Cowichan’s new hospital achieves zero carbon

The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project has achieved Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) – Design certification, making it Canada’s first hospital to do so.

“This landmark achievement reflects our commitment to innovative, sustainable design that supports both environmental responsibility and community well-being. By integrating cutting-edge efficiency measures and renewable energy solutions, this facility sets a new benchmark for the future of healthcare infrastructure.” said Shane Czypyha, principal, Parkin Architects Limited.

Slated to be British Columbia’s first all-electric hospital, the new building will be three times larger than the existing facility. The hospital is being built by the Nuts’a’maat Alliance comprised of Island Health, EllisDon, Parkin Architects, BC Infrastructure Benefits, and Infrastructure BC.

Hospitals require significant energy to operate critical life-saving equipment, maintain indoor air quality and ensure safe, comfortable environments for patients and staff. The future CDH sets new benchmarks for healthcare infrastructure by optimizing energy use and future-proofing the building for better performance through extreme weather and climate-related events.

To achieve ZCB-Design certification, the team used:

• Low carbon concrete and mass timber elements.
• A high-performance building envelope to improve energy efficiency and minimize heat loss.
• Heat recovery chillers, air sourced heat pumps, and electric boilers in the hospital’s heating and cooling plant.
• PV (solar) array providing 2.5 per cent of annual energy demands.
• Low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, which further reduce the hospital’s environmental impact.
• Advanced water conservation and waste reduction strategies.

“Being the first hospital in Canada to receive the Zero Carbon Building design certification is a testament to the hard work, meticulous planning, and commitment to sustainability that our team has exemplified from the project’s inception. We look forward to our continued collaboration with our Alliance partners to deliver a facility that will serve the needs of community for generations to come,” said Sean Dekoning, SVP and area manager, EllisDon.

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