The Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the Canada Green Building Council.

The new facility, which opened in July 2012, is twice the size of the original space and is the first full hospital replacement in Northern British Columbia. It received its LEED certification for New Construction and Major Renovations.

The hospital currently saves more than 980,000 kilowatt hours each year, the equivalent to powering 92 residential homes in B.C. for a year. This is achieved through a number of energy efficient features, including double-glazed and gas-filled windows that are efficient up to 40 degrees Celsius below zero. Thicker insulation in the roof and walls allows for higher thermal resistance, and a smart system manages the hospital’s mechanical and electrical systems.

The 23,000-square-metre hospital includes 55 acute care beds, a birthing centre, and laboratory and surgical services. The connected 7,500-square-metre Peace Villa has 124 residential care beds for seniors.