LEED® Gold Certified by the Canada Green Building Council

For both client and the design team it was important that the building be energy efficient and environmentally responsible. The result is a building with very low operating costs, superior comfort for occupants, and reduced impact on the local environment.

Site and Orientation

  • Building orientation along an east-west axis to optimize daylight and views while minimizing energy costs.
  • Northern design principles utilized to maximize the winter heating capability of the sun and to shade the structure in the summer.
  • Storm water management system minimizes water run-off by collecting most of stormwater for potable uses.
  • Heat-reducing landscape and reflective exterior materials limit internal and external heat gain.
Materials
  • General Contractor employed a stringent approach to construction waste diversion; more than 95% of the waste from landfill.
  • Sourcing of materials that have greater than average recycled content.
  • Whenever possible, locally harvested materials such as local river rock and wood were used.
  • Wood is the major structural material as it is readily available, carpentry skills are easily accessed in Slave Lake and it is the material most in keeping with the Boreal Forest and Park where the building is situated.
Building Envelope
  • Improved envelope insulation.
  • High performance fenestration. Windows are triple-glazed, argon filled with a low-E coating and fibreglass frames with an average U-value of 1.08 W/m²°C.

Indoor Environmental Quality

  • Naturally ventilated with fully operable windows controlled by the building occupants.
Heating and Cooling
  • Five ground source heat pumps are used to provide zone heating and cooling. The building utilizes geothermal heating among other energy efficient, cost effective, and environmentally sensitive mechanical and utility systems.
  • High performance building envelope and windows improve thermal comfort and optimize energy performance.
  • Custom-designed exterior sunshade system controls the amount of natural light entering the building and minimizes the glare inside.
  • Air to air heat recovery using two Heat Recovery Ventilators.
Water
  • Low-flow metering lavatories (1.9 L/min) and low-flow sinks (1.9 L/min) designed to reduce hot and cold water consumption. Potable water use reduced by an estimated 46%.
  • Domestic hot water generated by heat pump desuperheaters (waste heat).