Earth Rangers Centre rounds up top marks with LEED Platinum certification

The Earth Rangers Centre was recently awarded LEED Platinum certification, and is currently the highest scoring existing building in the country.

“This is the first time ever that the CaGBC has certified a building initially as LEED Gold for New Construction, and then seven years later as LEED Platinum for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance,” said Thomas Mueller, president and chief executive officer of the Canada Green Building Council.

“It is key for LEED certified buildings to not only achieve this high level of performance, but maintain it as well. Earth Rangers took this a step further by exceeding the performance targeted under their initial certification. This project sets a benchmark in Canada that any building owner can follow to create lasting dividends for the environment and their pocketbook.”

The Earth Rangers Centre, certified LEED Gold for new construction in 2004, is home to Earth Rangers’ Animal Ambassadors and staff and is also a showcase for leading edge sustainable building technologies that reduce energy, water and resource consumption, while also maintaining the highest levels of functionality and comfort for occupants and tenants.

The centre scored 92 points of a possible 110 in the LEED existing building rating system. It features solar photovoltaic generation, on-site wastewater treatment, earth tubes, solar hot water, stormwater control, geothermal heating and cooling, and vegetated green roofs.

The LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance rating system focuses on measured performance of the building, and requires participants to track and prove the performance of their facility.

Notable metrics attained by the building include:

— energy consumption 83 per cent below energy code baseline

— 130,000 kWh of annual solar energy generation (enough to power 12 average Canadian homes for a year)

— 1.5 million litres of water recycled in 2011

— 100 per cent of power supplied comes from renewables or low impact hydroelectric generation sources

— An extensive preventative maintenance program that includes infrared scanning of building components

— An online commuting alternative program for staff and tenants

— 80 per cent diversion of waste from landfill

Earth Rangers is a kids’ conservation organization dedicated to educating millions of children across Canada about the importance of protecting biodiversity.

DCN NEWS SERVICES