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LEED Canada Platinum convention centre to host CaGBC National Conference gala

CaGBC President and CEO Thomas Mueller was on hand to acknowledge the achievement of LEED Platinum by the Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) Expansion facility. The VCC will host the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) National Conference in June of this year.

Holding the distinction as the greenest convention facility in the world, this venue is a spectacular addition to the city of Vancouver, says the CaGBC, a national industry organization advancing green building practices for livable communities.

Green features of the VCC expansion facility include a 5-acre living roof landscaped with more than 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses structured in layers. The roof system acts as an insulator reducing heat gains in summer and heat losses in winter, as well as contributing to the building's stormwater management. An in-house waste water recycling system significantly increases the building's water efficiency by reusing water for toilet flushing and other non-potable uses.

"LEED was just an idea 10 years ago when it first came to Canada. Today, the industry has embraced LEED on a massive scale, with over 200 million sq. ft. of projects in Canada," said Mueller during the LEED plaque ceremony. “This building is a demonstration of the tremendous momentum and acceptance of creating sustainable buildings. With the growing realization that buildings are responsible for 35% of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada and other environmental impacts, green building construction and operation is imperative for a sustainable future.”

The CaGBC National Conference scheduled June 8-10 at the Convention Centre will focus on the theme “Performance Matters: The next generation of buildings and communities”. The program features over 60 speakers and panelists and will offer tours of green buildings in Vancouver including a behind the scenes look at the VCC marine habitat, green roof and the on-site black water treatment and desalinization systems that are projected to reduce potable water use 60-70% over typical convention centers.

CaGBC

May 4, 2010  By Newswire