UNews - electricity

U of L buildings achieve LEED status

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 May 2012 22:24:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is taking a leadership approach in southern Alberta, setting a LEED standard in the design and construction of its new campus buildings.

Beginning with the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness and continuing with the construction of the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building (AWESB) and Markin Hall, the U of L is showing that it takes its role in sustainability and environmental responsibility seriously.

"Each building was designed to meet LEED certification, an internationally recognized standard used to judge the environmental performance of buildings," says Brian Sullivan, director, Project Management Office, Facilities. "Beginning with the 1st Choice Savings Centre, we felt it was essential to incorporate specific design elements that would decrease the building's environmental imprint and enhance its sustainability. As we continued along with the construction of the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building and then Markin Hall, we worked to further improve upon on these techniques."

The Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building was built with sustainabilty concepts in mind.

LEED refers to Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design and uses 70 criteria to gauge the ability of a project to meet rigorous environmental standards established by the Canada Green Building Council in five major categories. They include sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality.

Each project must apply for LEED status and, after being judged, is rated on a point scale. Each of the 1st Choice Savings Centre, AWESB and Markin Hall have been granted LEED Silver status.

"It takes a major commitment to design and construct a building that will stand up to the rigours of the LEED criteria," says Sullivan. "The fact that we've now achieved LEED Silver status on two buildings, with one more in the works speaks to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's desire to push sustainability principles forward. That also shows in non-LEED certified projects where we are still using LEED standards to drive design."

Following is a look at some of the environmental features incorporated into each building.

1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness

• A clerestory window system that brings daylight into the gymnasium to supplement the lighting system

• A low profile project, part of the building is buried in the ground, maximizing the natural insulating characteristics of the earth to reduce utility demand on building systems and reduce the exposure of the building envelope to the elements

• Washrooms and showers throughout the building use dual flush toilets, waterless urinals, controlled flow shower heads and electronic faucets

• Approximately 60 per cent of the building's electricity is purchased from local wind power sources

• The benches in the locker facilities were recycled from the original gymnasium bleacher seats

• The maple flooring in the gymnasium was recycled from the original gymnasium

• Construction included the use of recycled concrete, giving the building 20 per cent recycled content

Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building

• A Living Wall of plants that act as a natural filter and aid in cleansing the air

• An outdoor pond that forms part of a stormwater management strategy, collecting water and circulating it through the westerly wetland, thereby reducing erosion and sedimentation problems in the Oldman River

• Roof water following rainstorms and winter melting is collected and stored in a cistern and recycled into the local irrigation system

• The building employs a heat recovery system in the exhaust air system to reclaim some of the heat that is being exhausted from the building, using it to preheat the incoming supply air

• The building was constructed with a white, highly reflective, energy star rated roof (as were the 1st Choice Savings Centre and Markin Hall) designed to reflect the heat of the sun's rays and reduce the heat island effect, something that is detrimental to animal habitat, wildlife and animal migration

• Created primarily out of steel, a material with a high content of recycled materials, the building consists of 21 per cent recycled content

Markin Hall

• Minimized window-to-wall ratio (40 per cent) to balance thermal control and daylight penetration

• Efficient heat recovery ventilation units that provide 90 per cent latent and sensible heat recovery

• The first radiant cooling application in Alberta

• An energy-conserving building envelope that allows for a smaller and more efficient mechanical system. Together, the building design and mechanical system achieve a predicted 56 per cent energy savings compared to a conventional building

• Other incorporated features include triple-glazed windows, green Label Plus carpeting and polished concrete flooring, low-VOC paints, waterless urinals and low-flow toilets and faucets

This story first appeared in the December 2011 issue of the Legend. If you'd like to see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Speaker Series to debut at Galt

trevor.kenney — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:33:11 +0000

The Friends of the Galt Museum Society has selected an engaging lineup of local agricultural entrepreneurs for its new fundraiser speaker series to be held monthly at the Galt Museum & Archives as part of the Galt's Thursday evening program.

