Sustainability
 Archon is a member of the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) and have LEED Accredited Professional (AP) status. We strive to include sustainable design elements in all our projects whether they are formally pursuing LEED accreditation, LEED equivalency or simply intended to achieve overall reduction to the building's environmental footprint through good design principles, site selection and orientation, selection of equipment, durability and energy conversation.

 Archon's Sustainable Design Analysis
 As part of Archon's commitment to the client we have developed a Sustainable Design Analysis to help assess the 'green' ambitions of the client. This analysis presents the opportunity to possibly reduce the lifecycle cost of the building while making a positive impact on the environment. We feel there are three distinct levels of sustainable design which can be incorporated in to a building project; the levels vary in cost and client commitment.
Level One: Passive System Design Level Two: Active Systems Integration Level Three: On-Site Power Generation
  • Orientating the building to maximize use of the southern exposure for interior heating;
  • Inclusion of interior glazing to allow deeper penetration of natural light
  • Use of glazing, both horizontally and vertically to limit the use of artificial light
  • Use of operable vents to incorporate natural ventilation
  • Selection of drought resistant landscaping that requires little to no irrigation;
  • Inclusion of free draining and permeable surfaces to limit runoff and the need for active site water management;
  • Educational strategies to engage building occupants in responsible energy management;
  • Capital Costs: Little to no appreciable costs.
  • Incorporate physical equipment into the building that would assist in lowering the building ecological footprint by reducing consumption of electricity;
  • Use of ultra-high efficiency HVAC equipment;
  • Low voltage lighting and associated equipment;
  • Hydronic heating systems;
  • Building Management System (BMS) to control all these systems so that they function at optimum levels with both the interior and exterior environment;
  • Purchase of "Green" power from a renewable energy supplier;
  • Capital Costs: Reasonable costs with significant return of the client's investments.
  • Inclusion of equipment that actively produce electricity from wind, thermal electric solar, solar photovoltaic, renewable biomass, bio-gas, bio-fuel, landfill gas or water.
  • Require long-term commitments and contractual obligations by the client to maintain and operate this equipment;
  • Capital Costs: Sizeable investment by the client although initiatives are available to offset cost

LEED Consulting Approach
 Archon employs a simple two phased approach to our LEED consulting service.

Phase One: Phase Two:
  • Preliminary evaluation and outline our approach to LEED.
  • Hold a Design Concepts Charette where ideas are brought forward, evaluated and incorporated or rejected depending on feasibility;
  • Prepare a Sustainable Design Report outlining the method for achieving the targeted LEED credits.
  • Detailed Design Integration of selected initiatives confirmed in Phase One;
  • Construction Administration Support;
  • LEED Documentation and Certification Process Administration.

We feel this two stage approach would provide both a means to educate the project team on the merits and scope of LEED as well as providing the best process for achieving LEED Certification.