REPORT. Environmental Policy / Capital Assets. Sustainable Building Design Procedure and Sustainable Design Guidelines

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1 REPORT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING DATE: JULY 06, 2010 FROM: Environmental Policy / Capital Assets DATE: June 9, 2010 SUBJECT: Sustainable Building Design Procedure and Sustainable Design Guidelines LOCATION: WARD: Page 1 RECOMMENDATION: 1. That the Sustainable Building Design Procedure EN-GEN , attached as Appendix A to the report dated June 9, 2010 from the Department of Environmental Policy and the Department of Capital Assets, be received. 2. That the Sustainable Building Design Procedure EN-GEN and the supporting document Sustainable Design Guidelines, be used in the design and construction of all new Town owned buildings, as well as repairs, preventative maintenance, facility operations and renovations to existing town facilities. KEY FACTS: The following are key points for consideration with respect to this report: The Sustainable Building Design Procedure EN-GEN and the Sustainable Design Guidelines (SDG) provides a framework for the design, construction and preventative maintenance of town facilities The procedure and SDG provides clearly stated objectives that will clarify direction and streamline project execution during construction The SDG will be used by Capital Assets staff, facility managers and operators, design consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders for all performance related decisions on building design, finishes and construction. The procedure and SDG focus on the appropriate and efficient use of resources during design, construction, and maintenance of town facilities, with respect to energy, water and materials, in order to reduce the building s environmental impact during its lifecycle.

2 Page 2 BACKGROUND: On December 5, 2005 Council approved the Environmental Strategic Plan (ESP) Vision, Guiding Principles and Goals as the Town s policy statement related to sustaining Oakville s environment. The following goals and actions from the ESP pertain to green building practices: Goal 2: To reduce consumption and increase efficiency in resource and material use Action 2.1 To reduce per capita dependence on fossil fuels Action 2.3 To reduce per capita water consumption Goal 4: To maintain and improve the health, cleanliness, safety and vitality of our neighbourhoods Action 4.2 To Foster and Sustain an Environmentally Sustainable Urban Form In June 2008, Council adopted a corporate target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The target states that the town will work towards: A corporate operations GHG emissions target of 20 per cent below 2004 levels by 2014 and a community GHG emissions target of 6 per cent below 2004 levels by In 2010 the Sustainable Corporate Energy Management Plan was approved by Council for implementation by staff. The plan states specific goals, targets and actions to improve energy efficiency within town facilities. The Energy Management Plan will ensure monitoring and measurement of the town s overall energy consumption and successful implementation of energy reduction measures. In April 2009 the Environmental Sustainability Policy (EN-GEN-001) was approved by Council. The Environmental Sustainability Policy Statement states that: The Corporation of the Town of Oakville shall promote environmental initiatives advancing Oakville as a sustainable community. Under this policy, appropriate procedures will be developed to advance environmental sustainability encompassing the core sustainability elements of: living within the limits, understanding the interconnections among environment, culture, society and economy, and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities.

3 Page 3 One of the first procedures developed in 2009 was the Sustainable Purchasing Procedure (EN-GEN ). This procedure focuses on the purchasing of environmentally sustainable goods and services that have a reduced negative impact on natural resources, air quality and waste. The Sustainable Purchasing Handbook provides information on trusted environmental certification systems and recommended language to be used in competitive bid processes. In addition to the Environmental Sustainability Policy (EN-GEN-001), the town s official plan Livable Oakville requires that all new municipal buildings over 500 square metres be built to achieve LEED Silver certification under the Canada Green Building Council. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a Green Building Rating system developed by the US Green Building Council and adopted by the Canada Green Building Council, which offers a checklist of sustainable performance targets. To meet these policy goals, recommended best practices, and move forward with the implementation of Livable Oakville and the mandatory LEED requirement, the Sustainable Building Design Procedure and Sustainable Design Guidelines were developed. This report outlines the content and application for both documents. COMMENT/OPTIONS: The 2008 capital budget included funds for the development of new construction design standards and a sustainable building procedure. Capital Assets in partnership with Environmental Policy developed the Sustainable Building Design Procedure and the Sustainable Design Guidelines, with oversight by a Project Working Group made up of key stakeholders from various town departments. As well, technical expertise was provided by an outside consultant with experience in sustainable design and LEED. As part of the development of the Sustainable Design Guidelines, existing strategies and guidelines were looked at and best practices and policies within these plans were incorporated into the SDG. The Sustainable Building Design Procedure EN-GEN and the Sustainable Design Guidelines provides a framework for the design, construction and preventative maintenance of the Town s facilities with a particular focus on the appropriate and efficient use of resources energy, water and materials in order to reduce the building s environmental impact during its lifecycle. It will be used by Capital Assets staff, facility managers and operators, design consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders for all performance related decisions with respect to building design, finishes and construction.

