Enermodal Engineering
Enermodal Engineering is Canada's largest consulting firm exclusively dedicated to green buildings and communities. It provides LEED services for larger-scale green buildings in Canada. Enermodal has designed a number of award-winning low-energy building projects in Canada and the USA. It is now part of the MMM Group.
History
Enermodal Engineering was founded in 1980 by three University of Waterloo graduates including current president Stephen Carpenter. 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 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 of a book, Green Home, by Wayne Grady.
Enermodal designed and occupied 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.
The firm began designing and certifying buildings to the LEED Green Building Rating System in 2004. The firm successfully certified the first building under the Canadian version of LEED. To deal with growing demand for their services, Enermodal opened offices in Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.
In 2009, Enermodal designed and built its own headquarters, A Grander View, which uses 70 kWh/m2 - making it Canada's most energy-efficient office building. This building achieved three LEED Platinum certifications and became Canada's most energy-efficient office.
In November 2010, the company was purchased by and became a division of the MMM group.
Enermodal had a professional staff of over 100 at its five offices, making it one of North America's largest consulting firms focusing exclusively on the design of sustainable buildings.
Enermodal Engineering was Canada's largest consulting firm exclusively dedicated to green buildings and communities. With a staff of experts in the area of green and energy efficient buildings and specialists that were based in Kitchener, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Toronto, Enermodal is working on sustainability projects worth over $5 billion. For 30 years, Enermodal has marketed green building technologies including rainwater cisterns, onsite biofiltration, radiant cooling, building renewable energy systems, and variable refrigerant flow systems.
Up to 2010, when it was purchased by MMM, Enermodal was the foremost LEED consulting firm, delivering the LEED 2009 Rating System. Employees served as LEED Faculty members, and President Stephen Carpenter was at the time appointed chair of the Technical Advisory Committee at the CaGBC. Enermodal had been involved with 250 LEED projects across North America, and was in 2010 responsible for 45% of all LEED Canada certified buildings.
Enermodal provided LEED services for larger-scale green buildings in Canada, including the Toronto Region Conservation Authority's Restoration Services Centre, Fifth Town Cheese, Currie Barracks, and the RBC Centre.
Enermodal's main areas of expertise were
- sustainable design
- "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.
Today
Enermodal Engineering was purchased by MMM Engineers in 2010. MMM was subsequently purchased by WSP in 2016.Selected projects
Enermodal had over 70 LEED certified buildings and - at the time of their purchase - were working on over 190 other buildings aiming for certification. Some of the major green projects include- the redevelopment of Regent Park, Toronto
- the 50-storey Bay Adelaide Centre, Toronto
- the Corus Entertainment Head Office, Toronto
- the 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
Accolades include:
- 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
- Various ASHRAE Technology Awards for innovative commercial and residential building design