Case

The Varennes Library, the first institutional net-zero energy building in Canada.

One cutting-edge example is the Varennes Library, located in Varennes, Quebec and the first institutional NZEB in Canada. Athienitis was one of the experts guiding the design and technology integration of the two-storey, 24,000-square-foot library, which has a 110 kW photovoltaic array on its sloped roof for solar energy collection. “That building has special aspects,” says Athienitis. “It’s designed to optimize the solar collection surfaces with south-facing windows and a south-facing roof.”

The building uses photovoltaic/thermal technology to extract heat in addition to electricity from the solar panels to heat ventilation fresh air inside during the winter months. It also has ground-source geothermal heat pumps drawing from 150-metre-deep geothermal boreholes. Motorized windows allow for natural ventilation and expansive windows provide lots of natural light.

In addition to being a marvel of energy-efficient design, the building is on track to achieve its net-zero energy target by 2021.