for Continuous Learning
The Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning is 43% more energy efficient than conventional buildings. The building is designed to meet both The Canadian Federal Government’s Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP) which requires that the building’s energy performance be a minimum of 25% better than an equivalent building designed to meet the Canadian Model National Code for Building; and The Canadian Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard.
As the Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning building has met LEED Gold Standard, there are a number of mechanicalsystems proposed that are different from traditional buildings. A Green Building usually has half the energy and water consumption of a typical building. The idea is to construct a high performance building, spending more on the building envelope, and down-sizing the mechanical (cooling/ventilation) systems. Some examples of this include:
| Recycled Materials |
| Pressed straw ceiling tiles & baffles |
| Wheat board paneling |
| Recycled paint |
| Carpet made with recycled woolUtilization of water |
| Utilization of Water |
| Rain water collected and stored in a water tank |
| Treated then pumped to toilets and outside irrigation system |
| Water employed in heating and cooling of building |
| Cooling and Heating |
Natural ventilation reduces requirement for cooling |
| Building pre-cooled during the night using fresh air |
| Potable water cools building through air handling units |
| Heated through hot water boiler and exterior panels |
| Heating coils placed in air handling units to heat air |
| Mechanical concepts designed to achieve a Sustainable Building: |
| Capitalizing on the building mass of the structure |
| Municipal water cooling |
| Displacement ventilation system |
| Operable windows |
| Solar chimneys |
| Waterless urinals |
| 100% spaces day-lit |
