Public Consultation on Changes to LEED Canada for Homes Energy Requirements
Since 2009, nearly 2000 homes across the country have been registered under LEED Canada for Homes. The success of the program is driving a call from the market for improvements to ensure continued progress. The Canada Green Building Council is responding by seeking feedback on a proposed change aimed at ensuring the rating system continues to advance green home construction across the country.
The CaGBC is proposing to raise the minimum energy efficiency threshold for participation in the program from EnerGuide 76 to 80. This change is being proposed with the goal of advancing the industry while ensuring that the minimum performance benchmarks are achievable, with a reasonable degree of effort. Of the almost 200 homes certified to date, 98% have achieved EnerGuide 80 or better (or the HERS / prescriptive point equivalent).
This change has been recommended by the LEED Canada for Homes Technical Advisory Sub-Committee and would only affect projects registered after the implementation of any changes, which would likely take place mid-2012.
As a national 3rd party verified rating system, we would like feedback from across the country to guide the continued evolution of LEED Canada for Homes. Please take a moment to help shape the future of the LEED Canada for Homes program and respond to the survey questions found by clicking on the link below. The survey will run until February 17, 2012.
Link to Survey
BOMA Canada
Stakeholder Engagement in the Commercial Real Estate Industry
By Melissa Peneycad, Manager, Environment & Energy Sustainability Practices, BOMA Canada
Engaging stakeholders is a critical component of Corporate Social Responsibility [CSR]. It is also an important component of building certification programs, such as BOMA BESt, the Canadian industry standard for green building certification. Organizations of all types and sizes, including commercial real estate organizations, do not necessarily have full control over who are their stakeholders, therefore, it is important to identify those organizations and individuals who can have a direct and indirect impact on business operations and identify strategies to engage each effectively.
A useful technique to identify stakeholders and their relative impact on one’s business is to conduct a stakeholder mapping exercise in which one visually represents the variety of stakeholders that can potentially impact business operations, as well as the types of relationships that currently exist with each group. It is important, at this stage, to articulate how one’s business is affected / impacted by each and vice versa. In the world of commercial real estate, key stakeholders range from investors, owners and brokers, to property management teams, tenants, government representatives, third-party service providers, contractor unions, and the community at large.
There are many reasons why a building manager may find it useful to engage stakeholders. For instance, engaging stakeholders is a good way to enlist support in a measuring and performance reporting or benchmarking initiative or to communicate changes to how a facility is managed that may require cooperation or consent. Engaging stakeholders is also a good way to prevent or solve a crisis, or to proactively improve relationships.
Also, stakeholder engagement is an important – and even mandatory – component of certification programs such as BOMA BESt. For instance, owners and managers often require the cooperation and support of tenants when seeking certification, especially in cases where tenants control their own utilities. Establishing partnerships with tenants not only helps a building achieve certification, but also helps to generate ongoing performance improvements.
Building managers have a multitude of engagement strategies available, and these can be plotted along a continuum from low to high according to effort required and anticipated outcomes.
Examples of successful engagement strategies in the commercial real estate industry abound. For example, many leading companies have forged mutually-beneficial partnerships with local and national environmental groups to support shared environmental objectives and enhance corporate reputation.
Also, some managers engage tenants’ “green teams” to facilitate two-way dialogue about how best to improve the environmental performance of a building and to discuss how both groups can work together to achieve greater efficiencies. Other companies solicit input from tenants vis-à-vis quarterly surveys which are used to facilitate improved building management. Leading companies have even developed reports and scorecards to communicate their environmental performance to their tenants, suppliers and other stakeholders.
Hosting “lunch and learn sessions” related to sustainability and other topics of interest and importance with employees is another example of a successful engagement strategy employed by leading companies in the commercial real estate industry.
Stakeholder engagement adds value to your bottom line, and drives environmental and occupant benefits.
First US-based green building code approved
The recently approved US-based International Green Construction Code [IgCC], which will be published in March, 2012, applies to all new and renovated commercial buildings and residential buildings over three storeys high.
The historic code sets mandatory baseline standards for all aspects of building design and construction, including energy and water efficiency, site impacts, building waste, and materials.
“It represents a change in the standard of construction,” says Jessyca Henderson Director of Sustainability Advocacy at the American Institute of Architects. “It will effect everyone that touches buildings...it will be a big leap.”
How it Differs From LEED
The new code creates a mandatory “floor” - enforceable minimum standards on every aspect of building design and construction that now must be reached.
LEED certification, on the other hand, is voluntary. Although many buildings now strive for it, there are more that don’t. The new code will thus raise the standards for ALL buildings.
Also to qualify for LEED, designers choose from a menu of options. They may choose to address certain aspects of energy efficiency, such as lighting, for example, while leaving others out.
Setting a “floor” through the code, creates the opportunity for LEED-certifications to push toward higher “ceilings,” where buildings are awarded for truly reaching greater levels of performance, rather than receiving awards for what are increasingly expected standards.
