Willis Award for Innovation Nomination
Population Over 100,000
Waste Management and Education Centre
Oxford County’s Waste Management and Education Centre (WMEC) is a cutting edge, net-zero energy facility, replacing the former farmhouse office. The fully-electric building uses a solar photovoltaic system that generates as much, or more, electricity than the building consumes on a yearly basis. The building is designed with energy efficiency in mind, using 22 inches thick, rammed earth exterior walls to achieve a high performing insulation system. In addition to the heavily insulated walls, there is significant insulation below the floor and in the roof.
The building features triple-pane windows to reduce heat loss / gain while allowing natural daylight to reduce the amount of electricity required to power lighting. The building uses highly efficient HVAC equipment for heating and cooling, recovering energy from the building’s exhaust air, used to heat the incoming fresh air supply from outside.
The Education Centre features interactive displays on environmental sustainability, focused on waste diversion and renewable energy.
The WMEC is a real-world example not only of how municipal buildings can be sustainably constructed and operated, but how any building has the potential to be built and operated sustainably.
To view the entire award submission, visit the CAMA Member's Section/Awards of Excellence Best Practices (Search for Oxford County)
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