In February 2023, the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) announced that Canada ranked 3rd in the world for LEED-certified buildings in 2022. Released annually by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the global LEED® ranking highlights countries and regions outside of the United States that are making significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and operation. Canada, with 248 certified projects and more than 5.3 million gross square meters of LEED® space, trailed only Mainland China and India on the list.
What are LEED-certified buildings?
LEED® stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is globally recognized as the standard in green building. For a building or project to become LEED-certified, it must go through a verification process where points are awarded based on requirements that address location and transportation, sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection, and indoor environmental quality. Projects can receive the following levels of certifications: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).
In light of Canada’s top three global ranking, it’s only fitting that we take a look at some of the more impressive examples of green buildings that have been constructed over the years. (All of which are LEED-certified, of course.)
1. Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building, British Columbia
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash
The Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building was the first convention centre in the world to be awarded double LEED® Platinum status, the first for Building Design and Construction in 2009 and the second in 2017 for Building Operations and Maintenance. It was recertified for Building Operations and Maintenance in 2022, maintaining its double Platinum status.
The West Building has a six-acre living roof, the largest in Canada, which features more than 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses. To help pollinate the plants, there are four beehives that are home to European honey bees.
Other highlights include:
- An onsite blackwater treatment facility that cleans and recycles grey and black water for non-potable uses, such as toilet flushing and irrigation for the living roof.
- A seawater heating and cooling system that uses the neighbouring seawater to provide cooling during the warmer months and heating in the cooler months.
- A restored marine habitat that is built into the actual foundation of the building, resulting in improved water quality and growth of sea life.
- Two onsite bio-composters that reduce the mass of organic waste by approximately 70-80 percent.
- Locally sourced British Columbian wood products from sustainability-managed forests are used throughout the building.
2. Greenstone Building, Northwest Territories
Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Located in downtown Yellowknife, the Greenstone Building holds the distinction of being the first building in Northern Canada to receive LEED® Gold certification. The four-story, 77,500-square-foot building is home to 200 federal employees from 16 different government agencies. It is reported to save $80,000 in energy costs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 370 tonnes each year.
The Greenstone Building features a central atrium with a glass curtain wall with photovoltaic cells, the largest in Canada and second-largest in the world at the time of construction.
Other highlights include:
- A structural system made from locally produced concrete with 25% fly ash, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from making concrete by up to 40%.
- Energy consumption is estimated to be 50% less than comparable buildings
- A cistern that collects rain and groundwater which is used for landscaping and to flush toilets
- Waterless urinals, duel-flush toilets, and low-flow faucets and showers that use 50% less water than comparable buildings
- High-efficiency propane boilers with lower greenhouse gas emissions than the usual fuel oil furnaces
- A high-efficiency air-cooled condensing chiller
- A green roof
3. Centennial Place, Alberta
Oxford Properties, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Centennial Place, located in the Eau Claire district of downtown Calgary, is a 1.3 million-square-foot, two-tower office complex. The project was awarded LEED® Gold certification for Core and Shell in 2010 and became Alberta’s first office complex over 1 million square feet to receive LEED® Platinum certification for Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance in 2015.
The office complex’s green design features have resulted in a reduction of 620 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, 494 tonnes of waste diverted each year, and a $39,530 decrease in annual operating costs.
Other highlights include:
- A demand-controlled ventilation system to save energy and provide an optimum volume of fresh air
- Rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse systems
- A green roof that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by keeping the building interior cool and reducing the use of cooling systems
- An onsite combined heat and power generation system
- The use of green cleaning practices for a healthier work environment
- Water-efficient washroom fixtures and occupancy sensors on all base building light fixtures
4. Earth Rangers Centre, Ontario
Earth Rangers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Earth Rangers Centre for Sustainable Technology located in Woodbridge was awarded LEED® Gold certification for New Construction in 2004 and Platinum certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance in 2012.
The 60,000-square-foot facility reports that its centre operates 112 percent more efficiently than the average Canadian office building. The facility is not attached to city sanitary or water mains and processes water onsite at its 20,000-litre Wastewater Treatment Plant and is withdrawn from its 120-foot deep well.
Other highlights include:
- Solar photovoltaic power generation
- Earth tube ventilation
- Solar hot water
- Stormwater control
- Geothermal heating and cooling
- Vegetated green roofs
- Recycled wastewater from the treatment plant for toilet flushing and irrigation of the green roof
- Use of low-flow aerators and toilets and pint-per-flush urinals
5. Bibliothèque du Boisé, Québec
Pierre5018, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The LEED® Platinum certified Bibliothèque du Boisé is located in Montreal’s largest borough, Saint-Laurent. This 6000-square-metre facility was built from mainly locally sourced, recycled materials including certified wood and other low-emitting materials.
The library uses a passive heating system that features a glass prism used to collect from the sun to warm the building while maximizing exposure to natural light. Three-quarters of the building’s floor area can be naturally lit.
Other highlights include:
- Rainwater retention system
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures and automatic faucets
- A construction waste management plan diverting 85% of waste from landfills
- Geothermal heating and air conditioning
- A vegetative roof
- Automated lighting control
- 100 trees planted to replace any lost during construction
Interested in a Career in Green Building?
If you’re interested in a career in green building, Brighton College may be right for you. Our green building and sustainable design diploma program prepares students with the necessary skills for a career in the fields of green building design, planning, construction, and maintenance. The program focuses on a range of building design strategies and technologies with an emphasis on those that reduce environmental impact and make buildings healthier for those who occupy them.
For more information about our green building and sustainable design program, please fill out the form below.
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