Mandatory Requirements
Site Development, Land Use: It pretty much eliminates development on greenfields [undeveloped land], although there are exceptions based on existing infrastructure. It includes clear guidelines for site disturbance, irrigation, erosion control, transportation, heat island mitigation, greywater systems, habitat protection, and site restoration.
Materials: A minimum of 50% of construction waste must be diverted from landfills, and at least 55% of building materials must be salvaged, recycled-content, recyclable, biobased, or indigenous. Buildings must be designed for at least 60 years of life, and must have a service plan that justifies that.
Energy Efficiency: Total efficiency must be “51% of the energy allowable in the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code” [IECC], and building envelope performance must exceed that by 10%. It sets minimum standards for lighting and mechanical systems, and requires certain levels of submetering and demand-response automation.
Water Efficiency: It establishes maximum consumption of fixtures and appliances and sets standards for rainwater storage and greywater systems.
Indoor Air Quality: It addresses radon, asbestos, VOCs, sound transmission, and daylighting.
Commissioning, Operations: It requires extensive pre- and post-occupancy commissioning and education of building owners and maintenance employees.
Every project is also required to choose an additional “elective,” which pushes the envelope for the developer further. Once they choose it, it’s enforceable. There’s a long menu of elective choices, including whole-building life-cycle assessment to more stringent recycled-content.
Local governments and states will have the choice of adopting the code, but once they do, it’s enforceable. They can add their own requirements on top of the code that address local concerns such as stormwater management or lighting pollution control.
To help implement the code, IgCC includes a “cookbook” approach for smaller buildings to follow, and a more flexible approach for large buildings.
To develop the code, the International Code Council worked with many stakeholders, including the American Institute of Architects, US Green Building Council, and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers [ASHRAE].
Contribute your ideas on the design of our cities
Coach House Press is teaming up with MESH Cities to produce a book about the people, methods, and technologies that will shape the design of tomorrow’s intelligent, responsive cities.
You and your colleagues are invited to contribute essays, research, and/or media. Please send your submissions to: editor@meshcities.com
Contributions are welcomed from academics, researchers, developers, writers, and just about anyone who is exploring the design of tomorrow’s cities. Deadline for contributions is January 15th, 2012.
Report finds benefits of decentralized sewage treatment
A new report by the Cascadia Green Building Council says that decentralized sewage treatment can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 44% compared to large-scale treatment systems. The report entitled Clean Water, Healthy Sound uses Life Cycle Analysis [LCA] to examine and compare wastewater management practices in urban areas.
Using a mid-sized city in the Puget Sound region as a case study, Cascadia measured a broad spectrum of environmental impacts associated with large scale, centralized sewage conveyance and treatment systems and compared them against smaller, decentralized alternatives.
The study identifies a direct relationship between low-density urban and suburban neighbourhoods and global warming effects of pumping sewage across long distances. Decentralized techniques have the potential to reduce or even eliminate these negative effects by decreasing the energy required to pump and treat wastewater. Some of the decentralized techniques analyzed also promise a major reduction in other life cycle environmental impacts such as emissions associated with acid rain, smog and air particulates. Info: www.cascadiagbc.org
Architecture Canada/RAIC Report
Demolition costs more than renting a bulldozer! - By Charles Olfert, MRAIC Architecture Canada | RAIC Regional Director, Saskatchewan / Manitoba
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Just because you are old and you leak a little, it doesn’t mean you should be put down. I am also referring to buildings. |
I would suggest the benefits of re-development go far beyond carbon reductions.
Our cities desperately need the aesthetic diversity and cultural activity supported through adaptive re-use. It is no accident that the most creative and energetic arts groups, theatre companies, interesting live music venues, and, of course, many architectural offices are located in older buildings. The space is typically less expensive and they are attracted by the texture and complexity that can be achieved through creative re-development.
Given the benefits of re-use, why are so many buildings demolished? There are three reasons. First, too many politicians still feel it is better to cut the ribbon in front of a brand new, relatively nondescript, glass box than make the necessary longer term commitment towards a comprehensive, complex urban redevelopment strategy.
The second factor is more complicated. Current building codes and civic building permit policies make it very difficult to save buildings. It seems an old building is automatically “grand fathered” as a non-compliant fire hazard as long as the use doesn’t change. However, once renovated, EVERYTHING needs to be “brought up to current standards”. Many developers try this once or twice and then simply throw up their hands in frustration.
Almost everyone appreciates a century-old marble staircase with intricate wood posts and wrought iron railings. These stairs can function effectively for hundreds of years, but become immediately “unsafe and non-compliant” the minute a building changes use.
The issue of course is insurance and legal responsibility. Can you be “partially compliant” - who takes responsibility?
I am not advocating unsafe buildings. In fact, I am suggesting that many older buildings could be much safer if there were some flexibility in allowing small changes in use, with incremental safety improvements.
