May 6, 2013 - Ontario Power Generation (OPG) says it has been awarded its first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) for the St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre.
“Earning this certification is in line with OPG’s commitment to the environment and sustainable construction,” said Bruce Robertson, plant manager, R.H. Saunders Generating Station. “We are very proud of the building and are happy with what we’ve achieved.”
LEED is a third-party certification program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. To achieve Gold, OPG ensured that efficiency and environmental sustainability were incorporated into the facility’s design and construction.
Decisions included selecting a sustainable site, recycling construction material and using ground source heat, which pumps heat to and from the ground. Additionally, the centre is accessible by bike paths, and is equipped with bike racks and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The Visitor Centre is free to the public and located beside Cornwall’s R.H. Saunders Generating Station. It features interactive exhibits about electricity production and the history of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project. The centre officially opened in August 2010.
