LEED

On September 5^th, 2006 East Gwillimbury Council passed a resolution adopting a Municipal policy directing all new Town facilities and new industrial, commercial, institutional and high-rise residential buildings within the municipality to be built to LEED (NC)^TM Canada Version 1.0 certification level “Silver”. The Town of East Gwillimbury is the first Canadian municipality to mandate LEED^TM requirements for the private sector.

This same policy also requires all major renovation projects for industrial, commercial, institutional and high rise residential buildings are required to meet LEED (NC)^TM Canada Version 1.0 certification level “Silver” after January, 2010.

This policy was modified in October 2007, when Council adopted an implementation strategy for the LEED policy that outlined a scaled approach to LEED^TM certification based on building size (see table below).

The policy follows Council’s previous policy initiative with the Energy Star^® program for residential development.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)^TM is a rating tool developed to encourage sustainable environmental design and the incorporation of various environmental elements into the design of buildings.

LEED^TM consists of an explicit set of environmental performance criteria organized into five performance categories:

• Sustainable Sites
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Materials and Resources
• Water Efficiency
• Energy & Atmosphere

A sixth category, Innovation and Design process, rewards exceptional environmental performance or innovation over and above what is explicitly covered in the basic LEED^TM credits via additional credit options.

Implementation of components of these performance categories award LEED^TM points to the overall building program and toward a level of LEED^TM certification. Projects earn one or more points (maximum of 70 possible points) toward certification by meeting or exceeding each credit’s technical requirements. Each point generally represents an integrated building design element that aims to create a building that will improve occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns for the building using established innovative practices, standards and technologies. All prerequisites of each performance category must be achieved in order to qualify for certification. Points add up to a final score that relates to one of four possible levels of certification. The lowest of the four levels is “Certified” followed by “Silver”, “Gold” and finally “Platinum”.

Once a building is complete an application to the Canada Green Building Council for LEED^TM certification is made. Following an independent review and audits of selected documents a certification level is assigned. The Town of East Gwillimbury requires all buildings to achieve a LEED^TM certification level of Silver (33-38 points).

What is the Town's modified LEED^TM policy?

In October 2007, the Council adopted an implementation strategy that outlined a scaled approach to LEED^TM certification based on building size. A tiered system based on thresholds was implemented and a set of less onerous requirements was considered for smaller buildings.

What is the simplified administrative procedure?

Achieving the Town’s LEED^TM policy involves five easy to follow steps:

• Meet with Town Staff prior to submitting an application to the Town. Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with Municipal Staff to review the LEED^TM policy and to respond to any questions or concerns.
• Obtain the services of a LEED^TM certified consultant to orchestrate the design process, review the construction and certify the completion of all works on the subject land. This can greatly ease the development process and assist the proponent in complying with the Town’s LEED^TM policy.
• Complete the Agreement of Understanding and Compliance Form (attached to the Application for Site Plan Approval) and submit a retainer letter from a LEED^TM certified consultant identifying all services to be provided that will ensure compliance with the Town’s LEED^TM Policy.
• Submit the appropriate documentation to the Town throughout various phases of design and construction to ensure adherence to LEED^TM standards.
• Follow the completion of all works on site, written confirmation from the LEED^TM certified consultant that all works have been constructed, and meet, at a minimum, LEED (NC)^TM Canada Version 1.0 certification level Silver shall be submitted to the municipality.
• Submit an application to the Canada Green Building Council for LEED^TM certification following the completion of all works.

Sustainable buildings significantly lower operating and maintenance costs. These financial benefits are realized during the life of the building. In an environment where energy, water and sewer rates continue to rise, the LEED^TM initiatives will play a continuous and important role in lower operating and maintenance costs.

Studies utilizing a Life Cycle Cost analysis to determine the economic benefits of LEED^TM buildings indicate that the cost savings associated with LEED^TM buildings greatly outweigh capital cost increases over a 20 - 50 year outlook. A 2002 economic study in the European Union on implementing energy efficient measures into new construction determined that double the capital costs of the energy efficiency measures would be realized over the life cycle of the building.

Additional benefits of LEED^TM may include:

• Reduced energy costs
• Reduced water usage
• Reduction in resource consumption
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• Lower operating and maintenance costs
• Cost recovery (payback)
• Increased productivity and improved occupational health
• Improved corporate image

Who may I contact for further information on LEED^TM?

Canada Green Building Council

If you are interested in learning more about LEED^TM, including the rating system, project registration, and case studies, contact The Canada Green Building Council by telephone 613-241-1184 or their web site: http://www.cagbc.org/building_rating_systems/leed_rating_system.php

Town of East Gwillimbury

Dan Stone or Tim Gibson
Development and Legal Services
Telephone 905-478-4282
Email: dstone@eastgwillimbury.ca
          tgibson@eastgwillimbury.ca

• Development and Legal Services Report 2006-16 - LEED Policy
• Development and Legal Services Report 2007-57 - LEED Implementation Strategy