Green Design
We have worked together with the Niagara Health System to design a sustainable facility that will promote a healing atmosphere while minimizing the environmental impact of the new development. We believe that it is our responsibility to provide the residents of the Niagara region with a facility that considers the needs of patients, offers staff a positive work environment, and embraces the principles of sustainability.
We have used the framework of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System to guide the design of the NHS health-care complex. Using the LEED system, we will reduce water and energy use, source building materials in an environmentally responsible manner, and minimize the hospital’s overall ecological footprint. When construction is complete, the NHS health-care facility will be LEED Certified.
What is LEED?
The LEED Green Building Rating System provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction. It was developed in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and has been modified by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) to suit Canadian climates, construction practices and regulations.
The Green Building Rating System allocates credits to six aspects of the building’s sustainable design:
- Sustainable sites
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
- Innovation and design process
The CaGBC certifies buildings based on the total number of credits earned, following an independent review and an audit of selected credits. To be certified by LEED, a building must also meet certain minimum environmental prerequisites. The objective is not to achieve LEED certification, it is to be environmentally responsible; LEED certification is the means of demonstrating this.
For more information on LEED, please visit the CaGBC website: www.cagbc.org
Green Design and Construction Strategies
The following list highlights some of the sustainable initiatives that have been included in the design of the new NHS health-care complex:
- The implementation of a program to prevent the loss of valuable topsoil during construction by storm water runoff and wind erosion. The plan will also include measures to reduce the impact of dust and other on-site pollutants on the surrounding community.
- A projected reduction of potable water use by 20% through the use of water-efficient plumbing fixtures.
- A 29% reduction in the building’s energy consumption when compared to a standard hospital design.
- Non-use of CFC-based or HCFC-based products in the building systems and operations.
- The implementation of enhanced building commissioning practices to ensure that the building is constructed and operated as designed.
- The inclusion of a monitoring system to measure the building’s energy and water consumption over time to ensure the building is operating efficiently.
- Detailed planning to accommodate and encourage re-use and recycling of materials.
- The diversion of 75% of construction waste from the landfill by recycling or reusing construction materials.
- The prohibition of smoking inside the building or near entrances, windows or air intakes.
- The use of materials that emit low amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can have a negative effect on indoor air quality and can potentially harm occupants. To promote the health of patients, staff and visitors, materials used in interior spaces (e.g. paint, carpets, adhesives, sealants and wood products) will be reviewed to ensure they contain reduced levels or no VOCs.
- The implementation of a strategy to ensure that the new health-care complex attains a high level of indoor air quality, including the adoption of voluntary industry guidelines, frequent changes of filtration media and the testing of air contaminants prior to building occupancy.
- The installation of a system to monitor and provide rapid feedback to the building operator for temperature, airflow and humidity levels throughout the facility to provide maximum comfort to the staff, patients and visitors.
