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WestJet Calgary campus nets green award

Administered in Canada by the Canada Green Building Council, the LEED program is a rating system for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Areas of focus include site selection and management, water efficiency, energy efficiency and protection of the atmosphere, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Features of the WestJet campus include:

The rainwater captured from the building's reflective roof is stored in a 265,000-litre water tank and used for irrigating the surrounding native species landscaping and trees.

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system uses the latest technologies including a hybrid geothermal exchange system that is expected to be 50 per cent more efficient than a building built with conventional systems, resulting in an annual savings of 1,300 tons of greenhouse gases.

The building uses 42 per cent less water due to the installation of high-efficiency water fixtures.

Over 17 per cent of materials used in the building, including the concrete, carpets and furnishings, are made from reclaimed and recycled materials.

Over 75 per cent of construction waste was sorted into bins and sent for recycling.

WestJet promotes alternative transportation options such as carpooling and provides bike racks and locker rooms to promote cycling to work.

"We are very proud of our LEED® Gold status," said Dennis Dowling, WestJet's Director of Corporate Real Estate. "When we first began thinking about a new headquarters, our primary objective was to design, build and operate a home for our WestJetters that honoured our corporate culture and values. A green design means the overall impact of the building on the environment is reduced as energy and water consumption is reduced, natural resources are conserved and materials are re-used. Our campus is a key part of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability."