Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has announced that the Harriet Brooks Building, a world-class materials science laboratory, was awarded LEED Silver certification on June 15, 2018. This achievement is aligned with a broader effort to create a more sustainable and energy efficient campus in Chalk River.
“We are proud of the work we are undertaking to build a more sustainable Chalk River campus,” said Mark Lesinski, CNL president and CEO, in a press release. “The Harriet Brooks Building, one of only a handful of LEED-certified laboratories in Canada, is just one example of the many projects currently underway at CNL which are helping to reduce our environmental footprint.”
The Harriet Brooks Building showcases several environmentally-sound features, including a reduced heat island effect by using a white roof and white concrete pavement; exterior lights designed to prevent “uplighting”; rainwater captured for use in restrooms; low-flow fixtures to reduce water use by over 30 per cent; the use of drought-tolerant landscaping to reduce the need for watering; a 20 per cent deduction in energy use compared to a similar standard-designed building; zero use of non-toxic, non-flammable refrigerants in the HVAC systems; included areas for storage and collection of recyclables; the diversion of 83 per cent of construction waste away from landfill; and a controllable lighting system including occupancy sensors.
In addition to the Harriet Brooks Building, CNL has invested significantly in projects that support the organization’s commitment to environmental protection. This includes a 30 per cent decrease in emissions at the Chalk River campus since transitioning to natural gas heating in 2018; plans for three new conventional buildings incorporate energy efficiency or sustainable building materials; and the construction of a groundwater management system to better protect the Ottawa River by managing rainfall runoff.
“It is important to our organization, to our staff and to our many stakeholders that we are delivering our work in a manner which places a high priority on environmental stewardship,” added Lesinski. “This is part of our Environment Policy and applies to all aspects of CNL’s activities. CNL has set sustainability objectives and targets for energy efficiency, clean energy utilization, waste management and conservation of resources to support continual improvement of our performance, and ensure we are respecting the natural environment we are so grateful to enjoy here in Chalk River.”