Many landlords and developers are not prepared to spend any money on an existing building because it is too expensive to do a complete code upgrade. Also discouraging - many of those upgrades destroy some of the best features of the building. The result is many attractive, older buildings sit empty or end up with marginal, illegal or existing unsafe uses.
The third factor is related to code issues and the subtle way regulations discourage mixing uses in buildings. For example there are typically, and quite logically, fire separation requirements between building uses which can be very complicated.
In his recent book, “Cities for People”, Jan Gehl, Hon. FRAIC shows how, with disciplined research, the safety and amenity of a city can be maximized when streets are lined with properly scaled buildings that contain a mixture of retail and restaurant activity on the main floor with residential accommodation on the upper levels.
As we try to encourage people to live downtown, we should seriously consider changes to the interpretation and application of zoning and building code requirements to make it safe, legal and cost effective to have people living above retail and restaurant facilities using our rapidly vanishing, but extremely valuable existing building stock.
DINOFLEX® Partners With Green School House Series
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DINOFLEX® of Salmon Arm, BC has partnered with the Green School House Series to provide recycled rubber surfacing to schools in low income areas in the US. The Green Schoolhouse Series brings together corporations, foundations, school districts, municipalities, communities, media outlets, and volunteers to build LEED-Platinum designed Green Schoolhouses. DINOFLEX® markets its floor products, made from recycled rubber, as being shock absorbent, slip resistant, stain resistant, and low maintenance – properties that will ensure students and staff have a productive environment. Info: www.dinoflex.com |
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CaGBC streamlining LEED Canada certification process
With the goal of better meeting the large demand for LEED certification, the Canada Green Building Council [CaGBC] is implementing changes to streamline the certification process to an average of less than six months.
Some changes have already been made this year with the CaGBC increasing internal staff to address the majority of backlogged projects and delayed Credit Interpretation Requests [CIRs]. In addition, the CaGBC hired four new review teams of highly skilled consultants, bringing the total to six teams who are now working to certify projects.
In June 2011, the CaGBC established a taskforce to further expedite certification. The taskforce, which included industry stakeholders and subject matter experts, recommended significant changes to the CaGBC’s certification process that will be implemented over the coming year. These changes include:
Shortening the three stage certification pathway to two stages for LEED Canada NC 1.0 and LEED Canada CS 1.0 projects. Projects that choose this option will follow a certification pathway similar to that used in the 2009 versions of the rating systems, and will benefit from a quicker and cleaner certification process.
Investing in technology infrastructure to improve the administration of certification. CaGBC will more effectively manage the large volume of projects undergoing certification by investing in more sophisticated technology tools.
Introducing a design review process. LEED Canada NC 2009 and LEED Canada CS 2009 projects will have the option of submitting design-stage credits and prerequisites immediately following design. The design review will allow issues to be addressed while the relevant parties are still engaged. It will also provide teams with greater clarity as to the likely outcome of certification, and allow for adjustments to be made before final certification.
Delays in certification also stem from the failure of applicant teams to respond to certification reviews in a timely manner. To further streamline LEED certification, the CaGBC will be introducing measures to help encourage quicker response times from applicant teams.
To assist applicant teams seeking LEED Canada certification, CaGBC also offers a ‘Speed up Your LEED Canada-NC 1.0 Certification: Getting it Right the First Time’ interactive workshop that discusses the more complex documentation requirements. Additionally, early in 2012 CaGBC will offer an on-demand online session addressing the process associated with certification.
Lafarge Hydromedia handles run off
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Hydromedia by Lafarge contains 20-35% void space that allows water to pass directly through to aid with surface and storm water management. |
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The product has been installed in a 90,000sf courtyard at Centennial College, Scarborough, and in the parking lot of the Kortright Centre, part of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. |
Clarification
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In our Sept/Oct Issue 31 article on the Schluter Systems Headquarters we made an incorrect attribution for the supplier of the solar air heating system. In fact it was a patent pending, MatrixAir ™ system by Matrix Energy Inc [see photo] as originally specified by the mechanical engineer. Our apologies for the incorrect information. |
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The new CaGBC Board standing outside the new Ottawa Convention Centre [l to r]:
Brian Denney, B. Sc. Eng, P. Eng, Toronto + Region Conservation Authority; Joanne Weir [Sec-retary], M. Fac. Man't., B. Int. Des., LEED AP, MTS Allstream and University of Manitoba, Seat: Real Estate Managers, Owners and Tenants; Marten Duhoux [Chapter Representative], ir., AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, Friesen Tokar Architects + Landscape + Interior Designers; Thomas Meuller, CaGBC President; Alex Zimmerman, A.Sc.T., LEED AP, Applied Green Consulting, Seat: Professional Firms; Lisa Bate [Chair], B.Arch., PP OAA, Int’l Assoc. AIA, FRAIC, EDAC LEED AP, B+H Architects, Seat: Professional Firms; Blair McCarry, B. Sc. Mechanical Eng., P. Eng. 5 provinces P.E. Texas, ASHRAE Fellow LEED AP, Busby Perkins+Will, Seat: Professional Firms; Kevin Cail, LaFarge North America, Seat: Retail, Construction and Products; Mark Lucuik [Vice-chair], B. Engineering, Morrison Hershfield, Seat: Professional Firms; Troy Braithwaite [Vice-chair], MBA, PCL Constructors, Inc., Seat: Retail, Construction and Products; Gail McBride, B.Sc.; MBA, BC Hydro Seat: Utilities; Anthony Esposti [Treasurer)], B. Comm., Business Development Bank of Canada, Seat: Financial and Support Services; Mark Laroche, Chartered Director, MBA B. Civil Eng.; Canada Lands Company. Missing: Mark Gorgolewski, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., DIP ARCH, LEED AP, Ryerson University, Department of Architecture Science, Seat: Academia, Research and Policy; Nancy Searchfield [Vice-chair], Colliers International, Seat: Real Estate Managers, Owners, and Tenants; Christopher Sweetnam-Holmes, B.Int'l Bus, B.E.D.S.(Arch), LEED AP, EcoCité Development, Seat: Real Estate Managers, Owners, and Tenants.
