Humber River Hospital surpassed energy efficiency expectations when it achieved LEED Gold certification, the hospital announced last week. It had originally sought Silver certification but ended up getting to the higher level.

"Surpassing the project's intended LEED Silver classification to achieve LEED Gold is a testament to the entire collaborative team's relentless pursuit of achieving unprecedented energy efficiency targets to reduce Humber River Hospital's carbon footprint and create a facility that balances energy efficiency and innovative technology, enabling the hospital to focus on its core business of providing exemplary patient care," said Bruce Macpherson, a project director with PCL Constructors Canada Inc.

Barb Collins, president and CEO at Humber River Hospital, lauded the effort of all partners including PCL as well as Plenary Health Care Partnerships and HOK.

"Being certified LEED Gold is a testament to the work done by the hospital, and our project partners Plenary Health Care Partnerships and PCL Constructors, in respecting our environment throughout the project, carrying over into the actual building performance. Our design compliance partners HOK also played an important role in helping Humber develop its' LEED strategy,” she said.

LEED features of the hospital

• Design energy use intensity (EUI) of 348 ekWh/m2
• 17 points for LEED® Canada-NC 2009 Optimized Energy
• 47% lower than the Energy Star Portfolio Manager Canada target for hospitals
• 100% fresh air circulation, well above CSA-Z317 standards
• 20% of materials used to construct the facility contained recycled content and 46% were sourced regionally
• 96% of construction waste was diverted from landfill
• 38% of the project's total site area includes vegetated open space
• 33% water use reduction and water efficient landscaping using captured rainwater
• Vegetated roof and reflective roofing materials to reduce heat island effect