Humber College’s NX building has been awarded the Zero Carbon Building – Design Certification by the Canada Green Building Council, making it the first retrofit in Canada to achieve design certification. According to CaGBC the North Campus building will use 70 per cent less energy than before, making it the college’s most energy efficient building, and one of the most energy efficient in North America.

“Globally, buildings are responsible for 40 per cent of annual energy consumption and up to 30 per cent of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions,” said Spencer Wood, Humber’s director of facilities management in the institution’s press release.

“One of the biggest challenges to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Canada is finding ways to heat buildings at a reasonable cost without burning fossil fuels. Humber wanted to be an example to the Canadian design and construction industries on how a deep energy retrofit can contribute positively to our country’s climate.”

Work on the NX building includes a complete envelope retrofit that is highly insulated and airtight, including new triple-pane windows. Energy efficient upgrades to the lighting, heating and cooling systems and a new 25kW Solar PV system were also completed.

“As the first retrofit to achieve zero carbon design certification, Humber College is showing real leadership and innovation in green building and carbon reduction,” said Thomas Mueller, President and CEO of CaGBC in the press release.

“The NX building demonstrates that Canada has the expertise and technology now for buildings to reach zero carbon and contribute to global climate change efforts in a meaningful way.”

Renovations to the NX building, which were designed by B+H architects and Morrison Hershfield and constructed by BIRD Construction, began in May 2018 and are scheduled for completion this summer.

Image courtesy of CaGBC.