CaGBC Ottawa Chapter appoints new ED
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The Canada Green Building Council Ottawa Region Chapter [ORC] Board of Directors has appointed Teresa Hanna as the Chapter Executive Director. |
ARCHITECTURE CANADA | RAIC REPORT
WHY ARCHITECTURE MATTERS
BY LESLIE M. KLEIN, ARCHITECTURE CANADA | RAIC REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ONTARIO SOUTHWEST
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Sustainable design is on everyone’s lips, and while there is little indication that consumers are prepared to pay extra for buildings designed to be environmentally friendly, we still expect new structures to meet or exceed industry standards, such as LEED, as a matter of course. In fact, architects have been addressing the environmental impacts of buildings since long before this issue reached the front cover of TIME magazine.
In his book “Green Metropolis,” author David Owen argues that the environmental movement is misguided. He makes the case that the North American environmental movement with its “back-to-nature” pedigree is fundamentally anti-urban. In his view, a 500-square-metre vacation house in the back woods, with an array of solar panels, geothermal energy source and super-insulated building envelope, is actually anti-green, since it requires the consumption of vast amounts of energy to build it, and then get there and back, not to mention to feed the occupants and keep them entertained.
Owen makes the case that, first and foremost, sustainable design is about creating viable, dense cities, which are the most environmentally responsible forms of development that human society has ever created. He notes that residents of the island of Manhattan, for example, live in significantly smaller dwellings than the average US citizen, and consume energy on a per capita basis at a tiny fraction of the typical suburban dweller.
So why does architecture matter in this changed frame of reference? Architects matter because it is not just density that makes a successful city. In order to attract people back to the city from the suburbs, we as shapers of the built environment need to ensure that the places where people live, work, learn and play meet the needs and aspirations of all members of our society.
We must build efficient and beautiful homes, offices, schools and community centres. We must provide for a great public realm, so that streets and sidewalks are safe and vibrant 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We must ensure that our apartments and houses support the widest range of lifestyles and living arrangements, and allow people of all ages, physical abilities and backgrounds to find their own places in our communities.
These are architectural challenges. They will require great design at all scales. We will have to advocate as well as educate, in order to ensure that politicians and the public embrace this urban set of values. In addition, we will have to be more collaborative and more collegial – with our fellow architects, with engineers and contractors, and with the policy-makers in government – in order to achieve these goals. It will require a shift from a focus on cool technologies and “counting points” to big ideas and high aspirations. In the end, rather than stifling our creativity as architects, these challenges will spur us on to new opportunities and levels of achievement for our profession.
Study: Alternative Energy Sources FOR CEMENT PRODUCTION REDUCE GHGs
A new study released by the Network for Business Sustainability, a non-profit research group based at the Richard Ivey School of Business in London, ON, reveals that using household garbage, tires and even plastic to manufacture cement would produce fewer greenhouse gases and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill than the fossil fuels currently used.
“From the reviewed documents, we found it could be better to burn municipal solid waste rather than burning coal to manufacture cement,” says Rosa Maria Dangelico, a post-doctoral fellow at Politecnico di Bari in Italy and one of the study’s co-authors. “Doing so could lead to reduction in the quantity of waste going to landfill and decrease of air emissions responsible for global warming, such as carbon dioxide.”
Cement plants in some European countries get a third of their fuel from sewage sludge, waste wood, used tires, and household and industrial refuse.
While it’s true that incinerating car tires and plastic products releases harmful pollutants into the air, cement kilns burn at such high temperatures – up to 1,450 degrees Celsius – that most of the toxins are burnt before they can be released into the air. Also, any residual compounds are often absorbed into the cement itself.
