Enermodal Engineering

Infobox

labelstyle = background:#ddf;

label4 = founded
data4 = 1980
label5 = offices
data5 = Kitchener, Denver, Calgary, Toronto
label6 = president (Canada)
data6 = Stephen Carpenter
label7 = president (US)
data7 = Sue Reilly
label8 = services
data8 = sustainable buildings and communities, building design and commissioning, greening existing buildings, building research and technology transfer, window design and rating

belowstyle = background:#ddf;
below = www.enermodal.com

History

Enermodal Engineering is a consulting firm established in 1980 in Waterloo, Ontario by president Stephen Carpenter, a University of Waterloo engineering graduate. Initially the firm focused on developing software to assess renewable energy systems and building energy usage. This work included software to analyze the energy performance of windows; this software became the tool to rate windows to NFRC and CSA window standards. In 1987, the firm opened an office in Oakland, CA which was later relocated to Denver, CO to better serve the US window industry.

In 1991, the firm designed and managed the construction of the Waterloo Green Home – a winning entry in The Canadian federal government Advanced Houses competition. The house was widely viewed as one of the best examples of residential green buildings and was the subject a book, Green Home, by Wayne Grady.

Enermodal continued with its work in green buildings by designing and occupying of the first green office building in Canada in 1996. Green on the Grand in Kitchener, Ontario was a winning design under the Canadian government’s C2000 program that promoted green office buildings. With an annual energy use of just over 100 kWh/m², Green on the Grand is still one of the most efficient office buildings in Canada. Another Enermodal building is the University of Ottawa Biology Building, which achieved 70% energy savings and was given several energy efficiency awards.

With their success in green building design, the firm began designing and certifying buildings to the LEED Green Building Rating System in 2004 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). [Canada Green Building Council LEED certification guidelines http://www.cagbc.org/leed/what/index.php] The firm successfully certified the first building (Stratus Winery) under the Canadian version of LEED. To deal with growing demand for their services, Enermodal opened offices in Phoenix (2004), Calgary (2006) and Toronto (2008)

Today

Currently, Enermodal has a professional staff of over 80 at its five offices, making it the one of North America’s largest consulting firms focusing exclusively on the design of sustainable buildings.

Enermodal’s main areas of expertise are

• sustainable design (particularly Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification)

• “green” mechanical/electrical design and commissioning

• research into the performance of environmentally appropriate technologies

• building inspection and energy audits

• energy performance rating windows, doors, and walls

The company is well known for its green incentive program which helps employees reduce their environmental footprint. Company sponsored incentives include free bus passes, rain barrels, low flow showerheads and financial support for the purchase of hybrid cars.

Selected Projects

Enermodal has over 30 LEED certified buildings and are working on over 170 other buildings aiming for certification. Some of the major green projects include

• the redevelopment of Regent Park (700 residential units and commercial space), Toronto

• Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver

• the 50-storey Bay Adelaide Centre, Toronto

• the 500,000 ft² Corus Entertainment Head Office, Toronto

• the 1.4 million ft² Maple Leaf Towers Condominium, Toronto

• Old Faithful National Park Visitors Education Centre, Wyoming

• the University of Calgary Veterinary School

• Upper River Valley Hospital, New Brunswick

Awards

Enermodal has been recognized numerous times for pushing the limits of sustainable design.

Recent accolades include: [Enermodal Engineering http://www.enermodal.com]

• 2008 SAB Magazine Sustainable Architecture & Building Award for Toronto Region Conservation Authority Restoration Services Centre

• 2008 SAB Magazine Sustainable Architecture & Building Award for Ball’s Falls Centre for Conservation

• 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award to President Stephen Carpenter, Sustainable Buildings Canada

• 2007 Outstanding Practise Award, International Building Performance Simulation Association

• 2006 Best Solar Thermal Project for Okotoks Solar Community - Canadian Solar Industries Association

• 2006 Climate Change Award for Okotoks Solar Community - 15th Annual Alberta Emerald Awards

• 2006 Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, Pollution Prevention Award - Medium Business for OMRON ECU

• 2004 NRCan Energy Efficiency Award for New Buildings (University of Ottawa)

• Various ASHRAE Technology Awards for innovative commercial (Green on the Grand) and residential (Waterloo Green Home) building design

Notes