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Cover:

Located in Cambridge, Ont., the Farm Mutual Head Office is one of the most energy-efficient offices in Canada. Designed by SRM Architects, and certified Gold under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, it uses a metered 125 ekWh/m2 compared with the Canadian average of 394 ekWh/m2. This was achieved through mechanical design and sustainable design features with short incremental cost paybacks, such as drought-resistant vegetation, a rainwater cistern for toilet flushing, and energy-efficient, double-glazed windows.

Features
  • 8 Identifying Green Buildings that Work

    Stephen Carpenter, P.Eng.

    Instead of defining a green facility by a checklist of technologies, one should take a hard look at its actual reduced environmental footprint. Energy consumption should be the most important criterion.

  • 18 Selecting and Achieving the Proper Air Barrier

    John Edgar

    As Canadian codes develop more stringent requirements for air leakage, moisture management, and fire safety, it is important to know the product being selected meets all the new criteria.

  • 24 Specifying Service to Ensure Roof Performance

    Michael D. Huber, PE

    If complex systems like HVAC can be specified to ensure 'performance' and incorporate detailed installation and service requirements, why can the same not be done with roofs?

  • 30 Wind Design for Roofing: Misconceptions and Consequences

    Josh Jensen, AScT, CHI, RRO, RRC

    Wind uplift is significantly misunderstood in the construction industry; when it comes to roofing assemblies, the architectural and engineering communities must become more involved.

  • 38 Owens Art Gallery: A Holistic Conservation Strategy

    Paul Jeffs

    This in-depth masonry case study examines the restoration/conservation of an old art gallery—a particularly interesting example since work in the 1970s caused major damage to the masonry and a rather complicated strategy was needed.

  • 50 Danger Overhead: Ensuring Future Access for the Façade

    Karol L. Kazmierczak, CSI, CDT, AIA, ASHRAE, NCARB, LEED AP, and Jerzy Tuscher, M.Sc.

    The need for access becomes obvious early, but not early enough. Adding window-washing equipment, for example, can come as a late surprise, affecting design, budget, and construction schedule.

  • 58 ASHRAE 90.1: The Future of Ontario's Energy Efficiency

    Andrew Parker, P.Eng., LC, LEED AP

    In some cases, Ontario has adopted the U.S. energy efficiency standard for commercial buildings—what does this mean for lighting?

  • 64 Reducing Energy Use in Correctional Facilities

    Frank Gonzalez

    Canada's prisons—new construction and existing—are going green. This includes the lighting.

  • 70 Revolving Doors 101

    Bob Augustine and Elias Campos

    Revolving doors provide a barrier to the outside elements. Always open, always closed—their energy efficiency impact can go unnoticed.

  • 80 Specifying Acetylated Wood for Entry Doors

    Lisa Ayala

    'Modified wood' describes a material whose cellular structure has been altered by a natural acetyl process. How does this compare to traditional methods?

  • 88 Insulated Siding is Heating Up in Colder Climates

    Matt Dobson

    Insulated vinyl siding's ability to exhibit a specific R-value, reduce thermal bridging, and lower air leakage rate has made these claddings more popular.

  • 94 Code Blue: Shifting Toward Water Efficiency in Canada

    Anthony Watanabe, PhD

    Increasing urbanization, industrial growth, aging infrastructure, and the growing effects of climate change have made water issues a much more important issue.

  • 100 Less is More: Saving Energy with Lighting Dimmers

    Michael Liu

    Dimmers can not only offer flexibility and reduce costs, but they also provide desirable ambient and task lighting to create a room with character.

  • 106 Windows versus Walls: Debunking the Energy Myth

    Bruce Lang

    Glazing means daylighting, but what if glass could also offer similar insulation and energy efficiency expected from walls?


 
NEWS
LATEST NEWS
CSC Hamilton/Niagara: Automatic doors discussion

Tomorrow, the CSC Hamilton/Niagara Chapter is sponsoring a luncheon discussion on specifying automatic pedestrian entrances.

CONSTRUCTION CANADA ONLINE
Reworking LEED RP credit submittals

The submission process for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Regional Priority (RP) credits is being revised.

Ontario engineering teams lauded

A Toronto lakefront development, an arena-turned-supermarket, and the Earth Rangers Centre were among the winning projects in the 10th annual Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) awards.

NAIMA Canada names new executive director

North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) Canada has appointed Jay Nordenstrom as the new executive director.

Ottawa bridge wins American shotcrete award


An Ottawa bridge has won the Outstanding Infrastructure Project award in this year's American Shotcrete Association (ASA) competition, celebrating projects that use pneumatically applied concrete or mortar.

Next month: CaGBC National Conference in Toronto

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is bringing its national conference and expo to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in three weeks.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 23–27
CSC Conference 2012
Construction Specifications Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Delta Ottawa City Centre
csc-dcc.ca

May 29
Glass and the Building Envelope: Shattering the Myths
MMPI Canada
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Don Valley Hotel
www.buildingenvelopeforum.com

June 11–13
CaGBC National Conference and Expo
Canada Green Building Council
Toronto, Ontario
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
www.cagbc.org

June 13–16
RAIC Festival of Architecture
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
St. John's, Newfoundland
Delta St. John's Hotel and Conference Centre
www.festival.raic.org

September 11–14
CONSTRUCT & CSI Annual Convention
Hanley Wood
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix Convention Center
www.constructshow.com

September 20–21
IIDEX Neocon
Interior Designers of Canada & Architecture Canada
Toronto, Ontario
Direct Energy Centre
www.iidexneocon.com

November 14–16
Greenbuild
U.S. Green Building Council
San Francisco, California
Moscone Center
www.greenbuildexpo.org