Introduction
Global warming and climate change remains a major challenge facing the world. Natural and human factors have contributed in global warming and climate change issue, but human activities remain the main contributor. Burning carbon fuels, emission of greenhouse gases, and discharge of industrial effluents are some of the human activities that account for a considerable share of harmful gas emitted annually (Yudelson, 2009). Different states have enacted policies and laws that focus on conserving the environment and curbing global warming and climate change. In order to realize this goal, governments have organized forums, seminars, and educational campaigns to sensitize the public the need of conserving the environment. Governments have introduced green building strategy that focus on conserving natural resources and sustain life. Green building means the process of constructing buildings that preserve and restore balance in the ecosystem and promote life sustainability (Kibert, 2008). This strategy promotes sustainability by ensuring that new constructions designs become a net producer of resources such as energy, water and other material, but not consumers.
Discussion
Canada is one of the states that has attained high rank in terms of conserving the environment through green building. It is a leading nation with more than 800 certified green buildings nationally. Most of the companies operating in Canada have won LEED Awards because of their unique and excellent designs in green building.
The Allstream Conference Centre in Toronto Canada is an excellent example of green building. The Allstream Centre remains one of the Greenest Exhibition and Conference Centres’ in Canada that integrates advanced technological designs and state-art history. The facility stands on 150,000 square kilometer piece of land and has integrated modern technology and artistic designs that fit with the environment. Allstream Centre is a business enterprise that renders exhibition and conferences services to the business community. The facility also renders other services that are related to either business or environment. More than 5.2 million people visit the facility annually. “GREENsmart,” is the symbol associated with Allstream Centre and symbolizes the business determination to operate the facility and offer siren green environment to business fraternity (Conference and Exhibition Centre, 2013). Allstream Centre has received Silver LEED Certificate that affirms its operations in environmental conservation programs. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs) is an international certification program that formulates constructions and designs policies and performance standards for green buildings (Stearns, 2007).
Allstream Centre remains focused on reducing its environmental impact through footprint. In order to achieve this goal, Allstream Centre uses green power and renewable energy to run its operations. It has installed 30-storey wind turbines and solar panels to harness wind and solar energies. The facility plans to construct a geothermal plant that will generate 20Megawatts and boost its energy supply. The facility also uses green power such as biomass and biofuel generated from Ecology generation plant thus reducing pollution. The facility uses LED-technology to reduce wastage of power through lighting system (Tisdell, 2005). Dimmable light bulbs are installed in meeting rooms, ballrooms and conference rooms and preserve energy. The facility has installed harvesting water tanks on the roof of the building so that to collect rain water and use it for other purpose. The facility has a recycling plant that recycles all waste materials such as polythene bags and Polyester-cotton- hand towel used in washrooms. Materials such as batteries, mental, fluorescent bulbs, and leaded equipment are disposed through distinctive disposable programs.
Allstream Centre has established forestry program that aim at restoring urban forests. The forest contains more than three thousand tree species. Some of the tree species are locally available while others are exotic in nature. River Ontario enhances sustainability of the project by providing water for irrigation. The river will not dry because the new forest will act as water catchment zone characterized with conventional rainfall thus leading to sustainability. The facility management works closely with other stakeholders from other sectors. Allstream Centre management works with local farmers who bring food for organized events. Farmers are provided with perishable and recycled food wastes to use as farm manure.
The business is viable and economical because it is the leading enterprise in terms of revenue and market capitalization in Canada. It contributes approximately 3% of the stoke exchange security in Canada stock exchange market. Additionally, more than 5.2 million people visit the facility for business deals, exhibitions, and meetings yearly.
The facility has remained devoted and determined to achieve its conservation objective through policy formulation and implementation. Every year, the management formulates short-term and long-term goals geared towards environmental conservation projects. Allstream Centre management team requests LEED-third party organization to perform an internal audit and rate the facility’s performance. Report provided by LEED organization helps the management to monitor their performance and make necessary adjustments.
References
Conference and Exhibition Centre. (2013, January 5). Allstream Centre | Canada's Greenest Conference Centre. Allstream Centre | Canada's Greenest Conference Centre. Retrieved March 15, 2013, from http://www.allstreamcentre.com/
Kibert, C. J. (2008). Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery (2nd ed.). Hoboken, N.J. John Wiley & Sons.
Stearns, R. (2007). LEED green building rating system: reference package : for commercial interiors.. Ottawa: Canada Green Building Council.
Tisdell, C. A. (2005). Economics of environmental conservation (2nd ed.). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publisher.
Yudelson, J. (2009). Green building through integrated design. New York: McGraw-Hill.
