Zero Carbon in Mixed Used Buildings | REGULAR

Explore some of the key challenges and benefits of pursuing a zero-carbon certification in a mixed-use community. 

Zero Carbon in Mixed Used Buildings

Webday Wednesday Series

Topics: Sustainability 

Length: 1 hour l What's included: video, quiz, certificte of completion

The Baker District is an exciting City of Guelph redevelopment project aimed at transforming the existing Baker Street municipal parking lot and adjacent properties into a sustainable, complete district located in Guelph’s downtown core. Windmill Developments is leading the planning, design and development for the Baker District, ensuring the creation of a socially and ecologically thriving community. The Baker District is pursuing international endorsement as a One Planet Living community, which necessitates striving for zero-carbon design. 

Located in Guelph, Ontario in Canada, the Baker District belongs to a heating dominant climate. In Ontario, electricity rates are approximately 5 times higher than gas, resulting in heating loads predominantly being met using gas in market-rate developments. As such, multi-unit residential buildings have historically been a source of high carbon and energy use in cities across Ontario. Challenging the status quo, the Baker District has proven that a market-based approach to zero-carbon is possible. 

In this session, drawing from our experience at the Baker District, we explore some of the key challenges and benefits of pursuing a zero-carbon certification in a mixed-use community. The Baker District faced early challenges to find a low-carbon heating and cooling source, which forced the project team through a rigorous design process to find a solution that kept the project on target financially and sustainably. The implementation of a bio-mass based district energy system leverages renewable resources in Canada, while allowing the team to eliminate the need for gas heating on site. An iterative design process around the building envelope was explored to meet the stringent certification requirements and approach Passive House levels of performance. This session will also touch on the use of One Planet Living and the CaGBC’s Zero Carbon Building Standard as a framework and certification to meet the project’s sustainability targets.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Understand the value-add zero carbon brings to market properties.
• Identify and mitigate critical path issues presented when pursuing zero-carbon design.
• Identify key requirements to a zero-carbon district energy system.
• Understand how to reach zero-carbon on a large facility when geothermal is not an option.
• Identify building performance metrics to meet zero carbon design.
• Understand how to apply a market-based approach to sustainable, zero carbon design.

Subject Matter Experts

Jenny McMinn, B. Arch., B.E.S., LEED AP BD+C

Craig McIntyre PEng, MSc, CMVP, LEED® AP BD+C

This is a recording of a live event. 
This webinar is part of a series! See more like this here.