The research was supported in part by the Cement Association of Canada. The study was subjected to a double-blind review by academic and industry experts in alternative fuels and cement.
Info: ckehoe@nbs.net
Canadian Compliance Paths Introduced for LEED-ND
The US Green Building Council [USGBC], in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Congress for the New Urbanism has developed the LEED for Neighbourhood Development [LEED-ND] rating system to guide and assess sustainable community development. Numerous Canadian projects have successfully participated in the USGBC’s LEED-ND pilot program.
The Canada Green Building Council has developed a set of Canadian Alternative Compliance Paths [ACPs] for the LEED 2009 ND rating system [i.e., the market-ready version of the program that opened for registration in 2010.] These ACPs provide clarity and guidance for Canadian projects pursuing LEED 2009 ND certification, addressing sections of the rating system containing US-specific standards or wording. The ACPs are embedded within the original LEED 2009 ND rating system, and are available in draft at: http://www.cagbc.org/AM/PDF/LEED_2009_ND_with_Canadian_Alternative_Compliance_Paths_DRAFT.PDF.
Canadian project teams can immediately take advantage of the ACPs, as no technical content changes are anticipated. A final version of the draft ACP document [in English and French] will include an overview of the rating system; guidance on applications and the certification process; and an overview of the ACP development process.
New Options for Projects Considering LEED
The CaGBC has announced two updates that give additional flexibility in applying LEED to projects:
1. The US Green Building Council [USGBC] has formally released the LEED Volume Program for Design and Construction, which provides a streamlined certification path for organizations planning to certify a large number of projects. This path is open to organizations intending to certify 25 or more projects within a 3-year time frame. Organizations interested in pursuing volume certification for Canadian projects have the option of registering with the USGBC. Participating projects will have to follow the USGBC rating systems.
Info: www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=2278
2. The USGBC has recently released three rating systems: [1] LEED for Retail [NC] 2009; [2] LEED for Retail [CI] 2009; and [3] LEED for Healthcare 2009. The CaGBC will not release Canadian versions of these rating systems, nor for LEED for Schools 2009. Applicants can use LEED Canada rating systems and apply for Credit Interpretation Requests where there are difficulties applying the requirements to their building type. Alternatively, these types of Canadian projects may be registered directly with the USGBC. Info: www.cagbc.org/AM/PDF/FAQ_
LEED_registration_with_CaGBC_or_USGBC_110620
West Van Library receives LEED EBOM Silver - a first for BC
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The West Vancouver Memorial Library, built in 1950, has received LEED Canada Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance Silver certification, a first for British Columbia.
Library actions include:
• Reducing garbage and recycle everything from styrofoam to electronics
• Using greener office and cleaning supplies
• Conserving energy and water
All single pane windows on the mezzanine level were replaced with automated, energy- efficient windows, which are tied into the HVAC system to allow for natural ventilation at the most appropriate times. Web-based energy management software tracks consumption and identifies problems in lowering electricity costs
InterfaceFLOR recycling takes on Canadian partner
InterfaceFLOR is taking its carpet recycling know-how on the road by forming alliances with regional carpet recycling operations throughout North America. The first of these relationships is with Toronto-based Aspera Recycling Inc. InterfaceFLOR is providing technical assistance that will help them implement a ReEntry-type system to recycle end-of-life carpet tiles and broadloom into reusable fiber and PVC backing that go into InterfaceFLOR products.
Since 1994, InterfaceFLOR has reclaimed more than 100 million kilograms of used carpet in North America, recycling much of it into the production of its own modular carpet tile products. Now the company is eyeing regional carpet recyclers, like Aspera, with whom it can share its expertise and establish similar operations. Expansion is also planned later this year in a few key U.S. markets.
Legislation banning used carpet from landfills is under review in several jurisdictions in Canada, where currently 99% of post-consumer carpet and 95% of commercial carpet, including carpet tile, are landfill-bound. Most used carpet is shipped back to U.S. manufacturers, according to a report issued by the Canadian Carpet Recovery Effort [CCRE]. So, the establishment of a ReEntry-based recycling operation will offer not only a more sustainable, but also a more economical solution for the area.
Beyond the Certificate: Does Building Certification Really Make a Difference?
By Melissa Peneycad, Manager, Environment & Energy Sustainability Practices, BOMA Canada
Since 2005, BOMA Canada has been tracking the number of buildings seeking certification through its “BESt” Program. The numbers are impressive: over 2,800 buildings across Canada have applied for certification under BOMA Best, and almost 2,200 were approved since the Program’s inception. Presently, over 1,300 buildings are certified and, at any given time, hundreds are going through the process to become one of Canada’s “BESt”.
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These numbers suggest that certification is important to building owners and managers in Canada but is certification as prevalent in all areas of the country? Do certification programs actually lead to better performing buildings?
