One of the keys to urban environmental sustainability is establishing a sustainable built form. Most cities are encouraging residents to have more energy efficient buildings. The adoption of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.has become more prominent.

Buildings are LEED certified with the Canadian Green Building Council using a scorecard rating system. Points are awarded based upon performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:

• sustainable site development
• water savings
• energy efficiency
• materials selection
• indoor environmental quality

The total number of points determines if the project is certified as silver, gold or platinum level.

City of Vaughan – Green Buildings

Vaughan City Hall | Photo Gallery | "LEEDing by Example" video/interactive tool

Fire Hall #7-9 - The joint Fire and Emergency Medical Services facility is the Region's first LEED gold building and the first emergency services facility in Canada to reach the gold standard.

Fire Station #7-10 will be located at 10800 Dufferin Street, near Teston Road, and is intended for a Silver certification in Leadership and Energy in Environmental Design (LEED), the internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The new fire station will use approximately 35 per cent less energy and 56 per cent less potable water than conventional fire halls. Other notable design features include:

• A recycled steel roof
• Water-conserving native landscaping and plumbing fixtures
• High-performance windows
• Heat recovery on air handling systems
• CO2 controlled ventilation
• Direct and indirect lighting with occupancy sensors

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