"Agricultural innovations have created quite a stir in southern Alberta," says Dr. Glenn Coulter, President of the Friends of the Galt, and Chair of the Speaker Series. "We are pleased to highlight these with our new speaker series, which also provides us another opportunity to support Galt Museum education initiatives."

The program was developed in consultation with a number of community organizations, including the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The first three speaker series events are as follows:

Thursday, Jan. 19

Coal Banks to Cow Manure: Is this Full Circle?

SPEAKER: Stefan Michalski, a consultant with ECB Enviro North America Inc., a bio-based co-generation facility being built in North Lethbridge.

Michaleski's discussion will focus on the conversion of manure and other biological by-products of agriculture into energy, such as electricity and hot water.

ECB Enviro North America Inc., founded in 2001, has access to European Bio-Energy technologies such as highly innovative biogas and biodiesel processes and to new Canadian Hydrolysis Technology.

It plans to develop, engineer, built and operate Bio-Energy facilities all over Canada and North America and initiate agro-industrial clustering, rural revitalization, alternative sustainable energy production opportunities and local employment.

Thursday, Feb. 16

Current and Future Status of Biofuels

SPEAKER: Jim Thacker, Director at Kyoto Fuels Corporation, formed in 2003 and located in Lethbridge.

The Corporation recently received a $31 million 6-year investment from the Government of Canada, allowing it to produce up to 66 million litres of biodiesel annually by converting vegetable or cooking oil or animal fat into biodiesel.

It intends to sell the product to diesel producers in Western Canada and the northwestern United States. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from biodiesel can be as much as 80 percent over regular diesel.

Thursday, March 15

Thebaine Poppy Innovation

SPEAKER: Glen Metzler, President, API Labs Inc. an early-stage pharmaceutical fine chemicals processing company establishing the groundwork to create a thebaine industry in Western Canada.

Glen Metzler has been involved in market development and research in Canada and internationally. He has worked with major companies in both the United States and Canada in product development and product launches and has an agricultural background.

Each program starts at 7:30 p.m. with networking opportunities, a presentation and then discussion. Tickets are priced at $20/person for each program and will be available at the door.

U of L buildings achieve LEED status

trevor.kenney — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:13:18 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is taking a leadership approach in southern Alberta, setting a LEED standard in the design and construction of its new campus buildings.

The Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building was built with sustainabilty concepts in mind.

Each project must apply for LEED status and, after being judged, is rated on a point scale. Each of the 1st Choice Savings Centre, AWESB and Markin Hall have been granted LEED Silver status.

Following is a look at some of the environmental features incorporated into each building.

1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness

· A clerestory window system that brings daylight into the gymnasium to supplement the lighting system

· A low profile project, part of the building is buried in the ground, maximizing the natural insulating characteristics of the earth to reduce utility demand on building systems and reduce the exposure of the building envelope to the elements

· Washrooms and showers throughout the building use dual flush toilets, waterless urinals, controlled flow shower heads and electronic faucets

· Approximately 60 per cent of the building's electricity is purchased from local wind power sources

· The benches in the locker facilities were recycled from the original gymnasium bleacher seats

· The maple flooring in the gymnasium was recycled from the original gymnasium

· Construction included the use of recycled concrete, giving the building 20 per cent recycled content

Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building

· A Living Wall of plants that act as a natural filter and aid in cleansing the air

· An outdoor pond that forms part of a stormwater management strategy, collecting water and circulating it through the westerly wetland, thereby reducing erosion and sedimentation problems in the Oldman River

· Roof water following rainstorms and winter melting is collected and stored in a cistern and recycled into the local irrigation system

· The building employs a heat recovery system in the exhaust air system to reclaim some of the heat that is being exhausted from the building, using it to preheat the incoming supply air

· The building was constructed with a white, highly reflective, energy star rated roof (as were the 1st Choice Savings Centre and Markin Hall) designed to reflect the heat of the sun's rays and reduce the heat island effect, something that is detrimental to animal habitat, wildlife and animal migration

· Created primarily out of steel, a material with a high content of recycled materials, the building consists of 21 per cent recycled content