Certified buildings are generally concentrated in larger city centres such as Toronto [141] and Mississauga [107] in Ontario; Greater Vancouver Area [142]; Montreal [108]; and Calgary [113]. Many smaller markets can boast a few dozen certified buildings.
Certification is not only about rewarding and showcasing top-performing buildings, it’s about facilitating continuous improvement at the building level to generate financial, environmental, and occupant benefits. While BOMA BESt certification is awarded to a building based on its actual performance at a particular point in time, the Program provides many excellent learning opportunities to drive improvements during – and after – the certification process.
For example, going through the assessment questionnaire provides managers with the opportunity to learn about their building inside and out and how all systems work together. Also, the report generated at the end of the certification process is another useful tool to help managers improve building performance. This report, generated by the third party verifier who performs an on-site review of all information submitted to the Program, contains valuable information about what can be done to enhance the building’s performance.
In fact, the report explicitly details opportunities for improvement in all six areas of building performance and management critically evaluated by the Program. Therefore, while certification is certainly valuable, certification in and of itself does not necessarily drive change; it’s what is done with the knowledge gained during and after the certification process that really leads to tangible results.
New UBC LEED Gold reno includes prototype technology
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he newly renovated $45 million, 170,000sf Biological Sciences Complex, South and West Wings at the University of British Columbia [UBC], designed by Acton Ostry Architects of Vancouver to LEED Gold, includes the renewal of spaces originally built more than 50 years ago. It houses new state-of-the-art laboratories, aquaria, informal research spaces, classrooms, seminar rooms and gathering spaces for the Departments of Botany and Zoology.
Funded in partnership with the Government of Canada’s stimulus funding Knowledge Infrastructure Program, the renovation incorporates a partial building envelope upgrade; new thermally broken double-glazing; highly efficient lighting; heating and cooling systems; heat recovery; high efficiency pumps and reduced water consumption. The addition of a bio-swale located between the West Wing and Main Mall mitigate storm water run off and provide an educational landscape.
Three concrete buttresses have been introduced to accommodate earthquake structural requirements. The buttresses are clad with laminated glass panels printed with botanical and zoological images which are illuminated at night. Corridors incorporate large expanses of glass to allow natural daylight to pass far into the interior of the building.
The design team incorporated the installation of a prototype technology developed by SunCentral that increases the depth that sunshine can reach deep inside buildings. Developed by Dr. Lorne Whitehead, Professor and NSERC/3M Chair, and his Structured Surface Physics Lab at UBC, the innovative solar lighting system reduces the amount of energy consumed thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and maximizing energy savings.
Correction
The project manager/developer for the Creekside Community Centre, recipient of a 2011 SAB AWARD and published in the Jul/Aug, 2011 issue #29 of SABMag, was Millennium Development Corporation of Vancouver, and not the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. The latter are the owners. SABMag regrets the error.
The advertisement on p. 65 of the Jul/Aug, 2011 included a photo of the Deep Bay Marine Field Station taken by Michael Elkan Photography. Permission to use the photo was not sought in advance and we regret our omission.
USGBC reaches 10,000 LEED-certified projects
The USGBC has certified its 10,000th commercial building to LEED, meaning that LEED-certified commercial space now totals 1.3 billion sf of property around the globe. In fact, LEED has a strong international influence with projects from more than 120 countries and 45 % of all new floor area coming in from outside of the US. Among the USGBC’s round of 2012 revisions to LEED, now out for public comment, is that LEED-designed buildings provide LEED-level performance during their service lives. To achieve this, building owners may be required to report their building performances to the USGBC to maintain their LEED certifications.
ARCHITECTURE CANADA | RAIC REPORT
An energy re-think encompasses the 2030 Challenge
By Wayne DeAngelis, FRAIC
Architecture Canada | RAIC Regional Director for British
Columbia / Yukon
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When American architect Edward Mazria, FRAIC, first pondered the notion of Architecture in the year 2030, he was no doubt well aware of the struggle that lay ahead in terms of CO2 emissions, building waste, brownfields, greenfields, and the usurping of this planet’s precious finite resources such as water, land and air. Yet he may not have anticipated the momentum “The 2030 Challenge” would initiate.
Consider though that this type of conscientious thought did not begin with Mazria. The 70s brought many others down this road before. The actual challenge to civilization began long ago when a Roman Senator voiced his concern on the natural resources, air pollution and garbage Rome was creating. Humankind has been concerned with resources and waste for millennia.
First it was wood and coal, slowly replaced by hydroelectric energy and then in the 20th century nuclear power became our friend and enemy.
More recently Bill Gates, who in 2010 turned his attention to saving the world and producing ‘0’ climate emissions instead of zeros and ones. His proposal is to capture U238, the unused energy from U235 which is a form of ‘free’ energy hidden all over the world [dumped is a more appropriate word], a waste product from nuclear power plants and all types of unused weapons.
