The Cowichan Campus is a facility which serves students enrolled in university degrees, business, health and human services, trade and applied technology, career and academic preparation and employability skills programs.
Eleven LEED points were achieved through AME’s Energy Modelling. This forecasted VIU’s energy usage and provided options to identify potential operating efficiencies and achieve economic benefits and sustainability that a high-performance design delivers. A geothermal heat pump uses the earth as a heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in the summer). Combined with a solar water heating system, the design forms a geosolar system for even greater efficiency. The solar water heating system design will save revenue for heating costs. Additionally, the university can expect an approximate 50% reduction in traditional (emitting) energy use which translates into a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions. An interactive dashboard displays the building’s entire energy consumption, allowing occupants and visitors to monitor actual energy use.
