Innovative Design
The Centre for Conservation building incorporates innovative design based on the Leadership in Environment and Energy Design (LEED™) guidelines established by the Canada Green Building Council to ensure the site is contained within the smallest possible environmental footprint. Amongst it’s key attributes are:
- Erosion and sedimentation control
- Light pollution control
- Cutting-edge water management systems
- Natural heating and cooling measures and high percentage recycled content.
Additionally, all new materials necessary for construction were carefully selected based on “Greenguard” standards to ensure minimal residual impact on the eco-system. This is one of Ontario’s greatest eco-tourism attractions.
Green Features
- 60.7% reduction in energy consumption when measured against the energy performance described by the Model National Energy Code, amounting to approximately $23,640 per year in energy cost savings.
- Heating and cooling by means of a ground source heat exchanger.
- Rainwater collection from the roof is stored in three 3,000-liter cisterns and used for non-potable water functions (flushing water conserving low-flow toilets) – water consumption is reduced by 72%.
- All wastewater is treated by an innovative sewage treatment system called a Waterloo Biofilter. The environmental impacts of the system are significantly less than those associated with conventional septic systems. The resulting effluent is of higher quality, requires less space, and does not require a sand bed. These measures result in a remarkable 87% reduction in water use.
- Passive air exchange for cooling is accomplished by the air being “pulled through” the building’s interior from low-to-ground operable windows on the cooler north side and then “exhausted” through high windows on the south side.
- Southerly oriented windows and large roof overhangs permit the winter sun to penetrate deep into the building’s interior and prevent summer sun from over-heating the interior.
- On site wastewater treatment using the Waterloo Bio-filter Treatment System that uses an aerobic process to reduce the organic and nitrogen load of the septic effluent prior to its release.
- Many locally made materials used in the interior include stained concrete floors, stained Glulam beams, paint for interior surfaces and pigmented concrete blocks.
For more information, download the Enermodal PDF.