4 Page 4 Along with effective project management techniques, the use of the guidelines will clarify direction and streamline project execution during construction as it provides clearly stated objectives with respect to: o energy management through detailed building performance requirements o sustainability through requirements for occupant health and comfort, carbon impact, the use of alternative energy sources, and material and waste stream impact o achieving LEED Silver certification for all new buildings over 500 m 2 o performance specifications for building assemblies and components for site design, building envelope, mechanical and electrical systems, indoor air quality, furniture and fitments and access to daylight and views o contractual requirements for the contractor ensuring that the sustainability goals of the construction project are achieved o specifications for communications systems, and o requirements for accessibility following the Town s 2008 Guideline for the Design of Accessible Facilities adopted by Council in Viewed through this lens, the processes involved with new construction, renovations and preventative maintenance are reviewed and implemented within a lifecycle framework resulting in increased reliability, serviceability, and operational efficiency as well as increased employee productivity and a reduction in energy and water consumption. Lifecycle costing of building systems is a basic tenet of sustainable design and green building practices and is included within LEED. Rather than just focusing on the capital cost of construction, it also considers the cost (both financial and environmental) to make a building component, maintenance costs, operating costs, and finally disposal of the building. Although all factors are considered when deciding which building system would have the lowest net cost to the town, the overriding factor will be a maximum 5 to 7 year payback period and considerations of energy efficiency. Although in some cases, lifecycle costing may result in increased upfront capital costs, these are typically directly offset by savings within the operating budget within the payback period. The level of premium is directly dependant on the types of green choices that are made and how prevalent they are in the market. For example, currently photovoltaic power (solar) remains a high premium but as its use increases in popularity and the technology develops, the market will adjust.

5 Page 5 Town Facility Green Building Successes Over the last four years the town has undertaken multiple green building projects to improve the sustainability of town facilities. Below is a summarized list of some of these projects: Sixteen Mile Creek Sports Complex The Sixteen Mile Creek Sports Complex will be completed and open to the public in September This facility has been built to LEED certified standards and hosts a four quad pad arena. New Oakville Transit Facility The new Oakville Transit Facility will be completed in 2011 and has been designed to LEED Silver certification. The administration section of the building will have a geothermal application and the garage provides an ability to support hybrid buses. Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre The QEPCC facility will undergo major construction and renovation to develop a cultural arts building for the community. QEPCC is being designed to LEED Silver certification and will have a solar PV application on the roof. Green Roof Application The town has invested in a green roof demonstration pilot project on the rooftop of Kinoak Arena. This green roof will provide the ability for town staff to monitor its efficacy and the maintenance required of a green roof. Retrofits and Maintenance The Capital Assets Department continues to improve facility energy efficiency by upgrading mechanical equipment, lighting and implementing water conservation measures. An excellent example of implementing energy reduction technologies and improving energy efficiency is Town Hall. These improvements have resulted in gas and electricity savings for Town Hall of over $60,000 over a one year period. This represents a reduction of almost 200 tonnes of eco2 for Town Hall (eco2 is used to describe green house gas emissions in terms of equivalent volume of carbon dioxide). It is projected that Town Hall savings for 2010 will be approximately a 15% reduction from 2009 energy costs. LEED Accreditation As of 2009, a total of five staff have been certified as LEED Accredited Professionals. Administered by the Canadian Green Building Council, individuals who have gone through this training and certification process have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes.

6 Page 6 CONSIDERATIONS: (A) PUBLIC The Sustainable Building Design Procedure (EN-GEN ) provides leadership and stewardship for the community. The procedure and guide are available on the town website for further review. (B) FINANCIAL The Sustainable Design Guidelines focus on the use and incorporation of lifecycle costing analysis. Any financial impact (costs or savings) to the operating and capital budgets due to the implementation of the Sustainable Design Guidelines will be addressed in the annual budget review process. (C) IMPACT ON OTHER DEPARTMENTS & USERS The Sustainable Building Design Procedure impacts various departments and the manner in which design, construction and preventative maintenance are implemented. As well, selected town staff from various departments will continue to participate in the Project Working Group to advise on any recommended changes or additions to the SDG. (D) CORPORATE AND/OR DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC GOALS This report addresses the corporate strategic goal to: enhance our natural environment have accessible programs/services have environmentally sustainable programs/services (E) COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY The Green Building Design Procedure supports the environmental, economic and social pillars through the implementation of sustainable and environmental best practices to reduce energy consumption, material use, improve building design and lessen the town s environmental impact. APPENDICES: Appendix A Sustainable Building Design Procedure (EN-GEN x) Appendix B Sustainable Design Guidelines Prepared by: Suzanne Austin Research Policy Analyst Environmental Policy Submitted by: Cindy Toth, Director Environmental Policy Nicole Wolfe Manager, Facilities Maintenance & Repairs Capital Assets Shelly Switzer, Director Capital Assets