The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) saw steady growth for both LEED registered and certified projects in the second quarter of 2016, with 81 certifications and 106 registrations between April 1 and June 30, CaGBC says in a news release.
The current, cumulative total of LEED certified projects across the country now sits at 2,757. This ongoing growth in LEED certification continues to solidify Canada as an international leader in green building, with building owners and operators of all types embracing sustainability as both an actionable solution to climate change, and a smart investment.
CaGBC also continued to see growth in LEED v4 registrations in the second quarter of the year, with four new projects registering under the latest version of the rating system, for a total of 25 registrations and one certification in Canada to date.
“LEED certified projects are the industry standard for green building in the commercial and institutional sectors in Canada, and with each passing year that impact widens to other sectors,” says Mark Hutchinson, vice-president of green building programs for the CaGBC. “We stand to make an even greater impact this fall when LEED v4 becomes the new gold standard for green buildings in Canada and internationally. LEED v4 pushes the market forward through a more rigorous approach to green building, including increased transparency of building materials; higher thresholds for energy, water and waste; and the requirement of metering and reporting of energy use in certified buildings.”
Year-to-date-totals (to June 30, 2016) by LEED certification level are as follows:
- 25 LEED Certified
- 59 LEED Silver
- 73 LEED Gold
- 16 LEED Platinum
Projects that earned LEED® certification during the second quarter include:
- 66 Slater Street in Ottawa, ON, certified LEED Gold for Existing Buildings. This 22-floor commercial office building in downtown Ottawa was originally constructed in 1969, and was retrofitted with features like a new reflective roof, building-wide installation of water efficient plumbing fixtures, and energy efficiency upgrades, in order to earn certification.
- La Tour Deloitte in Montreal, QC, certified LEED Platinum. Owner Cadillac Fairview says earning this Platinum certification will reduce the building’s energy consumption by as much as 40 per cent, and its sustainability measures will help tenants reduce employee absenteeism and increase productivity, while providing a more comfortable indoor environment.
- University College of the North in Thompson, MB, earned LEED Gold certification. As the University’s new home in the city of Thompson, this state-of-the-art facility will accommodate 875 full and part-time students. It achieved LEED Gold through sustainability measures like passive daylighting strategies throughout the building, and by using materials that were chosen for the local availability and durability, which will reduce ongoing operating costs.
Additionally, the Toronto Dominion Centre (TDC) in Toronto, ON, comprised of six LEED Platinum buildings that were certified as existing buildings in 2015, earned another distinction by becoming the first WELL v1 Certified in the world in late May. The project promotes health and wellness by incorporating features throughout its design, as well as implementing programs to improve occupant wellbeing. Features like enhanced air and water filtration, abundance of daylight and lighting systems that support circadian rhythm, biophilic artwork, and adjustable workstations contributed to the certification.
A searchable LEED project database with further detail on all LEED certified projects in Canada, including project scorecards and photos, can be viewed on the CaGBC LEED Project Profiles webpage. For more information on LEED v4 in Canada and the project’s who are leading the way – visit www.cagbc.org/LEEDv4.
