The Water Centre

Certified LEED^® Gold by the Canada Green Building Council

LEED SCORE CARD:
LEED for New Construction
Certification awarded November 18, 2009
Gold: 50 POINTS
Sustainable Sites 10 of 14 points
Water Efficiency 5 of 5 points
Energy & Atmosphere 12 of 17 points
Materials & Resources 8 of 14 points
Indoor Environmental Quality 11 of 15 points
Innovation & Design 4 of 5 points

Sustainable Sites

» 95% of construction waste diverted from landfill

» green space has been fully restored and planted with native prairie grass, flowers and shrubs that require minimal moisture and maintenance

» served by 4 bus lines and located near an LRT station and the local river pathway system

» carpooling and bicycling are encouraged with dedicated carpool stalls, bike storage and shower facilities
 

Energy and Environment

» high-performance building envelope and façade glazing is durable, minimizes heating/cooling load and reduces annual energy costs (over 55% energy reduction relative to the Canadian Model National Energy Code)

» long, narrow floor plate maximizes exposure to sunlight - 90% of the building is day-lit

» access floor system carries all electrical cabling and power and data distribution systems, allowing for easy reconfiguration and takes advantage of the natural tendency of hot air to rise

» complemented by natural ventilation, daylighting strategies and a narrow East-West orientation, the Water Centre operates with less than 1/3 of the cooling capacity of a typical building the same size

Water Savings

» designed to achieve a 59% reduction in water usage and a 72% reduction in the production of wastewater.

» low-flow plumbing fixtures include dual-flush toilets, waterless urinals, low-flow faucets and showers, and infrared sensors for faucets

» rainwater from the green roof is treated in two bioswale wetlands and stored in an underground cistern, providing more than enough water needed for irrigation in a typical season.

» water previously drained away from the Water Meter Calibration Shop is re-used for flushing toilets and outdoor irrigation

Materials & Indoor Environmental Quality

» high fly-ash concrete (incorporating a waste product from coal combustion) replaces regular concrete in the building, further reducing embodied energy of structure

» non-toxic interior materials