by Jacqueline Price

Created on: June 06, 2008   Last Updated: June 11, 2008

With the worsening world energy crisis, global warming and resource depletion, it is imperative that we incorporate green concepts into all our future buildings. Our goal should be to become as energy self-sufficient as possible as soon as possible.

Architects, developers, builders, planners and governments need to get on board with guidelines, policies, and incentives to support green development.

The City of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) took a proactive role in 2003 by requiring all new city buildings to meet or exceed "silver" LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Desgin) requirements established by the GBCC (Green Building Council of Canada). The GBCC sets standards for sustainability, water efficiency, energy, materials and indoor environmental quality and has four possible levels of certification (certified, silver, gold and platinum). The USGBC (United States Green Building Council) also operates a LEED program and is working to make green buildings accessible to everyone within a generation.

An excellent example of an innovative green building is the City of Calgary's state of the art "Water Centre" building which was unveiled this week. It is the city's largest green building (183,000 square feet) constructed largely of glass and steel and is Alberta's first "gold" LEED building. While costing $43 million it is expected to pay for itself in 15 years. The Water Centre boasts many unique energy savings: it is 97% daylit, waste water is reduced by 72%, water use is reduced by 59% , annual energy consumption savings will be 58%, and operating costs will be 40% lower than a conventional building. Some unique features include a hybrid heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; natural ventilation; daylighting; water conservation; heat recovery; and evaporative cooling.

By incorporating green standards we can enjoy substantial savings in utility costs and globally we can all benefit by reducing energy use, water consumption, CO2 emissions and eliminating harmful CFH and HCFH regfrigerants. A win-win situation for people and the environment.

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