Gibsons Elementary received LEED Gold certification on Jan. 10.
The new elementary school was built between May 2013 and September 2014. It has taken some time to put the finishing touches on the building and for staff to apply for and receive the LEED Gold rating.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and Gibsons Elementary met the gold standard by incorporating several green building practices.
The school was oriented to maximize green space and take advantage of sunlight for solar energy harvesting. The building envelope was designed to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The school was fitted with high efficiency boilers and a heat recovery ventilation system, energy efficient lighting with daylight sensors and occupancy controls, and a direct digital control system that reduces energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Landscaping around the school is drought-tolerant and set up to address erosion and sediment control issues on the site.
And the construction and demolition waste produced while tearing down the old school and building the new one was recycled where possible.
“Achieving LEED Gold rating for our beautiful new school underlines the value our staff put on responsibly caring for our community now and for many years to come,” said Patrick Bocking, superintendent of schools at School District No. 46 (SD46).
School board chair Betty Baxter said the LEED Gold designation was “an honour.”
“We are very happy that this new school is recognized as safe, sustainable and state-of-the-art construction,” Baxter said.
Gibsons Elementary School has two full-day kindergarten rooms and 12 regular classrooms able to accommodate 300 students from Grades 1 to 7.
The school also includes a neighbourhood learning centre where a childcare facility, StrongStart program, community coordinator office, community kitchen and inter-generational multi-purpose room are housed.