Gates notes that, “A molecule of uranium has a million times more energy than a molecule of coal.” He is championing ‘TerraPower’ reactors, which would burn uranium 238. This technology burns 99% of the material found in natural uranium and in theory could burn the leftover waste from today’s nuclear facilities- energy found in our nuclear waste dumps.
Cleaning up our dump sites around the world seems like a great way to start to achieve the 2030 Challenge. Not only does it stop the mining of fossil fuels and non-renewable pristine natural resources, it focuses on the waste humankind has created and left behind.
Consider April, 2011 and the Earthquake outside of Sendai, Japan that triggered catastrophic results. Japan initiated a nuclear crisis plan. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a “measured exit” from nuclear power in response to the crisis. China suspended approval for new nuclear power stations. One by one countries are awakening. Unfortunately, it took a disaster to bring us to our senses.
I was introduced to 2030 in my teens, where as a young designer I experienced first hand a ‘disaster’ of sorts but on a different scale. The disaster was the energy crisis, and with it today I carry this persistent reminder to conserve and refrain from wasting not only energy but also our resources. My earliest projects investigated and employed alternative energy such as wind and solar power. At that time my clients were the champions.
We must embrace all forms of energy even if it means harvesting waste disposed of during the last century rather than harvesting virgin materials from natures’ untouched surfaces. I am not an advocate of nuclear energy, but it is with us so we need to learn to work with it rather than against it.
2030 does not only imply the use of green energy, it implies an entire rethinking of the way we make and use things
Sustainability prominent in 2011 North American Copper in Architecture Awards
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Thirteen new and refurbished projects have been recognized in the 2011 North American Copper in Architecture Award [NACIA] by the US Copper Development Association [CDA] and the Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association [CCBDA].
Sustainability was a running theme among the project submissions that included educational facilities, residences, a performing arts centre, and a sports centre. The two winning Canadian projects were the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, and the Trent Community Sport & Recreation Centre [see photo].
In the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul refurbishment by DFS Inc. Architectue & Design, considerations of sustainability and historic preservation went hand-in-hand for the installation of an insulated 17,500sf copper batten-seam roof system that sought to retain the building’s gothic revival style and capture notable custom details. In the design of the newly expanded Trent University Sports Centre by Shore Tilbe Perkins+Will, copper was used to define a large folded roof element, and helped the project achieve LEED Silver certification through its durability, low maintenance, high recycled content and ability to be regionally sourced. Info: www.copper.org. Photo: Tom Arban Photography.
Edmonton’s Downtown Plan recognized for Environmental Excellence
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Edmonton’s Capital City Downtown [CCD] Plan has been recognized with a 2011 Emerald Award for environmental excellence. The City of Edmonton selected DIALOG [merger of firms Cohos Evamy + Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden + Mole White Associates + Office for Urbanism] to lead a team of consultants in the development of the Plan.
The Plan focuses on the development of four key pillars - Policies, Zoning, Implementation, and Catalyst Projects. At the same time overarching goals include preserving and sustaining Edmonton’s environment, improving livability, transforming the urban form, shifting transportation modes, ensuring financial stability, and diversifying the economy.
Awarded annually by the Alberta Emerald Foundation, the awards program recognizes the excellent environmental initiatives undertaken by large and small corporations, individuals, not-for-profit associations, community groups and governments.
The CCD Plan proposes to make Edmonton more pedestrian friendly through more sidewalks, and the encouragement of alternative forms of transportation such as bicycling and public transit. New zoning laws will reduce parking requirements for new development in key areas and restrict the creation of non-accessory surface parking lots in an effort to limit some of the impacts of automobiles on the downtown. Info: www.designdialog.ca
Building Information Modelling standard slated for December
Version 2 of the National BIM Standard-United States [NBIMS] is expected to be released by December, followed as quickly as possible by a Canadian version.
The goal of the NBIMS initiative is to develop advanced open standards and computing techniques that will integrate any architecture, engineering and construction data type in any given building information model, and to see protocols developed for better interchange of data between users.
Version 2 is being written by a team of US industry experts including academics, architects, engineers, contractors, owners, fabricators, specifiers, software developers and vendors. The Canada BIM Council [CanBIM] is also involved by providing input through its technical committee.
New standards from CSA on building commissioning and deconstruction
CSA’s first edition of a new national standard on Commissioning of Buildings and its accompanying electronic application are now available for sale online.
The CSA Z320 standard applies to new construction and renovations of existing buildings and provides a consistent approach for commissioning. Development was funded by a consortium of stakeholders, including the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada and its provincial and urban affiliates, Defence Construction Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, the Canadian Construction Association, The Mitchell Partnership and Mulvey & Banani International Inc.
It includes non-mandatory annexes to provide further explanatory information, with sections on re-commissioning and retro-commissioning. To support use of the standard, NRCan’s Office of Energy Efficiency funded the development of a web-based electronic check sheet application that includes access to more than 200 templates in Microsoft Excel. The standard and its electronic application are available for sale online at http://shop.csa.ca or call 1-800-463-6727.
