Phase One of the Spring Creek Mountain Village in Canmore, Alta., is the first project to be certified with Built Green Canada’s ‘Communities’ pilot program.

Built Green Canada is an industry-driven organization offering third-party certification programs for those interested in sustainable practices in the residential building sector.

Clean energy is one of the key features of the Spring Creek Mountain Village. Owner Frank Kernick estimates, on an annual basis, their geothermal heating and cooling system will eliminate 600 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It pumps heat to and from the earth by circulating fluid through a ground loop: using the natural heat of the earth, instead of the more conventional method of burning fossil fuels for energy.

Spring Creek Mountain Village is a 28-ha (69-acre) redevelopment in the heart of Canmore. In 2004, the Town of Canmore approved the master plan to create this new urban neighborhood, and construction started in 2006.

Spring Creek projects are designed to maximize riparian habitat standards—and this main development area has a unique edge with Spring Creek and Policeman’s Creek. A perimeter trail system has been incorporated to allow public enjoyment of the creek and to facilitate trail connections. Several bridges have also been added, which provide pedestrian and bicycle access through the entire town, including infrastructure like schools, employment, public transit, entertainment, health care, and nearby parks.

Within the community, the green space requirements exceed those of Canmore Municipal and Environmental reserve standards. Additionally, Spring Creek has designed a water system for irrigation that uses only ground water, so they do not pull from the municipal water supply.

Spring Creek Mountain Village comprises commercial, single-, and multi-family housing. This includes a special project designed for active senior living, with live/work condominiums allowing owners to operate street-front shops connected directly to their homes; a luxury hotel and conference centre offering a living roof (grown in the Malcolm Hotel’s plaid brand); and affordable housing.