The Centre for Green Cities at Evergreen Brick Works has received LEED Platinum accreditation, the highest measure of efficient building status available in Canada. Almost 14 years after the revitalization project began at a derelict brick-making factory, Evergreen Brick Works has become a bustling community environmental center, and an award-winning destination highlighting sustainable building in the city of Toronto.

This is the first ever LEED Platinum accreditation in North America granted to a community center on a heritage site and floodplain, joining around 100 buildings that have obtained the label’s top certification. The next challenge for the project is to optimize maintenance and management of the building’s systems to eke out maximum efficiency from the Centre for Green Cities.

Efficiency is aided by R40-rated insulation for walls and also a wall-to-window ratio of 40:60 which maximizes natural light but also enables efficient control of heated or cooled air egress from the building envelope. Computer-assisted climate control obtains readings for wind speed, rain, temperature range and humidity and factors this data in to determine the optimal use of ventilation. The climate control system uses an Internet-based tool so that adjustments to building settings can be made from off-site. The building uses natural ventilation up to 24-25°C when humidity is lower than 70%. Sensors also dim lights when daylight is available, using a system that mimics the natural ability of the iris to open and close.

Visitors and employees are encouraged to dress according to personal comfort needs: wearing sweaters in winter and cool, loose-fitting clothing in summer allows a greater variation of temperatures within the building and thereby reduces energy demand. Electrical charging stations for cars on site are supplemented by solar panels that generate electricity back into the site grid.