Cora Group says that it has received Zero Carbon Building – Design certification from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) for evolv1, a new commercial multi-tenant office building now in construction in Waterloo.
evolv1 is one of 16 elite projects across Canada to be selected by the CaGBC to participate in a two-year pilot of its new Zero Carbon Building Standard. It is also the first building to earn the Zero Carbon Building – Design certification, Cora Group said in a statement.
To earn the certification, the building had to demonstrate zero carbon design excellence, showing that it has: modeled a zero carbon balance for future operations; incorporated a highly efficient envelope and ventilation system to meet a defined threshold for thermal energy demand intensity; and designed onsite renewable energy systems capable of providing a minimum of 5 percent of building energy consumption.
“CaGBC’s Zero Carbon Building Standard is an innovative made-in-Canada solution that supports industry efforts to reduce GHG emissions and grow the low-carbon economy,” Thomas Mueller, CaGBC’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
“As the first project to earn Zero Carbon Building – Design certification in Canada, evolv1 stands out as an innovator and a true leader for the industry. It is setting a tangible example for building owners and policymakers across the country that zero carbon buildings are technically feasible and economically viable right now. The shift to zero carbon buildings is a critical step in reaching our climate change goals in Canada. Through innovative projects like evolv1 the building industry can lead the way in the fight against climate change,” Mueller said.
The evolv1 vision is a collaboration between Cora Group, Sustainable Waterloo Region, The David Johnston Research & Technology Park, and anchor tenant E&Y. The building, designed and engineered by global design firm Stantec and constructed by Melloul Blamey, is also targeting LEED Platinum certification and will produce more energy than it consumes when complete.