The Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association (SSRIA) is here to present its Green Building Technologies Network (GBTN) Spotlight Series. This series will be featuring a project team once every other month until March 2023. The aim is to get to know the projects and teams working in the GBTN and support further collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing among our members.

Our guest this month is McMurray Métis (Métis Local 1935), welcome!

Project Type: Commercial | New
Project Aim: Geo-Piles and Earth Tunnels
Project Summary: Click here for the complete project summary

McMurray Métis (Métis Local #1935) has a mission to build and operate a world-class Métis Cultural Centre with a focus on Métis history and youth development, while growing a sustainable and responsible operation. We interviewed project team members to find out more!

McMurray Métis cultural centre is the first of it’s kind in North America. Can you tell us about the projects innovation, earth tubes and geopiles?

Both the geopiles and earth tubes provide thermal energy to the building by heat exchange with the natural ground energy.

The McMurray Métis project is looking to achieve One Planet Living and CaGBC Zero Carbon Certifications aiming at operational net zero carbon. Can you explain how the earth tubes and geopiles contribute to achieving this?

Both the geopiles and earth tubes are renewable energy systems that provide savings in utility energy consumption and reduce the overall carbon footprint.

How was the project assessed to determine if the operations and energy savings of thermal tubes and/or geopile installation is worth the initial cost of installation? What is the return on investment?

This is the first time that geopiles and earth tubes been installed together on a project in northern Canada. The annual savings for the geopiles are estimated equivalent to 7% energy; the earth tubes is estimated as 15% of energy.

What transferable skills of current trades can be directed towards thermal tunnel and geopile installation? Is there any additional training or certification required for trades to do this work?

No additional training is required. Both systems utilised traditional building materials and construction methods – but what is unique is that the systems were designed as integrated.

How does the HVAC system work in unison with the earth tubes and geopiles? Can you describe how passive heating and cooling works in this respect?

Both systems interface directly with the HVAC systems – the geopiles with the hydronic circuits and the earth tubes with the ventilation systems.

In the beginning of the project it was recognized that special coordination was needed between the piling contractor and the geopile installer. How was that handled and what take-away was there from that experience?

The general contractor Casman managed this interface very successfully through early planning, communication and coordination with all trades.

What other notes can be made about interdisciplinary integration in the design process of a project like this one? What coordination is recommended across design and engineering disciplines?

Identify methods both save carbon emissions and are also simple to install and operate. The most successful innovation methods are simple in nature to install and operate.

Will the data collected from this project provide the needed scientific support to attract future projects in embracing these innovations?

Monitoring is being provided to record the performance of the systems. These will be published through report/paper.

In your view, what will be the greatest reward or takeaway from this project?

Truly a “One team” approach led by an inspiring client.Have questions for McMurray Métis, send us a message and we will get in touch. Send Mail