The Xstrata Nickel Sustainable Energy Centre (SEC) at Cambrian College in Sudbury has earned gold status in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
The certification is granted through the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), which administers a third-party certification program based on internationally accepted benchmarks for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
“Cambrian’s SEC began with a vision and then an ambitious plan to build a centre for students and faculty that would inspire innovation, and support our green energy programs,” college president Sylvia Barnard said in a news release. “What we have achieved is truly remarkable. The SEC is now a hub for 30 applied research projects that are underway or in various stages of development and home to our energy systems technology and environmental monitoring and impact assessment programs. It’s an important new addition to our campus.”
LEED gold buildings are scored in six key areas, including sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, material selection, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. The centre scored very high in both water efficiency and indoor environmental quality, making it a healthy place to learn and work while minimizing its impact on the environment.
Cambrian said that, according to its research, the centre is only the second project in Sudbury to achieve LEED gold status. The other project is Xstrata’s Nickel Rim South office and dry complex.