Healthy Work Environments Win

Canadian companies honoured for energy conservation

Toronto recently announced three winners of the Energy Conservation Award, which recognizes organizations that demonstrate successful, measurable improvements in operation or production processes that reduce consumption.

Coming in first is Enbridge Gas Distribution, a company that built an innovative hybrid fuel cell plant that produces near zero-emission electricity. In a global first, Enbridge integrated two existing low-carbon technologies to capture unused pipeline energy generated during the normal distribution of natural gas. The plant, located at the company’s head office in Toronto, delivers up to 2.2 megawatts of ultra-clean energy, enough to power 1,700 homes.

The SAS Canada headquarters on King Street East is Toronto’s first LEED-certified new commercial office building. Breaking ground in 2004, the project aimed to reduce energy consumption by 30% compared to an average Ontario office building. In 2008, it surpassed that target by over 100%. Among its many green systems, precipitation is reused for washrooms and the highly reflective white roof reduces air conditioning needs, which is why this company merited the second-prize award.

Steam Whistle Brewing, winners of the third-place award, significantly reduced both its energy consumption and waste water output in 2008. Over the years, the brewer has implemented an assortment of environmental changes like eco-friendly packaging and 100% reliance on green electricity. Last year the company invested in 76,400 litres of bio fuel, a mix of soya fuel and recycled restaurant grease, to transport beer across Ontario.

It’s about the best place to work

 “When we broke ground on our headquarters in 2005 we didn’t set out to build Canada’s first LEED-certified newly constructed commercial office building–our goal was to build the best working environment for our staff and tenants, and to integrate into the community,” says Carl Farrell, Executive Vice President, SAS Americas. “But we are an employee-driven culture and green initiatives are an important priority for our staff, so it was common sense for us to take a leadership role in reducing our environmental footprint.”

Here are the initiatives for which SAS Canada is recognized:

Recycling program: all desks and workspaces are supplied with normal waste and recycling bins. The collected building waste is further sorted into three streams before entering the external waste stream. The building diverts more than 85% of its generated waste from landfills; all printers are set to default double-side printing to reduce paper use.

Kitchen areas: SAS supplies reusable cups, plates and utensils to eliminate paper or plastic waste; each floor is equipped with chilled and filtered water from special faucets rather than bottled water.

Transportation: nine transit routes within ¼ mile of building; free employee shuttle bus to Union Station during morning and evening rush hours; secure indoor bicycle storage and shower/changing facilities.

Rainwater harvesting system: collects more than one-million litres of water each year for toilet and urinal flushing, and landscaping purposes; low-flow, hands-free washroom fixtures prevent waste and reduces load on city and potable water systems.
Reduced electricity and natural gas: the building used 62% less energy per square metre in 2008 than a typical Ontario office building–269 Kilowatt hours per square metre per year 719 Kilowatt hours per square metre per year; the Building Automation System allows constant monitoring to identify and resolve excess energy uses.

Reduced heat island effect: heat reflective roof reduces ambient temperature in the immediate neighbourhood and within the building.

Lighting: floor-to-ceiling windows on south and west sides allow optimal levels of interior daylight and a three-storey high atrium topped with a skylight admits additional daylight into the interior top three floors. Low E glass coatings reduce the amount of heat entering through windows while allowing 95% of light through. Indirect lighting uses 30% less energy and distributes up to 50% more light than typical overhead fixtures. Totally indirect overhead lighting means no computer screen glare or lighting “hotspots”.

Air quality: under-floor air distribution saves cooling energy and adds enhanced comfort through improved air quality; workspaces equipped with manually adjustable floor air diffusers; ultra-efficient air filtering (95%) ensures optimal air quality; all materials used in building construction and interior design are low-VOC (i.e. emit little or no volatile organic compounds, toxins or odours).

Recyclable materials content: carpet tiles are made from more than 90% recycled content and are 100% recyclable; almost all office chairs are 100% recyclable and were made in a factory powered by wind-generated electricity; building structure is made of concrete with a high percentage of recycled material which can be recycled at its end of life.

LEED Silver certification: The building meets LEED Canada’s five criteria for environmentally innovative building methods – Sustainable Site, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality.

SOURCE: ENVIRONICS communications inc.

Article published in Your Workplace magazine in issue 11-5