Sustainability is at the heart of all that we do. As the growth and development of our communities impact our natural environment, we’re pushing the envelope by designing in more environmentally responsible ways. Our mission is to create sustainable communities through meaningful architectural design and collaborative discussion. Because we believe that good design is sustainable design.
Buildings are responsible for an enormous amount of global energy use, resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions and have a significant impact on our personal health and well-being. Green buildings allow us to live and work more sustainably in ways you can experience – in your health, the air you breathe, the water you drink. They offer us a better quality of life, while also lowering global carbon emissions, reducing electricity and water bills, and creating new green jobs.
LEED green building standard
One of the ways we’re building more sustainable communities is through the design and creation of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings. This globally recognized rating system is a prestigious certification granted only to those who meet a higher standard of sustainable design. It’s an approach to address climate change by ensuring that a building has a reduced impact on our planet.
The renovated Federation of Canadian Municipalities building located in Downtown Ottawa.
Building for life
The manufacturing, design, construction, and operation of buildings we live and work in can be harmful to us and our natural environment. A LEED certified building, however, is highly efficient as it reduces carbon emissions, saves water, conserves energy, and reduces waste – both throughout construction and a building’s life cycle. It also ensures that occupants enjoy a safe, comfortable, and healthy space through the use of non-toxic materials. In Canada, buildings account for almost 30 per cent of national CO2 emissions when operations, materials and construction is considered. LEED-certified buildings have to meet a minimum of 34 per cent lower CO2 emissions, consume 25 per cent less energy, and 11 per cent less water.
LEED for a better future
To date, CSV has received over a dozen LEED certifications for projects across the Ottawa region. Most recently, we were proud to receive LEED for Homes Platinum for the addition to the Kings Daughters and Sons Apartments, as well as LEED CI GOLD for the renovation on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities building in Ottawa’s Byward Market.
“Obtaining a LEED certification is a great source of pride for our team here at CSV Architects. Our goal is to work on even more projects of this caliber so that we can continue to make a difference in the overall health of our communities and those who live in them.” – Jessie Smith, Principal