Evolv1 achieves zero carbon performance certification

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evolv1

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Cora Group, which describes itself as a local developer and sustainable building advocate, has achieved dual certification for evolv1 under the Zero Carbon Building Standard. The first-of-its-kind building is the second to receive the Canada Green Building Councilโ€™s (CaGBC) Zero Carbon Building Standard โ€“ Design and Zero Carbon Building Standard โ€“ Performance certifications.

It’s been two years since evolv1 accepted Canadaโ€™s first ZCB-Design certification. The new ZCB-Performance certification is an assurance that the multi-tenant office building is on its way to achieving The Cora Groupโ€™s target of net-positive energy.

โ€œThe Cora Group is pleased to announce that evolv1 has earned Zero Carbon Building Standard โ€“ Performance certification through CaGBCโ€™s Zero Carbon Building Program,โ€ Adrian Conrad, The Cora Groupโ€™s Chief Operating Officer said in a press release.

โ€œThe goal was to influence the market and now with the Performance certification, we hope the influence is even stronger.

โ€œSince the Cora Group opened evolv1โ€™s doors, it has welcomed everyone from students to country leaders through its building to show the tangible example of what a zero-carbon future could look like. โ€œThe vision is to build a better future for our world.โ€

evolv1 operates with sustainable features including two different solar technologies: solar panels and a passive solar wall system. The buildingโ€™s open-loop geothermal system uses an aquifer to heat and cool the commercial space and the geothermal well is 160 meters deep and pumps 800 gallons per minute. Other features include a 40,000-litre rainwater cistern and daylight harvesting. The building promotes sustainability with 28 Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers.

evolv1 is visually known for its 1,440 Canadian-made solar panels that cover the parking lot and 754 solar panels on the roof. On a summer day, the onsite solar panels can produce 2,000 kWh more renewable energy than the building uses โ€“ providing this energy back to the grid.

โ€œAs the very first Zero Carbon Building certification, evolv1 is already ahead of the curve,โ€ said Thomas Mueller, CEO of CaGBC and GBCI Canada. โ€œI had the pleasure of visiting evolv1 this February and I was impressed by how the different design approaches and technologies had been integrated to achieve zero carbon as well as environmentally advanced and healthy workplaces through LEED Platinum certification.โ€

evolv1 is home to some of Waterlooโ€™s top tech, global brands, and sustainability-focused organizations. By partnering with the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, evolv1 has become a living lab that is researched in-depth for its energy production, and human interaction and habits within a sustainable building.

During evolv1โ€™s first year of operation:

  • The 104,000 sq. ft. buildingโ€™s total annual production was 848,823kWh
  • evolv1โ€™s tenant community includes The Accelerator Centre, Borealis AI, EY, Sustainable Waterloo Region, TextNow, University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University
  • The Cora Group had toured over 1000 people through evolv1 common areas and its mechanical rooms to share knowledge as an industry leader
  • Cora group continues to charge market rates at evolv1 to tenants proving that building sustainably can be done feasibly โ€“ even for a premium commercial building
  • evolv1 is close to achieving LEED Platinum certification as a LEED Platinum candidate
  • evolv1โ€™s solar array displaced 110 tons of CO2 in one year, the equivalent produced by 130 cars a year

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