Buildings in Canada accounted for 30% of energy use and 28% of greenhouse gas emissions with space heating accounting for approximately half of these totals.

It is widely understood that energy and its ever-increasing consumption has an immense impact on nature. Burning fossil fuels such as coal to produce power results in the production of carbon dioxide. Climate change illustrates the impact to the environment of carbon emissions alone is immense. In addition, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can release compounds into the atmosphere that result in the depletion of the earth's protective ozone layer.

The integration of energy efficiency measures and the use of more benign forms of energy are activities that result in better performance and in the reduction of the greenhouse gasses that are impacting our atmosphere.

In addition, restricting the use of ozone depleting substances reduces the impact of these substances on the earth’s protective ozone layer.

Listed below are the ways in which Lois Hole Library is achieving LEED prerequisites and credits.

Fundamental Commissioning

Prerequisite 1

Commissioning is the process of verifying that the building’s systems operate as intended and according to the owner’s requirements as set forth in project documents. Commissioning helps fill the gap between the design team and subcontractors. Without commissioning, significant inefficiencies and improper installations can go unchecked potentially resulting in higher energy use with the resultant higher environmental impacts.

The Fundamental commissioning prerequisite focuses on the installation and verification of the mechanical and electrical systems during construction.

  • Engage a LEED commissioning authority
  • Review design intent and basis of design documentation
  • Include commissioning requirements in construction documentation
  • Develop and employ a commissioning plan
  • Verify the installation, functional employment, training on systems and documentation

Strategies for achieving fundamental commissioning:

A commissioning agent prepared and implemented a commissioning plan which included the five required scope of work items.

Enhanced commissioning covers a broader scope of systems, and involves broader participation of the Commissioning Authority (CxA), beginning during construction documents and continuing through occupancy.

Minimum Energy Performance

Prerequisite 2

The most important step any building developer or designer can take to create a greener building is to reduce its energy consumption. This consequently reduces the carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, promotes habitat protection which is becoming a critical element of power planning and allocation efforts, and reduces operating and maintenance costs.

Strategies for achieving increased energy efficiencies:

An energy computer simulation program modelled the energy performance of the building taking into account the attributes of the building envelope and the HVAC system and showed an approximately 45% increase in energy efficiency over the comparison base building. This represents a 25% increase above the minimum energy 20% efficiencies of a comparable base building as required by LEED.

Optimize Energy Performance

Credit 1

The most important step any building developer or designer can take to create a greener building is to reduce its energy consumption. This consequently reduces the CO2, SOx and NOx emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, promotes habitat protection which is becoming a critical element of power planning and allocation efforts, and reduces operating and maintenance costs.

Strategies for achieving increased energy efficiencies:

An energy computer simulation program modeled the energy performance of the building taking into account the attributes of the building envelope and the HVAC system and showed an approximate 45% increase in energy efficiency over the comparison base building.

This represents a 15% increase above the efficiencies that LEED institutional buildings have averaged.

Best Practice Commissioning

Credit 3

Commissioning is the process of verifying that the building’s systems operate as intended and according to the owner’s requirements as set forth in project documents. Commissioning helps fill the gap between the design team and subcontractors. Without commissioning, significant inefficiencies and improper installations can go unchecked, potentially resulting in higher energy use with the resultant higher environmental impacts.

Enhanced commissioning covers a broader scope of systems and involves broader participation of the commissioning agent, beginning during construction documents and continuing through to occupancy. It includes the following additional services over and above those of fundamental commissioning:

  • Peer review of the concept design to assess whether the concept design will meet the design intent and the proposed LEED credits
  • Peer review of the construction documents prior to issuance for tender
  • Review contractor submittals and review alternates on systems that are being commissioned
  • Verify system performance over the first year of operation
  • Develop a re-commissioning manual that describes requirements for on-going system testing

Strategies for achieving best practice commissioning:

A commissioning agent prepared and implemented a Best Practice Commissioning plan which included the above scope of work.

Ozone Protection

Credit 4

Evidence shows that the release of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) reduces stratospheric ozone molecules through a catalytic process. It is known that this process reduces the Earth’s natural shield for incoming ultraviolet radiation and because of this, the Montreal Protocol called for prohibiting the release of these compounds into the Earth’s atmosphere.

In addition, HCFCs have also been shown to contribute to global climate change.

Strategies for achieving increased energy efficiencies:

The heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment installed in the Lois Hole Library's mechanical system as-built do not contain HCFCs.