Markin Hall

· Minimized window-to-wall ratio (40 per cent) to balance thermal control and daylight penetration

· Efficient heat recovery ventilation units that provide 90 per cent latent and sensible heat recovery

· The first radiant cooling application in Alberta

· An energy-conserving building envelope that allows for a smaller and more efficient mechanical system. Together, the building design and mechanical system achieve a predicted 56 per cent energy savings compared to a conventional building

· Other incorporated features include triple-glazed windows, green Label Plus carpeting and polished concrete flooring, low-VOC paints, waterless urinals and low-flow toilets and faucets

This story first appeared in the December 2011 issue of the Legend. If you'd like to see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Global Drums preparing for exotic event

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:57:53 +0000

Join Global Drums for another thrilling world tour and sample the exotic rhythms of Africa, Brazil, Japan and Latin America.

Global Drums and their special guests take to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre stage Apr. 1-2 at 8 p.m. nightly for a program of hard-hitting rhythms and unique cultural collaborations.

"Our concert has something for everyone," says Adam Mason, director. "Audiences can expect a fantastic night of entertainment featuring works from our Steel Drum Ensemble, African Drums, Taiko Ensemble, Brazilian and Samba Ensemble."

Joining Global Drums this year is a notable roster of guests. The Brazilian Samba Band welcomes world-renowned Brazilian Samba drumming artist, Jimmy Biala.

"Biala is from San Francisco and teaches Samba percussion worldwide. We're very excited to have him lead our Samba Band during the concert," says Mason.

Another highlight of the program is an inspired twist on Rhapsody in Blue, featuring pianist Glen Montgomery. Composed for piano and orchestra, the U of L Percussion Ensemble collaborates with Montgomery on this unique rendition of Gershwin's classic.

"We are also performing a fast and furious arrangement of Hopak, featuring the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club and saxophonist Ian Burleigh," adds Mason.

Consisting of more than 40 performers, Global Drums boasts the largest post-secondary percussion ensemble in the country.

"Our steel drum band proudly represented Canada at the 17th Annual Cultural Festival in Honolulu this March," says Mason.

With support from provincial funding and the Lethbridge Twinning Society, U of L students took to the stage along with ensembles from Korea, Japan and Tahiti.

To experience the electricity of Global Drums, tickets are available from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office, weekdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. or by calling 403-329-2616. Tickets are $15 regular and $10 senior/student.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Japanese Earthquake / Tsunami Update

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:50:21 +0000

March 11, 2011
On Friday March 11, 2011, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan.

This triggered 4 metre waves in Japan and tsunami warnings across the Pacific coastline, including British Columbia.

Hundreds of people are reported dead, and many more are injured or missing. The earthquake has caused fires and severe damage to buildings, leaving more than 4 million households without electricity.

The students traveling to Japan on ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge exchanges are accounted for and safe.
Four Faculty of Management students have been contacted, are in areas unaffected by the earthquake/tsunami, and are on their way to their host universities.

Students from Japan at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge have been contacted by staff at the International Centre for Students and at this time none of their immediate families have been affected.

Counselling services are available for those wishing to speak to someone about how this has affected them personally. They can be reached through this website: http://www.uleth.ca/counselling/

DONATIONS FOR RELIEF EFFORTS

Beginning next week, the Japanese students, working with staff from the International Centre for Students, will be launching a fundraising and awareness campaign to support relief efforts in Japan through two major charities -- Shelterbox International and the Canadian Red Cross.

Look for awareness displays on campus next week, locations TBA.

You can donate online to these organizations by visiting these websites:

Shelterbox

http://shelterboxcanada.org/

Red Cross

http://www.redcross.ca

The Government of Canada has information relating to the earthquake and tsunami at this website:

http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/japan_earthquake_japon_seisme.aspx?lang=eng

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Relevant Media links can be found here:

CBC: http://www.redcross.ca

CTV: http://www.ctv.ca/

Global TV: http://www.globaltv.com/

CNN: http://cnn.com

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U of L buildings achieve LEED status

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