1000 Wellington, The Eddy
Ottawa-based Windmill Developments, Canada’s greenest condominium developer, commenced work July 2013 on The Eddy, a modern, six-storey, sustainable infill condominium building in the heart of Hintonburg.
- Date: 2016
- Client: Windmill Developments / Pomerleau
- Project Type: Geothermal Heating & Cooling and Rain Water Collection & Recycling
Background
With its innovative approach to sustainability, The Eddy is one of the few LEED Platinum condominiums in Canada. It harnesses innovations that optimize the use of land, water, air, energy and building materials towards a goal of zero ecological footprint buildings. All of Windmill’s projects have achieved LEED certification, which is an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
Contracting and construction management company Pomerleau led the development of this project. The team selected Alliance as the mechanical contractor for The Eddy project for its design-build experience and geothermal knowledge.
Goal
- Geothermal heating and cooling
- Rain water collection and recycling
GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING
A ground-source geothermal heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and cooling. This comprises fourteen 510 foot (155 metres) boreholes with tubing loops that capture the ground’s consistent 55° F (13°C) temperature and transfers it to the building. Energy Recovery Units installed throughout the building help with heating, cooling, ventilation and dehumidification.
RAIN WATER COLLECTION AND RECYCLING
Rainwater is harvested from around the site and stored in a 60,000-gallon (272,800-l) underground tank. This is then used for interior irrigation and toilet flushing. Ultra-low flow plumbing fixtures ensure that the collected water is used sparingly.
Result
With a team approach to designing and implementing this 52-unit building, it was completed successfully in 2015. It incorporates Ontario’s first (and Canada’s second) underground puzzle parking system, which uses 60% less space and keeps emissions outside the building, and is among the first condominium projects to include a geothermal heating system.
Windmill Developments won the 2015 Community Energy Builder Award for the “Real Estate Sector” for The Eddy Condominium as it offers six storeys of a green, urban condominium that sets new standards for architecture, design and smart, healthy living in Ottawa, exceeds energy efficiency standards by 50%, and incorporates a geo-exchange heating/cooling system.