Another standard, CSA Z783 Deconstruction of Buildings and their related parts, has just been released for public review until August 19, 2011. Covering deconstruction during the building demolition or renovation, the standard deals with reuse of materials without further processing through recovery of materials, components and products. Comments may be logged at: https://review.csa.ca/opr/opr_about.asp?loc=CAN
FCM Sustainability Awards selected
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities [FCM] awards best practices in sustainable community development through its Sustainable Community Awards. The Awards are open to all municipal governments and their private-sector partners, and are presented in nine categories: brownfields, buildings, energy, integrated neighbourhood development, planning, residential development, transportation, waste and water. The 2011 winning projects are found at: http://gmf.fcm.ca/FCM-Sustainable-Community-Awards/
New certificate program at Okanagan
Okanagan College has just approved a new certificate program, Green Building Design and Construction, that will be offered for the first time in Vernon and Penticton in February 2012. The full-time, four-month, 360-hour program will incorporate learning delivery that will let students learn from home or work as well as in a classroom setting. The program will provide students the skills and hands-on experience to design and create sustainable buildings. The focus will be on main functions such as solar and thermal control, moisture control, indoor air quality, acoustics, aesthetics, construction waste management and cost effectiveness. Info: http://webapps-1.okanagan.bc.ca/ok/calendar/calendar.aspx?page=GreenBuildingCertificate
Dinoflex hits 10 years of ReGrind recycling program
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DINOFLEX Group LP, manufacturer of recycled rubber surfaces and a pioneer in establishing post-manufacturing “recycling” programs within the industry, is celebrating its 10th year of providing its own ReGrind Program.
Based in Salmon Arm, BC DINOFLEX has been collecting not only consumer building waste from construction projects but also post-manufacturing waste from the manufacturing of indoor flooring. This material is collected, sent through the ReGrind program and used in different products. Kevin Manke, Dinoflex production manager estimates that 800,000 kgs of regrind has been saved from the landfill.
Post-installation waste can also be sent back for regrinding, as can post-consumer rubber flooring. Once reground, the result is a multi-coloured recycled rubber crumb that ends up as the bases of the company’s outdoor NuVista tiles. Other products that use this crumb are wheel chocks, RV risers, and underlay. Info: www.dinoflex.com
Agway to distribute Rheinzink in Canada
Rheinzink® America, Inc. and Agway Metals Inc. of Brampton, ON have formed a marketing alliance for the distribution of RHEINZINK products in Canada. Agway has four regional offices covering Canada and will carry RHEINZINK coil, sheet and gutter systems.
Rheinzink America, Inc. led the introduction of zinc as an architectural material in North America and provides technical support to architects and contractors. Based on life cycle analysis, RHEINZINK has been certified by the Board of the AUB [Association for Environmentally Proofed Building Products] as an environmentally-friendly building product. www.rheinzink.com, www.agwaymetals.com
The OSRAM SYLVANIA LED Road Show demonstrates energy savings
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OSRAM SYLVANIA held its 2011 LED Road Show recently in Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax for specifiers, original equipment manufacturers, commercial/industrial end users and electrical distributors.
The company demonstrated the LEDstixx® lighting system for freezers and display cases which offers a 50,000 hour rated life and up to 70% energy savings over traditional fluorescent systems. The MusiLites™ fits into existing lighting fixtures to provide wireless lighting and high fidelity sound. ProPoint™ Cobrahead outdoor luminaires for highways, local roads and parking areas were introduced as consuming 66% less energy than traditional metal halide fixtures.
New council advances waste diversion
Dr Martin Luther King once said. “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” In essence, that is exactly what the newly formed, non-profit, Construction Resource Initiatives Council - the CRI Council - is inviting the building industry to do: to find ways of diverting construction waste from landfills and to derive value from doing so.
Canadians are enthusiastic home recyclers, but we have overlooked the ever increasing amount of industrial, commercial and institutional waste, including construction, renovation and demolition materials we send to landfills.
The CRI Council is established to confront the issue of wasted construction resources, and presenting workable solutions in an integrated, if not international, approach. Interested stakeholders have been coming from the design-build industry, governments, the academic sector, manufacturing, waste hauling, developers, etc. The Council intends to maximize the opportunities and minimize challenges by supporting stakeholders and providing leadership for industry transformation.
Some of the initiatives to look forward to include:
- Mission 2030: Reduce construction, renovation and demolition waste going to landfills by: 35% by 2015, 50% by 2020, 75% by 2025 and 100% by 2030.
- Science in Architecture: An extensive holistic educational program for current and future stakeholders.
- Online Waste Management Planning tools: to help the building industry prepare solid waste management plans.
For more information on the CRI Council visit www.cricouncil.com or contact Renée Gratton, Founder-President at [613] 795-4632 or info@cricouncil.com.
