Among the winning Canadian projects in this year’s American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Technology Awards were an arena, a cancer centre, and a university.

Recognizing successful application of innovative design, the awards incorporate ASHRAE standards for effective energy management and indoor air quality (IAQ).

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is accelerating the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Canada certification process to less than six months.

To better serve project owners and deliver faster certification, CaGBC has increased internal staff to address most of the backlogged projects and delayed Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs).

A new Canadian Standard Association (CSA) standard can help hospitals and healthcare facilities reduce infections, plan for pandemics, protect newborns and the elderly, and care for obese patients.

Released last month, CSA Z8000, Canadian Healthcare Facilities–Planning, Design, and Construction, sets out requirements and addresses concerns specific to healthcare facilities, beyond what is contained in building codes and guidelines.

Over the years, Toronto’s skyline has been filling up with glass towers, but according to industry experts, what may be nice for style and views can be detrimental to energy efficiency.

According to a report by CBC News, buildings with high volumes of glass can be inefficient due to: insulation failures; water leaks; skyrocketing energy and maintenance costs; and declining resale potential.

A library, a house, and a school in Haiti are three of the winning projects in this year’s Ontario Wood Design Awards.

Recognizing people and organizations advancing the use of wood in construction through design excellence and innovation, the 11^th annual Wood Works awards competition drew 70 nominations.

The University of Waterloo now has a dedicated building for chemical engineering research and expansion into areas of study including sustainable technologies, clean energy, and health.

Last month, the university unveiled its new five-storey, 10,684-m² (115,000-sf) home for the Department of Chemical Engineering.

This month, two new green design/construction codes are launching in Canada and the United States.

The 2011 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) sets minimum requirements for the design of energy-efficient buildings with respect to the envelope, HVAC, service water heating, lighting, and electricity.

Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), will be taking the helm of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) as of January 1.

The international group is a coalition that includes USGBC, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), and councils from several other countries.

Pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum, Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre opened its doors last month.

Designed by Perkins+Will, the 1765-m² (19,000-sf) facility was inspired by the form of a native orchid. The building is organized in undulating green roof ‘petals’ along ‘stems’ of rammed earth and concrete walls.

Two Canadian green roofs have been recognized in this year’s Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence, held by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC).

Winning the “Green Roof–Extensive Institutional” award was Toronto’s City Hall green roof at Nathan Phillips Square.