Study of new energy efficient fire hall (LEED) in Dieppe

The City of Dieppe plans to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of building a new fire hall with high calibre environmental, social and economic features, the main objective of which will be to reduce energy use by at least 60% in relation to standards set out in the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (1997). Owing to the city’s rapid growth, fire fighters are finding it increasingly difficult to respond to emergencies within a reasonable response time. A risk management assessment in 2010 confirmed the need to build a second fire hall in the newly developed area of the city. In accordance with its policy on construction standards for municipal buildings and its sustainable development plan, Dieppe intends to design, build, manage and operate the new building in keeping with LEED certification criteria. The purpose of the study is to create an energy model for optimizing the exterior envelope of the fire hall, the ventilation, heating and lighting systems, as well as the use of renewable energy. Each option will be assessed on the basis of environmental, social and economic criteria. The City will prepare construction documents simultaneously with the feasibility study to minimize delays and ensure that the results of the feasibility study are more accurate and more realistic. The City is planning on using emerging technologies, such as a computerized building management system, solar walls, and geoexchange heat pumps. This initiative will also lead to significant water savings through, among other things, the installation of a retention pond from which the firefighters will draw water for training purposes. Preliminary studies indicated that the new fire hall will result in $1.6 million in savings for the City, while improving safety for Dieppe residents and minimizing the environmental impact of the building. In an effort to ensure sound project planning, the City visited and inspected new fire halls in other Canadian cities. Dieppe will in turn serve as an example to developers and city residents, encouraging them to get involved in collective energy conservation efforts by constructing buildings and homes with a low ecological footprint. The City will also share the fire hall design concepts with other communities who are looking into building a similar structure. (Project description from original funding application)