Sustainability Report

Cité Angus II is a candidate for LEED v4 for Homes Design and Construction Gold level. To meet the necessary criteria, Ædifica included the following sustainability strategies in its design: occupant comfort; energy performance; greenhouse gas reduction; eco-responsible landscaping; community connectivity.

Cité Angus II is constructed from concrete with a high content of local aggregates, preserving natural and energy resources. Fifty percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfill; fifty percent of materials were extracted, processed, and manufactured within 160 km of the site.

To protect the site’s ecology, a number of measures have been introduced, including: plants to remediate soil contamination; materials to reduce the heat island effect; controlled flow drains, green roofs, and bioretention areas to manage stormwater run-off and retention.

The design optimizes air quality in several ways, meeting LEED, WELL, and Novoclimat requirements (a new Quebec-based home program that helps consumers reduce their heating costs and improve comfort levels). Measures include: the use of an air exchange system to reduce pollutants and improve indoor air quality; the supply of fresh air to each apartment via a superior filtration system; the optimization of natural ventilation.

Ædifica implemented several water conservation strategies, including: the reuse of rainwater, limiting drainage into the municipal system; the provision of low-flow plumbing fittings, reducing drinking water consumption by 20 percent; the retention and management of snow; lack of an irrigation system for landscaping.

To reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, a number of strategies were implemented:

• An energy efficient and climate resilient building envelope.
• The use of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pumps to provide heating and cooling — the VRF heat pumps control the flow of refrigerant to multiple indoor units.
• A centralized domestic hot water system.
• A thermal supplement using a condensing natural gas boiler to improve heating efficiency, in conjunction with the VRF heat pumps.
• The installation of heat pumps in a lean-to on the roof to recover heat from the exhaust air. 
• An air exchanger in each apartment.
• The extraction of energy from an energy loop (the “Îlot Central” ecosystem) that links each of the buildings in the Technopôle Angus and reduces energy consumption by around 40 percent.
• Centralized and automated control for all building mechanics.

Low-impact exterior cladding includes perforated aluminum and anodized aluminum with a highly recycled content — regionally sourced, these products contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions by reducing transportation times.

Interior finishes include a selection of eco-friendly materials, specified to reduce harmful contaminants. 

Insulation and gypsum have a recycled content of more than 95 percent.