Gold is green for DeGroote School of Business

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/rjcgreen.jpg” caption=”McMaster’s Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington, Ont., home to MBA and executive education programs, has been certified LEED Gold. File photo.”]McMaster's Ron Joyce Centre (RJC) in Burlington, Ont. has been certified LEED Gold.

The four storey, 90,000 square foot building, home to the DeGroote School of Business'
MBA and executive education programs, is one of five McMaster buildings certified by
the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System.

“The LEED certification helps in identifying and implementing realistic and measureable
green building designs. This enables us to be environmentally friendly from the start to
the end of construction and when the building is in use,” said Bob Dunn, interim
assistant vice-president facility services at McMaster. “The community reaps the
benefits of lower emissions and a more environmentally aware neighbour through our
continued efforts to remain one of Canada's leading sustainable campuses.”

The certification process focuses on five key areas: sustainable site development, water
efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental air quality.

The Gold level was achieved by including low flow plumbing fixtures, extensively using
locally-sourced construction materials that contain recycled content, and using
drought-tolerant plants and sod to omit irrigation on site. The building also has a green
housekeeping program that uses environmentally friendly cleaning products, and has a
white roof to minimize the heat island effect. Other features include high-efficient
lighting and ventilation units, designated carpool parking spaces for employees, and
green power sources for 50 per cent of the building's electricity.

In 2005 McMaster became the first university in Ontario to develop and implement a
sustainable building policy. The policy states that all new buildings will be built to a
minimum LEED Silver Certification.

“With the business community's growing focus on corporate social responsibility and an
increasing awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability, this is the next
great frontier for the business leaders of tomorrow,” said Abeer Fatima, a student at the
RJC and the newly-elected sustainability director of DeGroote's MBA Association.

Fatima said students at the RJC value green building and development practices and are
pleased with the official certification.

“The student community at the Ron Joyce Centre places a great deal of importance on
being part of a sustainable environment and the LEED certification will bring an
immense sense of pride to the students.”

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/rjcgreen.jpg" caption="McMaster's Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington, Ont., home to MBA and executive education programs, has been certified LEED Gold. File photo."]McMaster&#039;s Ron Joyce Centre (RJC) in Burlington, Ont. has been certified LEED Gold. <br />
<br />
The four storey, 90,000 square foot building, home to the DeGroote School of Business&#039; <br />
MBA and executive education programs, is one of five McMaster buildings certified by <br />
the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System. <br />
<br />
"The LEED certification helps in identifying and implementing realistic and measureable <br />
green building designs. This enables us to be environmentally friendly from the start to <br />
the end of construction and when the building is in use," said Bob Dunn, interim <br />
assistant vice-president facility services at McMaster. "The community reaps the <br />
benefits of lower emissions and a more environmentally aware neighbour through our <br />
continued efforts to remain one of Canada&#039;s leading sustainable campuses."<br />
<br />
The certification process focuses on five key areas: sustainable site development, water <br />
efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental air quality. <br />
<br />
The Gold level was achieved by including low flow plumbing fixtures, extensively using <br />
locally-sourced construction materials that contain recycled content, and using <br />
drought-tolerant plants and sod to omit irrigation on site. The building also has a green <br />
housekeeping program that uses environmentally friendly cleaning products, and has a <br />
white roof to minimize the heat island effect. Other features include high-efficient <br />
lighting and ventilation units, designated carpool parking spaces for employees, and <br />
green power sources for 50 per cent of the building&#039;s electricity.<br />
<br />
In 2005 McMaster became the first university in Ontario to develop and implement a <br />
sustainable building policy. The policy states that all new buildings will be built to a <br />
minimum LEED Silver Certification. <br />
<br />
"With the business community&#039;s growing focus on corporate social responsibility and an <br />
increasing awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability, this is the next <br />
great frontier for the business leaders of tomorrow," said Abeer Fatima, a student at the <br />
RJC and the newly-elected sustainability director of DeGroote&#039;s MBA Association.<br />
<br />
Fatima said students at the RJC value green building and development practices and are <br />
pleased with the official certification. <br />
<br />
"The student community at the Ron Joyce Centre places a great deal of importance on <br />
being part of a sustainable environment and the LEED certification will bring an <br />
immense sense of pride to the students."

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