Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction - Target issue (Planet) example: Living with Lakes Centre for freshwater restoration and research, Sudbury, Canada

Living with Lakes Centre for freshwater restoration and research, Sudbury, Canada

The new Living with Lakes center for applied research and environmental restoration and sustainability is designed to contribute to remediation of the environment in an area that is recovering from decades of acid rain. This objective pervades every aspect of the project, including renewable energy use, environmental design, material selection, and construction methods. The use of local limestone actually helps correct the pH balance of water on the site at Lake Ramsey.

The project was recipient of the Holcim Awards Bronze 2008 North America. The building, designed to LEED* Platinum standards, is full of green systems and features that maximize energy efficiency and minimize operating costs: rainwater harvesting, graywater usage, geothermal heating, a high-performance thermal envelope, solar water heating, a green roof, daylighting, efficient appliances and lighting with light sensors, and locally sourced nontoxic materials. These features result in 77% lower energy use and nearly 80% lower potable water use.

Read project update – Living with Lakes Centre for freshwater restoration and research, Sudbury, Canada

* = LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the internationally recognized green building certification system of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is the leading global rating system for green buildings.

Sustainable Construction - Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile

Definition – Environmental quality and resource efficiency – “Planet”
The target issue encompasses the sensible use and management of natural resources throughout building life cycles (including operation and maintenance) including long-term environmental concerns pertaining to flows of materials and energy.

read definition – Environmental quality and resource efficiency – “Planet”

Sustainable Construction Example – IUCN Conservation Centre in Gland, Switzerland

Example – IUCN Conservation Centre, Gland, Switzerland
A showpiece of modern architecture incorporating green construction practices, advanced technologies, and emerging concrete technology, featuring CO2-reduced concrete, recycled concrete, and insulating concrete.

read how the IUCN Conservation Centre addresses “Environmental quality and resource efficiency”

Measuring up to the criteria of sustainable construction – “Planet”

Target issues for sustainable construction