evolv1, a multi-tenant commercial office building under construction in Waterloo, Ont., was awarded Zero Carbon Building – Design certification by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). It is the first building to earn this award.
In order to earn the certification, evolv1 needed to show it has modeled a zero carbon balance for future operations, incorporated a highly efficient envelope and ventilation system to meet a defined threshold for thermal energy demand intensity, and designed onsite renewable energy systems capable of providing a minimum of 5% of building energy consumption. Over the first 12 months of operation, evolv1 will monitor performance to demonstrate it has achieved a zero emissions balance.
The high-performance building envelope incorporates triple glazing, a solar wall for preheated ventilation, a geo-exchange/VRF HVAC system, a three-story green wall, and a combination of photovoltaics. The building is also targeting LEED Platinum certification and will produce more energy than it consumes.
The Cora Group developed the project, which is slated for completion in summer 2018, Stantec designed and engineered it, and Melloul Blamey is building it.
Related Stories
K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015
D.C.'s Dunbar High School is world's highest-scoring LEED school, earns 91% of base credits
The 280,000-sf school achieved 91 points, out of 100 base points possible for LEED, making it the highest-scoring school in the world certified under USGBC’s LEED for Schools-New Construction system.
Industrial Facilities | Feb 24, 2015
Starchitecture meets agriculture: OMA unveils design for Kentucky community farming facility
The $460 million Food Port project will define a new model for the relationship between consumer and producer.
Green | Feb 23, 2015
State of the green union, and the next big shift in sustainability
The history of the green movement offers cues that we are on the precipice of another significant shift in the green union.
Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2015
USGBC concerned about developers using LEED registration in marketing
LEED administrators are concerned about a small group of developers or project owners who tout their projects as “LEED pre-certified” and then fail to follow through with certification.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 18, 2015
Make It Right unveils six designs for affordable housing complex
BNIM is among the six firms involved in the project.
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2015
ASHRAE, USGBC, IES consider biomass requirements in green building standard
The proposal would add biomass to approved renewables.
Modular Building | Feb 12, 2015
New shipping container complex begins construction in Albuquerque
The Green Jeans Farmery already has a hydroponic farm component courtesy of owner and entrepreneur Roy Solomon.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 6, 2015
Fannie Mae to offer lower interest rates to LEED-certified multifamily properties
For certified properties, Fannie Mae is now granting a 10 basis point reduction in the interest rate of a multifamily refinance, acquisition, or supplemental mortgage loan.
Green | Feb 4, 2015
Illinois leads top 10 states for LEED green building
Collectively, 1,662 commercial and institutional projects became LEED certified within the top 10 states in 2014, representing 251.7 million sf of real estate.
Energy Efficiency | Jan 28, 2015
An urban wind and solar energy system that may actually work
The system was designed to take advantage of a building's air flow and generate energy even if its in the middle of a city.