The Business Development Bank of Canada’s (BDC) Markham business centre has achieved LEED Gold certification for Commercial Interiors (CI). BDC attributes the achievement to its sustainable building practices and its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy.

“Part of BDC’s overall Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is to obtain LEED certification for our real estate projects,” says Martin Dorais, director of real estate and facilities management, BDC. “We support entrepreneurs and do it in ways that are environmentally sustainable.”

In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of its Markham business centre, BDC invested in:

• Employee work stations with natural lighting;
• Recycled construction materials diverted from landfills (75 per cent) and locally sourced (20 per cent);
• Reused office furniture and furnishings (30 per cent);
• Energy Star-rated equipment and appliances (90 per cent);
• Updated water valves and fixtures, resulting in a 20-per-cent reduction in water usage; and
• Low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and sealants.

“It is encouraging to see well known institutions like BDC embracing LEED — and recognizing that improving the indoor office environment makes sense for energy and water savings, as well as tenant satisfaction,” says Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council.

All current Canadian BDC real estate projects are developed using LEED principles.