Geothermal and Solar Energy Power New Net-Zero Fire Station
ECA Breaking Ground | Winter 2023
Project Profile | Windermere Fire Station No. 31
The City of Edmonton is continuously working towards becoming an energy sustainable and climate resilient city and has set a target to be a carbon-neutral corporation by 2040. One project on the journey to meeting that commitment is the new Windermere Fire Station 31, which was built with sustainability and climate resilience top of mind.
Windermere Fire Station 31, which has been operational since July 2023, sets a strong precedent for new construction in the age of climate change. This net-zero energy building was initiated as a pilot project under the City of Edmonton’s prior policy (C532 Sustainable Building Policy).
“As a net-zero energy building, the total amount of energy used annually is equal to the amount of renewable energy created on site,” says Devin Richards, project manager with the City of Edmonton. “This involves features such as solar panels, which generate on-site energy, and a geothermal system, which efficiently heats and cools the facility.”
At 1,520 square metres (16,400 square feet), Fire Station 31 serves Edmontonians in the fast-growing southwest area of the city, bringing with it, in addition to its environmental credentials, the promise of greater safety and security for people in the event of an emergency.
The project team included S2 Architecture and gh3* as the architectural team and PCL Construction as the general contractor. The building design received the Canadian Architect 2018 Award of Excellence and is projected to achieve LEED Silver certification. PCL Construction’s in-house experts engaged with the City, architects, and consultants early on to enhance design solutions and reduce costs.
OPTIMIZING DESIGN FOR SOLAR CAPTURE
Building for a sustainable and resilient future demands innovative approaches to building and systems integration.
The building shape is designed to maximize the generation of solar energy and minimize heat gain. The striking south-facing roof, featuring 382 panels with a rated capacity of 143 kilowatts, is gently sloped to capture the sun’s rays most effectively.