Buildings or developments that are verified and certified as “net zero operational energy and/or carbon.” The building should demonstrate the highest levels of energy efficiency with the use of either renewables generated onsite or renewable energy procured offsite.
Having opened its doors to students in the fall of 2018, The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation at Mohawk College’s Fennel Campus in Hamilton, Ontario, is one of the region’s first and largest net-zero institutional buildings. A joint venture by mcCallumSather and B+H Architects, the 96,000 square-foot facility is a catalyst for change in the region, positioning Mohawk College as a knowledge centre for carbon-neutral technologies and operations.
The facility has created a new paradigm for sustainable building and learning in North America and underscores a cultural shift in occupant behaviour from open energy consumption to personal accountability.