Environmental Initiatives
Building efficiency when using resources such as energy and water can be improved in a manner that positively impacts on human health. This can be accomplished through better design, construction, operation and maintenance.
Sustainable Building Design Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver
The Alberta Government has affirmed its commitment to environmentally friendly building design by adopting the LEED Silver environmental standard. LEED Silver buildings cost up to five per cent more than conventional buildings but are up to 45 per cent more energy-efficient than the standard benchmark. LEED is administered in Canada by the Canada Green Building Council.
LEED is the most widely accepted rating system for sustainable buildings in North America. Lower utility bills, reduced environmental impact and improved performance meet the triple bottom line: financial, social and environmental sustainability. As well, studies demonstrate better learning, health and work performance in buildings that incorporate LEED elements, such as increased use of natural light and improved air quality.
With LEED, integrated design and life cycle cost management are keys to controlling costs. Improvements in productivity can quickly eliminate any premiums. There should be negligible impact compared with inflation and market forces. Any premium in initial cost can be returned in about seven years through energy savings alone for a LEED Silver building.
Government of Alberta buildings with LEED ratings
|
Project Name |
Level |
Date Certified |
Type of Facility |
|
Banff Community High School |
Certified |
February 15, 2005 |
High School |
|
Mount Royal College Centre for Continuous Learning |
Gold |
April 13, 2007 |
Lecture Hall / Classroom |
|
Expansion of the Dinosaur Provincial Park Visitor Centre and Tyrrell Field Station |
Gold |
October 4, 2007 |
Conservation Centre |
|
Child Development Centre (at University of Calgary) |
Platinum |
October 15, 2007 |
Office Building |
|
Holy Trinity Academy |
Gold |
October 1, 2008 |
High School |
|
Vulcan Prairieview Elementary School |
Silver |
March 10, 2009 |
K-9 School |
|
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park Visitor Centre |
Silver |
March 30, 2009 |
Conservation Centre |
|
Triffo Hall |
Gold |
May 26, 2009 |
Office Building |
|
Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation |
Gold |
November 13, 2009 |
Conservation Centre |
|
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park-Alberta Visitor Centre |
Silver |
December 7, 2009 |
Conservation Centre |
|
1st Choice Savings Center for Sport & Wellness |
Silver |
October 22, 2009 |
Sports Facility |
|
UCVM Clinical Skills Building |
Gold |
November 10, 2010 |
Lecture Hall / Classroom |
Sustainable Building Operations – BOMA BESt
To ensure government buildings are operated in the most environmentally responsible way possible, the Alberta Government has adopted BESt (Building Environmental Standards) - a national third-party certification program managed by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). Green building initiatives, like BOMA BESt, make our buildings safer and healthier for those who use them, while reducing energy consumption, cutting operating costs and improving waste management. This program addresses 10 operational areas including:
As of April, 2010, Alberta Infrastructure has met its goal to have all large, public, government-owned buildings BOMA BESt certified. Eighty two buildings have been certified under the program.
More than 8 million square feet of Government of Alberta building space follow the BOMA BESt framework, such as the Pincher Creek Provincial Building that has a BOMA BESt Level 4 rating, the highest level of recognition. Infrastructure also owns the first museum certified BOMA BESt in Alberta and the rare BOMA BESt certification of a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Using International Organization for Standardization standards as a benchmark, annual emissions from government-owned and leased buildings are approximately 0.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per square metre; over 40 percent less than in 2001.
Renewable Technologies
 |
The Alberta Legislature Building has supplemented its electrical demand with a solar photovoltaic system for the last several years. This is one of the first solar installations on a government building in Alberta and has led to successful solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems on the Pincher Creek Provincial Building and a solar thermal system on the Lethbridge Correctional entre. |
 |
(Captions, Left: Solar Thermal Installation at the Pincher Creek Provincial Building Right: Solar Photovoltaic System at the Pincher Creek Provincial Building)
Green Power
|
100 percent of the grid electricity used in government buildings comes from green sources. Using green power whenever possible reduces our greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 200,000 tonnes per year. That's equivalent to: | ||
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|
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| Alberta Infrastructure currently uses EcoLogo certified renewable power sourced from various wind farms in Alberta and provided by two suppliers: TransAlta Corporation and ENMAX Energy Corporation. | ||
Greening Government Strategy
Alberta Infrastructure, Alberta Environment, and Service Alberta partnered to develop and head the corporate strategy to improve the environmental footprint of our business practices. Our focus is on procurement and business operations to reduce waste and the environmental impact of government business activities.
Recycling items containing mercury
Since 2006, Alberta Infrastructure has recycled more than 205,000 items containing mercury. Under this program, Infrastructure recycles items including fluorescent tubes, HID/UV/HPS bulbs, halogen and compact fluorescent bulbs, and thermometers.
Battery Recycling
Since early 2009, Alberta Infrastructure has helped divert nearly 4500 kilograms of batteries from landfills. Magnetic and electronic ballasts, alkaline, rechargeable, lead-acid and lithium batteries are processed and broken down into their individual elements for re-use.
Desk-Side Recycling
To increase waste diversion rates, full recycling capabilities have been developed within the Neil Crawford Provincial Centre, ARC Millwoods and the Alberta Legislature Building. Alberta Infrastructure is working with the City of Edmonton to expand this service to all Alberta government-owned and leased facilities in Edmonton where feasible.
Commercial blue bin recycling allows occupants within these buildings to recycle glass, plastics, paper, cardboard and metals in desk-side containers without sorting. Early indications are a reduction of some 40% of waste going to landfill.
