By Jeremy Hannaford (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: July 18, 2012
It has only been seven months since the design of the Student Union building was approved via referendum and already the construction process is taking some big steps in being eco-friendly, particularly in following the LEED Certification standards.
LEED Certification is a global rating system that evaluates environmental factors for constructing new buildings as well as maintenance and upgrades to existing buildings. Launched in 2000, LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, evaluates all aspects of construction methods including building locations, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere consumption, materials, and indoor environmental quality. All of these inquiries are tallied together to find the buildings certification level. These levels range from regular certification to Silver to Gold and finally to Platinum. LEED Certification is becoming increasingly important for all architectural projects in the Lower Mainland. The first Platinum Grade project to be approved in Vancouver (as mentioned by The Vancouver Sun) is the Telus Garden Building which is sure to set a benchmark for further construction projects.
According to the Student Union Building webpage on the SUS website, the SUB building will have a minimum Gold Level certification level. Craig Toews, Director of Campus Planning, said that the Gold level was a great achievement but he wishes to go beyond the certification to make the building even more liveable and cost-efficient. He explained that this isn’t about “putting a plaque on the wall” but about having a building that utilizes smart technology and functions efficiently. When asked about his feeling towards LEED itself, Craig stated that it is a great measuring tool for sustainable design and constantly adapting new industry standards. It is also stated that the government requires all new buildings to achieve a minimum Gold level certification.
He did, however, point out several difficulties with the system. He points out that it is a great measuring tool for a diverse cross-section of building uses and designs but it poses problems when renovations and new construction collide. C Building, for example, was very difficult to reach the Silver Level standard, as the two sections’ potential for LEED points within certain categories effectively cancelled each other out.
Universities throughout British Columbia are following these new building standards but Craig Toews stated there will be something quiet unique in the new SUB Building. The building will be incorporating Thermenex, a newly developed heating/cooling system invented by mechanical engineer Jeff Weston. This system provides many green-friendly services such as reducing greenhouse gases, consumes 50 per cent less energy than the ASHRAE 90.1 standard and costs less than all other systems. This device has already been installed in Langara College in Coquitlam and several buildings at the University of British Columbia.
When asked why the SUB building was receiving only a minimum Gold level standard, Craig stated that while the target was LEED Platinum, the $15 million dollar budget made reaching that level of sustainability as well as constructing all the new spaces and functions for the facility difficult. But he assured me that their focus is to build an eco-friendly building that operates efficiently and functions effectively as a liveable building rather than trying to achieve a certification that may include more points than realistically needed. I asked Craig if there was a set figure on the operational costs of the SUB building. He stated that while they have some estimates, they will not have a true figure until they have seen an entire year of utility costs.
As it stands, both the new Student Union Society building in Abbotsford and the Canada Education Park in Chilliwack will receive the Gold LEED certification.
