moons art project installation for Tesasini Park. The One Planet Ambassador has also inspired a range of activities to promote sustainability culture amongst construction staff
Equity and local economy
A Resident Sustainability Committee was set up within the first year of the first occupancy. Zibi has currently exceeded its 7% social housing target, with 53% of Aalto's units falling within its affordable housing program. This % will fall as more market units get built, but the early delivery of affordable units demonstrates Zibi's commitment to this target
Land and nature
The Tesasini Park will offer an additional 6,100 square meters of river-front park space upon completion, bringing Zibi halfway to its goal of 14% of the site being parks. Native plant species have increased from 43 to 49 this year, 39 of which have been reintroduced. Of these, 28 are culturally significant to First Nations people, up from 24 last year.
Zero waste
Successful new system of monthly visual waste audits shows excellent recycling levels exceeding local baselines. Absolute waste quantities are also low, exceeding targets. Construction waste also exceeded the 90% diversion target
One Planet Living is our vision of a world where we can live happily within the Earth’s resources, and a straightforward framework to achieve this
Find out more
An Advisory Council on Integrity was set up by the Algonquin-Anishinabe, to ensure the integrity and appropriateness of the Zibi development on issues of First Nations culture, heritage and socio-economics.
Zibi has recently announced the launch of its new district energy network. Our Comms Officer Keenia Dyer-Williams catches up with One Planet Living® Manager Ben Gill to discover what a district energy network is, and why Zibi’s is so significant
Veronik Samson is the ‘One Planet Ambassador’ at Zibi, a mixed-use One Planet Community in Ottawa, Canada. She explains how she’s engaging the community to help make sure this ambitious development achieves its sustainability vision
As construction continues at Zibi, a One Planet Community in Ottawa, we had a chat with Adam Cochrane who shares what it's been like to work on a site that's placed One Planet Living at the heart of all it does
Les Villages Nature® Paris aims to create a new kind of holiday – immersing its one million visitors a year in nature while minimising its impact on the planet
The City of Fremantle (Perth, Australia) is a One Planet Living City with an ambitious Action Plan that aims to achieve a ‘One Planet Living’ lifestyle for its council, residents and business community by 2025
One of the world’s finest wildlife reserves is a One Planet Living community, working to improve the lives of local people while conserving one of the earth’s most amazing wildlife sites
