The Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre (OTCC) has been certified after it was confirmed that the building is environmentally friendly.
OTCC has achieved the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for its commitment to sustainable building and operational practices.
Granted by the Canada Green Building Council, LEED is an independent, third-party verification that the facility was designed, built and operated to achieve high environmental performance.
To be LEED certified, the building is required to fulfill several evaluation parameters, including energy efficiency, water savings, indoor environmental quality, location and transportation, sustainable site development and materials selection.
"The LEED Gold certification for Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre speaks to our commitment and leadership in managing energy resources effectively to address climate change," said Mayor Rob Burton.
"Ensuring that our facilities are built, operated and maintained to the highest standards of environmental sustainability will support the town’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2041.”
OTCC officially opened its doors to the public in fall 2020, featuring, as town staff describe it, "an array of state-of the-art, energy-efficient features."
Among its stand-out elements are 1,300 rooftop solar panels, anticipated to yield a minimum of 660 megawatt-hours annually. These panels are projected to reduce the facility's energy consumption by 43 per cent and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 19.9 tonnes each year.
The facility’s parking area follows LEED principles and Oakville Universal Design Standards to create green and inclusive spaces.
OTCC’s Electric Vehicle (EV) station with three dual-wand chargers offers convenient access and enables more people to make the switch to EVs to help meet the town’s goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50 per cent by 2041.
Based on LEED Gold requirements, OTCC has six EV charging parking spaces and 14 green vehicle preferred parking spaces located close to the main building entrance, supporting the town’s efforts in reducing pollution by promoting alternatives to conventionally fuelled vehicles.
OTCC also integrates other sustainable initiatives such as geo-thermal heating and cooling, and a robust rainwater management system. Together, all the green initiatives at OTCC help optimize the facility's energy performance and reduce environmental impact. This facility emits 90 per cent less GHG when compared with a similar-sized community centre in the town.
OTCC’s commitment to green initiatives and energy conservation aligns with the Council Strategic Plan and 2023-2026 Action Plan and vision to be a vibrant and livable community for all. The town continues to focus on climate change mitigation by reducing GHG emissions and conserving energy across municipal facilities.